What can Leonardo DaVinci tell us about making better family photos

I recently did a proof edit over the phone with one of my favorite clients. I have been working with her long enough that we have similar discussions about images we like and images we think work together. She is so great, she comes up with brilliant ideas for triptych (three images together) that sometimes I haven't even seen. I love that!

I am writing this today because I think these images illustrate what I feel to be an important aspect any good portrait or fine art photograph – the triangle or the diagonal. While we aren’t getting as specific as DaVinci’s Golden Ratio, that appear prominently in his work, a lot can be learned by studying this master.

As I photograph my clients and their children, I am not thinking about this. It is only after the session that I see what I have done. It is interesting to me that I was unaware I did it until a friend who is a painter was over at my studio and he pointed it out. After that it was all I saw and it made a good photo better.

Start looking at photography with this in mind and see if you notice something different about the images, whether or not you like them or you don't. Good photography is more than just capturing a good smile, it is about creating something that has feeling and good composition. Good luck and have fun!