How to take great family photos | Heinrich Human
It is hard enough to get the whole family on the same spot at the same time. So when you finally manage to get it right, you want to take a family photograph that will be special for years to come.
By Benno Stander
We chatted to Heinrich Human of Kodak Express at Crossing Centre to get some tips and ideas on how to take the perfect family portrait.
Heinrich was fascinated by photography from an early age and in primary school already sneaked around with his moms Kodak Instamatic in search of the perfect picture. By the time he got into high school he was able to buy his first SLR camera with money he earned by delivering newspapers and the Huisgenoot.
He soon ditched the delivery job for one in a photo lab and acquired a Pentax Z10 auto focus with a Tamron 70-300mm lens. This combo opened up a whole new world for him and he soon became interested in wildlife photography. After school Heinrich spent time backpacking through Africa and this is when his career in photography really took off. “It was an amazing experience that really gave me the chance to do a lot of wildlife, lifestyle and photo documentary work,” says Heinrich.

Heinrich with some of the many photographic awards he’s won over the years in the background
After this he gave up on his plans to study BSc and decided to study photography. “It was amazing to see so many different communities and landscapes and really changed my view of the world. After my studies I worked in the field and in labs until I bought Kodak Express at the Crossing Centre in 2006.”
“Nowadays I just do wildlife photography and the odd wedding but try to keep it a hobby rather than a job. When not working in the shop my wife Vicky and I like to be out there snapping away somewhere in the bush,” Heinrich explains.
With so much experience both behind the lens and in the lab, Heinrich knows well enough what is needed to make a memorable family portrait. Here’s his advice:
What makes it work?
With all the technology packed into cameras these days getting a technically sound shot isn’t all that difficult. And if it doesn’t work the first time it’s easy enough to take another 20 shots.
The first thing to consider is the setting. It is always a good idea to try something unique and I’m not saying take granny up on the roof but just don’t take another picture in front of that same bush in the garden and expect it to look any better than the last one. Think a little outside the box and consider some sort of natural environment that will be easy to get to.
The art of taking a good family portrait usually lies in getting everyone to look comfortable. Even if you have the best setting with the best background, it won’t help if the main subject, the people, are not comfortable. So spend a little time arranging and posing members of the family so that they are happy and comfortable.
According to Heinrich one of the best examples of out of the box family portraits is the ‘Over-The-Top portraits done by Phonix Capture CC. In these photographs every member of the family is pictured doing what they love most.

One of the Over-The-Top family portraits done by Phonix Capture CC
Not so serious
Some of the most memorable photos are often the ones where people are just themselves, doing the things they love. So instead of telling everyone what to do, consider leaving it up to each individual to dress and pose the way they feel comfortable. You might be surprised to find that the photo where no one was ‘ready’ might be the picture of choice in the end.
Got the photo, now what?
There is nothing wrong with simply printing and framing a photo. We are really spoilt for choice with frames these days and you can get the most beautiful frames for very affordable prices. In the end you will probably only use one photo so splashing out a little also makes sense.
When printing photos make sure that the printing method used is a chemical process where light sensitive paper is exposed and treated. These photographs outlast pictures that are printed with ink.
If you want something a little bigger and bolder canvas is another very good alternative to consider. A couple of years ago canvas printing was exclusively for the rich and famous as it was done by a manual process and was obviously very expensive. These days technology makes it quick, easy and much more affordable.
Heinrich however cautions that not all canvases are equal. He uses only genuine Epson Canvas which is made in Switzerland and is guaranteed to not fade for 70 years. Most labs use the Epson Stylus Pro printers but not all labs use the Epson Canvas so make sure you are getting the print with the 70 year promise.
Safe storage
Heinrich admits to being an advocate of digital backups but after he recently lost a perfectly good backup hard drive for no apparent reason, his view has changed somewhat.
“We used to say have all your valuable images backed up on two hard drives and a DVD, but these days I advise people to rather have them printed. Prints are rarely stolen, are waterproof and can easily be scanned and retouched to get copies made. There is simply nothing worse than losing a hard drive or disk with all your precious pictures on and then regretting not having some of them printed.”
Call in the pros
If you are at your wits’ end and want to hire the help of a professional why not contact Phonix Capture CC