A celebrity photographer who has worked with the Prince and Princess of Wales has shared the secret to capturing the perfect family portrait ahead of the festive season
Prince William and Princess Kate have featured in a number of stunning family photos over the years, most notably when they issue their annual family portraits ahead of the festive season.
One fan favourite image is undoubtedly their 2023 Christmas card snap, which features their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. In the photograph, William, Kate, and the children are photographed smiling head-on at the camera, all wearing jeans and white shirts in a simple and modern aesthetic.
The photograph, which was shared to the public on the royal couple’s official Instagram account at the time, was shot by Josh Shinner, who has now revealed the secret to a perfect photo.
READ MORE: King Charles shows ‘true feelings’ for Princess Beatrice and Eugenie amid ‘horrid’ timeREAD MORE: Meghan Markle ‘hit by major Netflix snub’ in fresh blow after downgraded deal
Josh went on to say that there are six important things to remember when snapping unforgettable family moments: choose your moment, take multiple frames, avoid overhead lighting, break up the composition, make it personal, and get involved.
When choosing the perfect moment to capture, Josh told the Mirror : “Don’t try and take the picture when one of the family is juggling 14 different pans and preparing Christmas dinner. Give people some warning and don’t just spring it on them.”
The seasoned photographer also expressed the importance of taking multiple photos of a moment, explaining: “In a group shot, there’ll always be someone blinking or saying something, so take more than you need. It can sometimes be a numbers game, and the best shot often comes when everyone thinks you’ve finished shooting and you take just one more.”
Lighting is everything when it comes to photos, as Josh explained that overhead lighting can quickly ruin your images. He said: “Don’t do it under the kitchen spotlights. Try and position the camera just inside a big window (one ideally facing north or east if possible) so there’s natural and even light on everyone’s faces.”
Josh then recalled his iconic 2023 Christmas image of the Wales family, in which William and Kate stood behind their children, with their sons also standing while Charlotte sat on a chair in front, noting how important composition is to a portrait.
He said: “Instead of everyone just being in a single line, try to have some height variation so the faces are more grouped together. Granny in her favourite chair, others stood behind and sat on the arm of the chair, grandchildren on the floor in front or on knees perhaps.”
Josh’s last two photography tips are guaranteed to bring everyone’s personality into the frame, as he implores everyone to make it personal. He said: “Getting to know your subjects in portraiture is absolutely key. Thankfully you know this group of people better than anyone. Use in-jokes or old stories to bring out a natural and genuine reaction rather than just telling everyone to say ‘cheese’ on cue.”
Lastly, when it comes to family photos, Josh says having everyone in the frame is key to capturing the memory. He said: “Most phones and cameras now enable you to trigger the shutter and take the photo from a nearby device. Set the shot up, hold the second device behind someone’s back and snap away. Or if all else fails, use a self-timer and make people laugh by trying to get into position in time!”
The celebrity photographer also told The Telegraph that when it comes to capturing a family photo, it’s all about how the photographer makes their subjects feel.
“It’s creating the most relaxed atmosphere so the people in front of the camera can be themselves,” Josh told the publication. “If you can make people feel at ease, they can open up, which creates a better picture. Otherwise, you’re effectively just doing a passport picture where someone stands still and someone else presses a button; there’s no feeling in that.”
