Tips for Great Reunion Photos

July 28, 2016 · CLASSMATES FUN

You’ve picked out a flattering outfit. You’ve connected with a few old friends beforehand (who have PROMISED to show up). You’ve spent time looking through your old senior yearbook, trying to remember names and faces.

You’re all set to have fun at your reunion. Now, what could make your experience even better? Great photos to remember the night! Your friends and family will appreciate you sharing them, and you’ll be able to look at them later when you’re feeling nostalgic.

Whether you’re confident or not in your photographic abilities, we’ve got you covered. Take note of these quick tips to be sure you end up with pics that are worth saving:

 

Use a camera you're comfortable with

Bring a camera that’s easy to use and to carry around. Whether it’s your smartphone, GoPro, or a DSLR, make sure it’s something that you’ll actually use. You don’t want to be fumbling around with lenses or trying to figure out the zoom feature when a great photographic moment presents itself. Otherwise, your camera is just dead weight.

Shoot portraits and candids

Aim for a mix of photos. You’ll be able to capture different expressions and moments. And you’ll be able to get good shots of those who love mugging for the photographer as well as those who are a little more camera-shy.

Speaking of candids…Please don’t take pictures of people when they’re eating! Nobody appreciates being photographed with a mouthful of food, and this is hardly a flattering photo op.

Take advantage of natural light

Natural light is almost always superior to flash. If the setting and time of day allow for it, try to capture your subjects in natural light conditions. “Magic hour” – that time of day before sunset when the light is golden and the shadows are long – is an especially great time for natural light photos.

However…Do your best to avoid harsh sunlight. People don’t appreciate squinting into the sun, and extreme shadows can work against you. On very bright days, look for some shade to photograph in, where the lighting is more even. If you’ve got cloudy weather to work with, take advantage of it!

Avoid "red eye" when using flash

If you are using a flash, try to have your subjects look slightly away from the camera in order to reduce the possibility of the dreaded “red eye” effect. We’re pretty sure you don’t want them to look possessed!

Watch the cropping

Some examples of what NOT to do:

  • Cropping off the tops of people’s heads. We know, this one should be easy to avoid, but it can be surprising how much it happens.
  • Cropping people at the knee – or the waist – or the elbow – or the neck. Basically, don’t crop people at joints or you’ll end up with an unfortunate “amputation” effect.
  • Leaving the edge of a distracting element (someone’s shoulder, a car fender, a chair leg, etc.) in the photo.
  • Leaving too much in the composition. It’s much better to zoom in and crop out extraneous elements that would otherwise make the photo seem cluttered.

Get closer

Party photos are usually more engaging when you get closer to your subjects. Don’t be afraid to let the edges of your subject(s) extend outside the viewfinder (as long as you remember our cropping guidelines above).

Grab group shots early!

Get group photos early, before people start to wander away. Attempting to gather people for a group photo halfway through a reunion can be like herding cats. Believe us.

Keep backgrounds simple

Try to avoid cluttered backgrounds. They can distract from your subject and make the composition much less appealing. And unless you’re photographing for the Weekly World News, we’re pretty sure you don’t want to end up with photos that look like something is growing out of someone’s head

Shoot at eye level or above

Avoid photographing people from below. It’s much more flattering to shoot at eye level – or even from a slightly higher angle. Your subjects will thank you.

Capture moments

Take some action shots. Reunions are full of moments. Some good ones to capture: dancing, clinking glasses, hugging, waving.

Pass the camera

To vary the perspective, pass your camera to someone else every once in a while. This also gives you the opportunity to be in some of those photos!

 

Be considerate of your fellow alums

Be sensitive to those who really don’t want to be photographed. You’re not there to alienate people, and an uncooperative subject is not someone you want photos of anyway.

And be kind when editing! Don’t share those truly unflattering shots.

 

Between taking pictures, don’t forget to actually participate in your reunion! And when you’re done, share the best of your night with your friends and family on Classmates, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

For more online/mobile photo editing and sharing options, here are some photography apps and websites to check out:

Go to Classmates now to share your photos!

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