Why should you take family portraits outdoors? Besides the potential for beautiful or fun backgrounds, photographing outside provides the opportunity to use natural lighting. If you are a professional photographer or a serious enthusiast then you know that studio lights, reflectors and the external flash all try to copy the beauty of natural light.

If you are new to photography and have a digital compact and built in flash, then taking your family portraits outdoors is the best way to get professional quality portraits that you'll want to proudly frame in your home.

The Best Natural Lighting for Taking Family Portraits Outdoors

Not all outdoors lighting is ideal. The worst time of day to take outdoor family portraits is mid day. The best times of day to take outdoor photographs is the hour before sunset and after dawn when the shadows are least harsh and the light is the softest. The closer to these times you can gather the family for their portrait, the better.

Another good option is to wait for a cloudy day when there is bright overcast light. This provides enough brightness but with the kind of softness the pros spend money on soft boxes to get. If the timing doesn't work out for any of the above, find shade that isn't too dark.

Outdoor Portrait Settings

The obvious choice and perhaps the perfect choice is the family's backyard. Or you could take a cue from high school senior photography and take your outdoors family portrait at a place the family enjoys such as a park. If you go away from home, look for locations and times of the day when the area is the least crowded.

You should also consider using a family hobby as a potential setting. If the family loves horses, a green pasture with horses in the background and the family posed in front could work well. If the family sails, consider the boat's deck.

Speaking of boats, a word of caution: if you decide to take any family portraits outdoors at places such as the sea, beach or snow, here are some things that can help: Select the beach mode on a digital compact, or if you use a DSLR or SLR, use a polarizing filter. This will help decrease the glare. Set the flash to "On" instead of "Automatic" to help reduce shadows on the family. Don't face the family towards the sun or they'll be squinting.

As with any picture, be sure to hide or remove clutter in the background. Do you want to use the natural outdoor lighting but want a plain background? Tack a piece of fabric to a fence. Check for things like lawn sprinklers or anything behind the family that may be distracting like a lamp post.

If you want to diminish the overall background, use the Portrait mode or set your Aperture Priority for a smaller depth of field.

On the other hand, you may want to have outdoor features as part of the picture by posing the family in front of a beautiful tree. Just be sure to compose the shot with the focus on the family.

Whether you're taking outdoor family portraits of your family or someone else's, use these portrait tips and you'll be sure to take a portrait that will be proudly framed on the wall.