How to Photograph Your Family

by Nick Kelsh

With a brief technical section and introduction, Nick Kelsh's manual explains the basics of photography then conveys all the reader needs to know to create a dream family photograph album.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556709803
• ISBN13: 9781556709807
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 1.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 10.3" x 10.8"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

Very helpful, easy skill-level required to read (and short?)

I've taken pictures as an amature for over 30 years, but my people-pictures have never been successful--all the family photographs on our shelves were taken by others. In the first chapter, the author explained what I was doing wrong in simple, non-technical terms. Sounded good, so I took my digital camera, sought out my youngest child and shot several pictures. My wife and son were so delighted with the result they decided have an 8-1/2 x 11 print of one shot framed on his wall! The skill-level required to use the book is probably "you can read" The ONLY technical term the author uses in the book is in the sentence in the introduction in which he says he won't use any. The book is relatively short: I probably took about two hours total to read it, and I'm a fairly slow reader. There are, however, a large number of photos brilliantly illustrating the author's ideas, and the tips are so good that the book was well-worth the price. After a few months I will probably have reached the limits of the data in the book and will want to read something more in-depth, but I never would have gotten there without this great jump-start.Not one of the most profound books I've ever read, but for darn sure one of the most effective.

fantastic book!

This book is an easy, entertaining read which offers a lot of no-nonsense, and very helpful tips for taking photographs. There are also lots of beautiful and very inspirational photos in the book. I would highly recommend it!

Great Book!

This book has a few simple concepts that are sure to revolutionize the way you take pictures (as well as the way you look at people). What could be simpler than the tips found in this book? We can all get closer, turn off the flash, and take a lot of pictures (a few rolls at a time). And yet, with just these basic tips, Nick Kelsh assures us that we will begin to take photos that will be treasured as instant classics.Kelsh's tone is encouraging, conversational, and assuring. He is part-professional, part-everyphotographer. He is equally comfortable with portrait photography and snapshots. He avoids technical jargon and sticks with phrases we all like to imagine in connection with our own photos: "the envy of all your friends," "compliments on your photos," "people will ask you to photograph their children," and so on. The book is a quick read, and has stunning photos by professionals and amateurs alike. You'll love your first reading of it, and I bet it will become a favorite over time. I'm tempted to buy several copies to give to friends. So don't wait -- get it, read it, and start taking pictures of your loved ones!

The book is really incredible...

A must have if you really take photography serious.I have been taken images for quite some time... and many times I was wondering: "Why isn't on the photo what I intended?".Nick will give you no non-sense, honest answers to your questions, by showing and explaining the do's and don'ts... the technical layout of physically providing fold-out pages supports the idea of a tutorial, without having to page forwards and back through the book "to get the hang of it".Nick states in his introduction: People seem to think that auto-everything means auto-everything. Many people do believe that all the bells and whistles make good shots, it doesn't, it will only capture (with all the bells and whistles) the subject you composed and pointed it to.Nick also states: "Images that capture and convey your feelings come from the heart and the emotions - not high-quality optics and fine-grained film." Yes, it is that truth I like in particular. Take of the blinkers. This books shows you how.It also claims that even watching a move will change forever, after you've read this book. Depending on your photographic state, this will happen.I will give four stars for a really good book, and five stars for a book I will read over and over again. I have read it five times already. Still getting reminded of what can be done better... of what I have overlooked.You do not have to be a family photo (wo)man. We all tend to take family photos for all occasions. These photos will be your most precious things. Nick stated this in his book, and he is right, as I could learn from the TV interviews from the recent victims of the devastating bush fires (in New south Wales, Australia, which claimed 150 homes). I saw ten interviews. Six interviewees expressed their grief over lost photos or of being able to having saved only the photos.Sorry for the excursion... my point is, this book is brilliant. No techno babble, easy to understand and follow, no non-sense, and honest (which I appreciate the most).Regards,Max

Incredible!!!!!! Will Change Your Life!!!!

This book and Kelsh's How to Photograph Your Baby have changed my life. My pictures have gone from snap shots to compelling photos that show great emotion. His suggestions are so simple, but make such a drastic difference. Everyone needs this book!!! You will be able to preserve your memories so much better. Everyone that sees my photos are amazed that I have no formal training and I have even had parents pay me to photograph their children. The book is NOT hard to follow and you need no formal knowledge of cameras. This is a must have! Everyone wins!