Every year you fork out the big bucks to have a professional photographer take your family portrait. With the economy as it is these

luxuries are the first to go. I really feel that family portraits are important and are time lines of your family history.  So here are some tips for taking your own family portrait.

• Consider the Wardrobe. You don’t all have to wear the same color, but the colors should match. Keep in mind that bright colors tend to wash out skin tones.
• Make Up! Just because you are not a professional doesn’t mean that dabbing some powder on everyone won’t help eliminate shine.
• Location, Location, Location. Once you find a place to take the picture remove all distracting objects that may be in the background. Check for strange shadows in your picture.
• Get to know the timer setting.Set your camera up on a tripod and arrange everyone into position. Make sure you know where you are going and there is room for you to get into position. Set the timer and go…
• Practice makes perfect. The best part of taking your own family portraits is that you can take as many as you want. (Or your kids will let you!) Also you decide which ones are the best.
• High Quality Printing. Since you will be saving so much money by taking the photos yourself. Splurge a little and have your photo printed at the highest quality offered.