By Community Correspondent Natalie Knoll Family portraits have come a long way over the past hundred years. The stiff, formal and unsmiling poses of the turn of last century gave way to a slightly more friendly and intimate format where families actually looked like they liked each other and there were a few hints of smiles.

Fast forward to the seventies and eighties (my generation) and there was a predominance of horrid backdrops, even worse hairdos, families invariably wearing the same jumpers and a look on their faces that just screamed “Cheese!”

There was a huge sigh of relief when the more contemporary look of the all white studio backdrop came into vogue and families, dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts could frolic around the studio, having fun while having their portraits taken. Fun, natural, contemporary – keywords and results that most families wanted from their portraits. I have always subscribed more to the relaxing and unintimidating environment of a family home or favourite park as a setting for these “fun, natural, contemporary family portraits” - no intimidating lights, backdrops or soft boxes, only natural light, possibly a bit of fill-in flash and the rest is up to imagination.

What has struck me lately is yet another movement forward in this digital age – A dynamic change to say the least. With the release of the latest pro SLR cameras with the ability to shoot video too (the Canon 5D MkII and the Nikon D90) there is no doubt that family portraits are going to be a “moving story” – a wonderful montage of still images interspersed with video clips that tell the story in pictures and words in an editorial fashion that was usually more limited to the coverage of big family affairs like weddings or christenings etc. It is a natural progression really and one that makes perfect sense. As much as we photographers try to capture the dynamics of a family – their quirks, humour, smiles and intimacies – now we can also capture their laughter, their voices, their jokes. It puts a smile on my face!