Help for Posing During Your Family

A Guide to Posing for Your Family Photos

If you’ve never taken professional family photos before or if you simply want to improve on your last session, here is some advice on how to pose that will leave you with exceptional images.

Get Close

The last thing you want is a family portrait that looks stiff and awkward. The secret to creating a beautiful, intimate family photo is to get close. Snuggle up with the people you love if you want the best photos. If there are people of varying heights in the photo, your photographer knows how to place every one to make it look balanced and natural. Don’t do the dreaded “bent head” if you’re on the outside of the group. It just looks weird.

Have Fun

Your photos are more authentic when your family is genuinely having fun and laughing. Spend time talking about your favorite vacation or a memory that makes you all laugh out loud. These candid moments always make for the best photos. A little tickle here and there, a whispered compliment, a funny comment, or an “I love you” can bring out the smiles.

Keep it Natural

When you overthink posing, it takes away from the genuineness of your photos, which is why it helps to shoot your family photos in a setting where you’re all comfortable and where you can go about your lives as naturally as possible. For example, if you’re in an outdoor setting, take your little one for a walk. If we’re shooting at your home, snuggle up for a story or a hug.

Use Your Surroundings

Very often, standing upright in the middle of a room or garden will make your photos look and feel stiff. Use your surroundings to make yourselves more comfortable. For example, if there’s a wall or a tree in the vicinity, I might have you lean up against it. If there’s a couch available, pose on that for a few shots.

Make Use of Props

If you would like to give your family members something to do, you can also always incorporate a few basic props into your photos to get a few non-standard shots.

If you still have questions about your shoot and how to make the most of it, let me know and I will be happy to assist you with additional tips.

Rebbecca Peterson, Ambiance Images