Take Thanksgiving Pictures

To Cherish Forever

A Short History Lesson...

Of course the holiday came first, followed by turkey, football, and photography.

Every November since 1789, Americans have celebrated this special holiday. That’s the historical perspective, anyway.

What Thanksgiving has come to mean for most of us, is family getting together for the traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner, and the men watching football on television. But, we do it together… as a family.

For the most part, this is the spirit you want to capture in your Thanksgiving pictures... The spirit of family, relationships, togetherness, and uncle Bob getting drunk and falling off the couch before halftime. (Or, maybe that’s just my family.)

Regardless, wouldn't that make a super Thanksgiving picture? If your family can arrange to travel as a group, Thanksgiving and Christmas may be the only opportunities during the entire year that your family has of capturing photos of the entire family together. Imagine... 4 or possibly 5 generations all in the same picture!

So, rather than taking holiday pictures that will be thrown into the back of your storage box, learn how to take truly memorable photographs that you would be proud to include in the family album, mount over the mantle, or even use as holiday cards. Just follow a few simple guidelines...

Thanksgiving Pictures Guideline #1
What's Your Subject?

I don't know about you, but I find those wine bottles pretty distracting. As Thanksgiving pictures go, there are several things that are wrong with this one.

The shot should have been taken from a higher perspective, Betty should be looking at the camera, and a bounce flash would have eliminated the reflection off the glass in the background.

Regardless whether your subject is the carved turkey, everyone at the table, or all the cousins wrestling on the floor, follow the same Thanksgiving picture guideline.

Thanksgiving Pictures Guideline #2
What's The Emotion?

Let's see what's good and bad with this photo. For starters, the composition is good (except for the man in front with his back toward the camera).

For improvements, since a flash will always illuminate the closest person most, it's a good idea to have them face the camera (or, move out of the way).

Also, the photo could be cropped about 2 feet over the lady sitting on the stool. Nothing is gained by showing that much wall and ceiling.

If there are babies at Thanksgiving, we need to take a completely different approach when "posing them." If you're interested, Oh Baby! Turning Memories into Masterpieces is a 75 page eBook that covers everything about taking baby pictures.

Thanksgiving Pictures Guideline #3
Capture The Classics

First, let's examine the "dining-room-table" shot. Although the classic Thanksgiving picture of the turkey with "all the trimmings," is ok, you really need people, posing, and the correct camera techniques to turn it into a memorable photograph.

For the Thanksgiving picture on the right, the composition is good, most people are facing the camera, and a nice sunset is even brought into the photo. Note, for back-lit situations like this, review automatic exposure lock.

As will be pointed out shortly, notice that the position of the camera is above eye level. You do not want to take a photograph while sitting at the table.

Whatever is the shape of the dining room table, position the camera across from the person doing the carving.

Ideally, what you do want to feature in your holiday pictures are your family members, the turkey, and the elegant place settings (in that order... unless you really like turkeys).

If there is no carving going on, as in the Thanksgiving picture above, that's OK too, as long as you observe certain critical elements of holiday photography.

Let’s go over some of these critical elements:

• Height: You don’t want to take your pictures by having the camera positioned at the level of the table. There will be far too many objects that distract from your main subjects.

  Ideally, you want to be higher than eye-level of your tallest subject. From this higher perspective, you can get your entire family in your Thanksgiving picture, along with the turkey and the person poised to carve it.
  
  

• Direction: You want to pose everyone by directing them as to what they should do and where they should do it. Take several photos of the entire family doing the following:
  
  
  • Everyone holding up their glasses in a toast, while looking toward the camera.
    
    
  • Everyone holding up their glasses in a toast, but looking toward the carver.
    
    
  • Having everyone involved in conversation, but not eating. If people are eating, at least one of them will look terrible.
  
  
  
• Light: This is the trickiest part of your festive inside photographs. For example, how do you light the above 2 scenes? (Before going much further, you may want to review tips on indoor photography. )

  The challenge here is to properly light a large area, especially if there is a long dining room table involved. If your camera has only a built in flash, you need to use it. But the problem with the built-in flash on most cameras is that it may be too weak to light up the far end of a long table.

  If your camera has a hot shoe, and you have purchased an external flash, (opens new window) this is the time to use it. If you don’t have an external flash, ask your family if they would mind taking additional "insurance" Thanksgiving picture so that at least one will come out well.
  
  

• Camera Settings: You want to have as large a depth of field so that as many people as possible will appear in focus. This may take some playing around with, but there are several approaches could work:
  • Set the camera on the tripod at least 6 feet away from the closest subjects.

    If you have a "Landscape" setting on your camera, use it. If you are familiar using the aperture priority mode, select the highest F-stop number that you can. This will increase your depth of field. Then, focus on the closest subjects, and take the shot.

  • Depending on your camera make and model, the auto-focus may get confused with these settings. Therefore, if you can, I suggest switching to manual focus for this picture.

  • If your camera has a flash exposure bracketing capability and you are comfortable with it, use it.

  • Use the correct white balance setting

  • The ideal setting for this shot would be a very large well-lit room, a tripod, and an external flash. If this exists, follow the above suggestions except for tripod placement.

    The farther away you can place the camera from the closest subjects, the better will be the focus of the more distant subjects. Of course, you don’t want to place it so far away that it exceeds the flash coverage. If you do, tell everyone you captured a classic Thanksgiving picture of not paying the electric bill.

