Don’t leave vacation without a family photo

You may not be thinking about sending out holiday cards quite yet, but your family vacation this summer is the perfect opportunity to take a picture. If you’re lucky enough to be on or near a beach, taking a photo of the family at sunset would make a beautiful addition to your card. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to capture the beautiful golds, yellows, oranges and pinks that dance across the sky behind you. Keep these tips in mind for taking a stunning family photo right at sunset:

Scope out the perfect location: On the first few days of your vacation, be on the lookout for the best sunset spot. Maybe it’s on the beach, or maybe it’s from the balcony of your hotel. This is a great opportunity to really explore the town you’re vacationing in.

Use a tripod: If you’re using longer shutter speeds to capture the right light in your picture, it can be tougher to get a crystal clear photo. Putting your camera on a tripod helps keep the camera still, giving you a flawless result.

Take a ton: The joy of having a digital camera (or a smartphone) is that you can take as many photos as you desire. It’s better to come home with 100 pictures to look through, rather than having only two beach photos from which to choose.

Wear simple clothing: As a general rule, it’s best to wear clothing that’s free of any busy prints or patterns (tell dad to forgo the Hawaiian shirt), as these can be distracting to the overall photo. Instead, stick to solid colors that keep the attention on your faces and the beautiful sunset.