Review: Your Family in Pictures

Your Family in Pictures: The Parents' Guide to Photographing Holidays, Family Portraits, and Everyday Life by Me Ra Koh


Your Family in Pictures is the follow up book to Me Ra Koh's previous photography titles: Your Baby in Pictures and Your Child in Pictures. I would love to say that this title follows the style of her previous titles, but at this point, I have not read her earlier books. I assume that her recipes and giving spirit present in this book are also in her other books. I am very interested in finding her other books after reading Your Family in Pictures.

Mr Ra Koh shares her love of her family, her passion for photography, and her mission to share photography with others. She created this book to inspire parents (especially mothers) to look at family moments and take photographs in a new light. Whether the family owns a point-and-shoot camera or a DSLR, Koh shares her her tips, tricks, knowledge, and "recipes."

Her recipes are how to re-create your own version of her (and her friends') family photos. Koh breaks each photograph down to the best time of day, prep work for the photo, composing the image and finally capturing the shot. Each recipe includes P&S users (point-and-shoot) as well as DSLR users. Each photo is possible! It's all about taking your time and understanding your equipment. I have a P&S camera, but after reading the DSLR recipes, I long to pick one up! I used to shoot on film with a SLR, but I haven't shot with film in oh so many years... Well, there's always a new adventure around the corner!

The book is divided up into different aspects of family and different family moments during the year. The topics covered include everyday life, holidays, family portraits, tweens & teens, family vacations & travel. While some events are obvious (birthday parties, Christmas, or portraits), Koh offers up unique, quiet, and restful everyday ideas like capturing a teenager's bedroom, relaxing at a hotel room, or taking a portrait of Mom. Beyond the recipes, Koh shares a glimpse of her story, tips for equipment, and personal thoughts to motivate and inspired photographers.

If you are a new photographer or a pro, Me Ra Koh's book will inspire and warm the hearts of those who read it. She shares her heart and her family with her readers. It's a beautiful and thoughtful book.


I received this book for free from Blogging for Books for this review. Thank you, Blogging for Books!