  
  

  Discover the No-Sweat Strategy for Taking
  Great Group Photos
  For Thanksgiving Or Any Other Event

  

  Most camera owners are very intimidated about how to take group photos, and that's understandable.

  After all, you need to decide on the best location, find a good background, effectively pose everyone, deal with lighting, the composition, depth of field... the list goes on and on.

  Even though these points are true, there is a better way to take group photographs than telling the group to "Move over there and smile." That better way is our No-Sweat Strategy for Taking Great Group Photos.

  By following the "By-the-Numbers" approach in our book, I can guarantee that your group photos will be at least TWICE AS GOOD as they have ever been (even if you've never held a camera before).

  To find out how we created an approach that is just as effective for an experienced photographer as it is for a beginner, look here for a real eye-opener!
  
  

  
  

  Thanksgiving Pictures Guideline #4
  Keep The Odds In Your Favor

  Here are some suggestions for improving the odds of capturing memorable Thanksgiving pictures:
  • Get a tripod (opens new window) and rather than using a flash, use a long exposure. You’ll have to remind people not to move for what will seem like a very long time (1-2 seconds).

    The tripod will serve the dual role of providing a steady platform for a long exposure and you will be able to be in the picture.

  • Move any additional light sources in to brighten the area. Don’t forget about opening the curtains if there is any outside light still available. Use additional light sources for the built-in flash as well as the no-flash shots.

  • Change the ISO setting on your camera to as high as you can go without impacting picture quality. For many cameras, it is quite safe to go up to an ISO 400 or 800 setting. Be sure to test out the quality limits BEFORE Thanksgiving.

  • Finally, as a last resort, if the turkey is under-cooked anyway, set it on fire to provide more light. OK, fine. That’s not a good idea… but I did say "as a last resort."
  
  

  Thanksgiving Pictures Guideline #5
  The Family Group Photograph

  Thanksgiving presents one additional classic Thanksgiving Picture opportunity – a large group portrait.

  Since the extended family can amount to a small army scattered across the country, we want to take advantage of this rare occasion when most (or all) of them are in the same place at the same time.

  Also remember that if additional friends and/or relatives will be dropping by after dinner, wait until they arrive as well. For this shot, you will probably be better off taking it outside, assuming that lighting conditions are doable.

  For general family photography tips on posing large groups, refer to the tips mentioned in large group poses or take a look at our popular No-Sweat Approach to Taking Great Group Photos. Specifically, you want to do the following:

  • Pose everyone for a casual tiered approach, such as using steps on a porch. Don't line everyone up like soldiers at attention.

  • Follow good lighting guidelines. Even if it is reasonably light outside, use the flash anyway.

  • Use a variety of poses. In other words, have different people using different poses in the same photograph.

  • Make sure you have an unobstructed view of everyone’s face.

  • Demonstrate togetherness. Don’t split the family into sub-groups.

  • Include the pets, if possible.

  • Have the camera on a tripod so you can also be in the portrait. You deserve to be in at least 1 Thanksgiving picture, don't you?

  • Take several different group shots, varying the composition, ISO, and flash/no-flash selection. Again, better to take 5 shots and wind up with 1 terrific one, than only take 3 shots and wind up with 3 so-so pictures.

  • Since you have the best idea of how long the self-timer takes to go off, time it to say something funny so that everyone is smiling or laughing when the shutter opens.
  
  

  Thanksgiving Pictures Guideline #6
  Take Plenty of Candids!

  Now that the hard shots are done, you can relax and play. After all, just because you volunteered to take Thanksgiving pictures doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself!

  There are plenty of opportunities to take some candids of the babies (or dad) napping, kids just being kids, or the "clean-up crew" at work in the kitchen.

  Just go into observer mode and I guarantee that you will find new Thanksgiving picture classics.
  
  

  After you get home, download your images, and prospect through them for the "gold."

  Here are some terrific Post Holiday Ideas for your Thanksgiving pictures:
  
  

  • Take the best images and send prints to everyone (and don't forget to also send them to those who were invited but couldn't make it)

  • If an image is truly exceptional, consider sending framed 5x7 or 8x10s as Christmas presents.

  • Turn your photos into great holiday gifts by transforming them into…
    
    
    • A Photo Collage
      
      
    • A Thanksgiving Picture T-shirt
  
  
  

  Thanksgiving Pictures Guideline #7
  Final Thoughts

  Here are some final preparation thoughts that you may want to consider:
  
  Think about where and with whom you are going to celebrate Thanksgiving.
  1. Create a list of group and individual shots you want to take. Don't forget to include yourself in them, so TAKE YOUR TRIPOD

  2. If most of the shots will be indoors, take all necessary flash components and review ISO settings.

  3. If any of the shots will be outdoors, decide which filters (if any) to use.
  
  For any pictures involving your flash, make sure that:
  • Reflective surfaces are avoided

  • You know the range of your flash coverage, so the perfect family pose is not under-exposed

  • If using a digital SLR with a physically large lens, and the built-in flash, verify that the lens does not block part of the flash, causing a shadow

  • Use fill flash, if needed, to supply the "pop" to outdoor photographs.

  Don't forget to get creative and playful (these type of shots often become family favorites):

  • Have everyone holding a turkey leg or bone between their teeth, reminiscent of merry old England around the 13th century.

  • Get a "posed" candid shot of all the men sitting on the couch watching football, with their stomachs hanging over their belts.

Outdoor Group Portraits for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Party Ideas

Thanksgiving eCards

To take the best Christmas pictures ever, click ho ho ho.