PicsArt Monthly November Issue 2013 | Page 60

Planning the Family Portrait It's hard to take Thanksgiving pictures without including the customary family photo. Arranging a large number of people can be tricky, but with a little planning, it doesn't have to be a chore. For one, bring along a tripod and use your self-timer to make sure you can get in the picture, too. Gather your group together in daylight if you can; if not, use a well-lit room and take care not to position them directly under an overhead light, which will cause ugly shadows to streak down your subjects' faces. If you need to, place some low table lamps just in front and to either side of the group. When arranging your subjects, place the tallest people in the back and everyone else in front. Having them sit in a variety of positions, with some standing, some sitting, and some on the floor, will add levels to your composition and enhance the visual interest. Take several shots - if someone blinks or makes a funny face, this will allow you to replace it with a better version from a different shot. When you upload your photos into PicsArt, play with different effects to get your shot just the way you want it. Adding a creative filter with a yellow-orange tint, such as “Warm Color”, “Twilight”, or “Vintage” will give your pictures an autumn glow. Share your creations and let the whole world know: what are you thankful for?