Awkward family photos

Pictures are a family's most-prized possession.

Whether it's that kindergarten portrait with the forced smile or a toddler's first steps - photos capture a moment frozen in time that we can instantly revisit, long after the actual memory has faded from mind.

Sometimes they're sweet pictures; sometimes they're just silly. Actually, based on our recent Awkward Family Photo Contest, we'd say that most of the time family pix are just plain goofy.

Entries captured those true, unintentionally funny moments like the sweet-faced girl, sitting with her grandma and newborn sister - the girl's hand reaching for the baby's neck.

To make that one even more amusing - there's a nearly identical photo featuring that same 4-year-old girl as the baby and her older sister grabbing for the neck, says Kara Smarz, an Oro Valley resident who submitted the photo of her daughters and mother.

"It's just funny to look at it," said Smarz, who admits to being a serial snapper, taking thousands of pictures of her three daughters.

Other snapshots were fully intent on grabbing a laugh, such as the contest winner from John Edwards, featuring his extended family duded up as hillbillies. For his prize, a Star photographer will take a family portrait.

Edwards, a commercial and textbook illustrator, said his family began what has become a Thanksgiving tradition three years ago. Relatives from across the country descend on his sister's Yuma home. That first year, all anyone had was fake hillbilly teeth and a vague idea. Soon, the portrait spiraled out of control. People swiped tools from an old shed, the girls redid their hair. Edwards' niece stuffed a pillow under her shirt (no, that's not a real pregnant woman in the foreground).

"Everyone got so excited about that - it was kind of a done deal forever," Edwards said.

The following year, the clan dressed as circus performers. Last year was a straight-laced portrait since the photo coincided with Edwards' son getting married. The original plan was the Mad Hatter's ball, but you know how hectic weddings can be. That plan fell by the wayside. This year, though, the Hatter's bash will come to life.

As word of the family photo has spread, more people are angling to get in it, Edwards said.

"Doing this has kind of brought everybody together," he said. "They all want to be in that picture."

Too cool for school

School photos are right around the corner. Because these are the ones that get sent to relatives far and wide, you want 'em to look good. Real good.

Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co., which is national, has a Tucson office that handles photos for about 180 schools across Southern Arizona. It has photographing down to a science. Kids get single-use combs at the shoot. They can primp in a mirror before any clicking starts. Retouch options are even available in case, as can happen, a giant pimple sprouts right while the kid is standing in line waiting to be photographed.

The biggest thing with school portraits, said Kevin Reynolds, Arizona director of Inter-State Studio & Publishing Co., is for youngsters to be at ease beforehand.

"I think the most important thing for the kids is to be comfortable with what they're wearing and to be themselves. You want to remember how they were at that time," said Reynolds, whose business card sports his kindergarten picture. He's bundled up in a coat because his mother warned him not to do a thing until after his school photo was taken. He figured that included taking off his jacket.

More tips from the experts:

• Choose solid-color clothes. Avoid logos.

• Get a haircut two weeks before the shoot so it has time to grow out.

• Don't be afraid to retouch the photos. Zits happen.

• Send the kids off to school on a positive note. "I know someone who used to rub his nose on the floor so he'd get a carpet burn because he didn't want to take a picture," Tucson photographer Britta Van Vranken said. "He just didn't want to do it.

"Make sure they eat breakfast and just tell 'em it's going to be fun."

Snap your family's photographic memories

If there's anyone who knows how to take amazing pictures, it's Arizona Daily Star photographer David Sanders. He's shot just about anything and everything.

His top tip: Even if you think you've already got the perfect shot, keep shooting.

"Some of the best photos are going to be the photos between photos," he said. "If you're taking a group shot, after you're done, that's when everyone starts to relax. That's when people start to goof around and really smile. That's when you get some really nice pictures."

• Watch the backgrounds. By paying attention to the background, you can avoid awkward images with telephone poles sprouting behind a head.

• Shoot tight. Get in close to your subjects. Don't rely on a telephoto lens because it degrades the quality of the image.

• Consider the angles. Shooting up at people can lead to unflattering images. Shooting down on them is better.

• Stagger people at different levels in group shots. "You don't want it to look like a sports team photo with people kneeling. Different levels are nice, if you have different rocks or chairs, utilize them."

• Avoid closed eyes. If you have a blinker in the group, have the person shut his or her eyes and then open them on count of three, as the pic is snapped.

• Don't have people face the sun. "Then your subject's squinting and you have a nice shadow under the eyes." Instead, the photographer should face the sun. If you're close enough, you can use fill flash to handle shadows.

• Have fun. "If you've got four people up on a rock, have them jump off together. The more unique the shot, the more memorable it's gonna be. Probably, it'll make a great story for how you got it. 'Oh yeah, that picture, that's when John broke his leg jumping off a rock.'"