Capture Amazing Family Photos with Your Family in Pictures

I CANNOT say enough about this book! I am an amateur budding photographer and this book is my bible when it comes to the "simplicity" of explaining what types of settings you should use for different situations. The pictures are great too! Perfect for showing examples of the type of scenes I want to create or to help me broaden my artistic side. A must have in your library!

When going into this book I was expecting a how-to in capturing those perfect family moments, but this book is more of an at home studio session for parents. I’m not a big fan of studio settings and staged smiles, so this isn’t exactly the kind of book I was looking for. That said, it did have useful information for an inspiring photographer looking for a fun little family studio time (I have no idea how to get kids to LIKE studio time, may the odds be in your favor).

The book is in seven sections including Setting yourself up for Success (lighting, getting your family in the mood, using black and white photos), Developing a Photographer’s Eye (using shapes and textures, what to do in dark areas, using pics to tell stories), Everyday Life (Mealtimes, Sports, Bedtime, Saturday Mornings), Holidays, Family Portraits, Tweens & Teens (help us all!), and Family Vacations & Travel (including snow days and sunsets). It has “recipes” on how to get the perfect shot in situations and tells you the ISO, F-Stop, aperture, and every other setting you need on a DSLR to make the same shot. It also tells you what setting to use on a point-and-click camera if you don’t have a DSLR.

That is a kind of hit and miss with me. Yes, I like how they explain the use of the ISO and everything, but the “recipe” is going to be different of dozens of factors. Your never going to get the exact angle or light, or have the same camera and lens. I might be being a bit harsh, but I’m thinking beginners with brand new DSLRs using these “recipes” and just can’t figure out why their pictures still aren’t coming out right.

Overall, Your Family in Pictures is a good little book for beginners who want a photo-shoot and not necessarily the perfect candid shots. It might take a bit of time, and a LOT of patience if kids are involved.

Me Ra Koh has written a wonderful book that teaches you how to really use your camera to capture your family. Your Family In Pictures explains the different settings on your camera, how to find great lighting in your home, how to frame a photo, and how to capture your children in their natural environment and with relaxed personalities.

I found all of the photos and chapters in this book really inspiring! The examples of her photos, and her students' photos, do an excellent job of illustrating the points she's trying to make. I love all the chapters that give ideas for holiday pictures, family pictures, vacation pictures, etc.

I should have posted this review about two months ago. I finished reading the book that long ago, but I wanted to add some pictures of my own to the review. I enjoyed the book and felt like I could figure out the different settings on my camera with these explanations. I was challenged to take more photos on a regular basis of the kids in our everyday moments. That's where I ran into my first problem.

The examples in the book showed clutter-free photo-friendly spaces. Our homes is cluttered, with old paint colors, and poor lighting. We have toys in our living room, bookshelves everywhere, and whenever I did take photos, the kids either stopped acting natural, or it was too cluttered or dark. Obviously, I need to practice more.

Then I thought we'd need to do some outdoor photo shoots instead. Except it seemed when I had a free moment to take a picture, my daughters had messy hair or clothes I wouldn't really want in a picture. I discovered that in a large family, with a small home, I was going to have to be more purposeful and thoughtful about photography if I wanted good photos.

So, after several months, I finally decided I should post this review, without the photos I had been waiting on. It is a really good book, but it will take work, practice, and focus to improve your photography skills. It's manageable, and Your Family In Pictures can help you do it ... but it will take more than just reading the book. It will take time and effort to practice the techniques and improve your photography skills!

If you're already aware of how to use a DSLR camera, or how to get the best out of your Point-And-Shoot camera, this book also has some interesting and inspiring ideas for photographing your family. The book's many examples help get your creative juices flowing!

April

Disclaimer: Blogging For Books gave me a free copy of Your Family In Pictures, in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received.

Taking a good picture of your family may seem daunting; however, this book gives amateur photographers i.e. moms the confidence to take those great family photos.

The book breaks down the essence of a good photo and gives the recipe for how to take it. With many graphic examples, the reader sees how simple it can be to take a good family photo.

We all love the posed family pictures. Yet, there are also those candid photos that really tell what your family is like. Me Ra Koh gives you permission to embrace these candid moments and capture your family's story.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

I have a love for photography. I love taking my children's pictures and nature pictures. Everything that I can learn from, I take advantage of. Your Family in Pictures is a great, simple resource that I was given the opportunity to review. This book gave tips on posing, lighting, and more. I love that this book encourages everyone no matter their experience level of photography to get the most amazing photos that they can get. You can use the camera on the phone, a point and shoot, or a dslr camera to take great pictures. This books is very helpful! Great addition to my library!

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review. I enjoy watching Me Ra Koh's appearances of Disney Junior so I was excited to check out her latest book, I was not disappointed. I have been looking for a book like this for a long time, a book that had examples of different photo situations and what the camera settings were when the photo was taken. There are "recipes" to follow for certain holidays and life events but they can also be used a springboard to get creative in everyday life. The buying guide is helpful, there are no brand specifications, just what to look for in a camera that will suit your photography needs. The overall tone of the book is supportive, not preachy, and there's no confusing jargon or overbearing technology explanations.