My tips on how to take good candid family vacation photos.
The questions that I get asked most often is . . . “How do you take good candid vacation photos of your boys on vacation?” The second question is . . . “Do they ever get tired of it?” I don’t think they do because I respect their space and capture them in a natural + authentic way. Today I am going to give you a little insight into my mental process of capturing our vacation photos and negotiating the tween and teenage. You can use the tips whether you are shooting with an iPhone, GoPro or DSLR camera.
Slow down and take note of the little moments.
The first thing I do on a family trip is slow down and try to be present. Thinking about how I want to photograph it requires me to keep my head in the present and notice the small things. That is the number one reason that I love photography. I am forced to slow down and be present in my actual life. No social media, no planning ahead. Stop and notice the things that you want to remember in 20 years. This was a photo of my son reading the monitors in the DAL airport. Seeing his smallness and stillness among the crazy was a special moment I wanted to look back at.
Capture what the moment FEELS like and not just what it looks like.
I always get amused by all of the moms forcing their kids to stop and smile for a photo in front of all of the tourist sites. It seems like they are simply checking it off their list that they had been there + seen that. Everyone looks miserable including Mom. Anyone can take that image but I challenge you to go deeper on your next family vacation.
I rarely ask my kids to stop and pose for a vacation photo. Instead, I linger with them and try to think about what angle or image I could capture that would tell a story and capture what that moment actually FEELS like. A powerful photograph can take you right back to that moment (just like a song). In the following series of images, I was trying to capture the essence of the boy’s first trip to Alcatraz. I wanted to capture their smallness in relation to the large sterile prison and how they were taking a trip I had taken 30 years earlier at their age. I also wanted to capture the modern day element of them using their iPhones to capture their own memories.
Meet them where they are.
After a long day of touring, I wanted them to blow off some steam. This is a perfect time for them to do something in their element and I can just sit back and capture some fun photographs. They wanted to run + play in the waves. They wanted to just be boys. Mom wanted to take some fun vacation photos. It was the perfect opportunity to play around with angles and see how best to incorporate some candid shots. They didn’t even know I had my camera most of the time because they were allowed just to be kids.
Step back, shoot wide and capture the environment.
The thing I love most about vacations is all of the new sounds, smells, tastes, and experiences. So much to take in! Try capturing that sensation with your camera. Can you photograph the weather? A street market? The hustle and bustle of the city? Step back and capture your kids in the environment + interacting with all of these new things as they explore. They are experiencing so much for the first time and you can get amazing images! Let them go. Let them be free. The image below was taken on a cable car. At first glance, it’s not a spectacular image, but it was the first time they were allowed to ride on the outside of the car after many trips to San Francisco. A wide lens (Sigma 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye Lens for Canon ) allowed me to lean back and capture their excitement of this first.
You CAN ask them to stop for a posed imaged (on occasion).
Since I rarely ask them to stop and take a picture they usually don’t mind. However, I also don’t require that they are looking at the camera and smiling. I want them having fun and interaction to get genuine and authentic smiles. At the end of the day, I think that is what every mom wants.
Shoot for yourself.
If you think the family is tired of taking photos turn your camera to the world around you. There is always an image waiting to be taken. Just remember what we talked about earlier. Think you how you FEEL at that moment and be mindful of how our photograph it. How can you take an image that will take you right back to that time and place every time you see it?
Thank you so much for stopping but the blog today! I hope these tips help you come home with some amazing photographs from your next family vacation. Please send me a link to your gallery! I would love to see them.
SENIOR | FAMILY | NEWBORN | SCHOOLS
Shelly Niehaus Photography is a Prosper, TX-based senior and family photographer. I specialize in newborns, seniors, family, and school portrait photography in the Dallas Fort Worth area. I also offer adoption photography for local families through the Red Thread Organization and volunteer for The Gold Hope Project. For more information please contact me so we can start discussing your session.
