A Guide to Posing for your Family Photos

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, take a few photos on the same level so that you can get your heads close together too. Don't allow too many gaps between bodies- this creates a feeling of separation between the people. Getting in close shows your relationship and how you love each other. Holding hands or putting your hand on the shoulder of the person in front of you can make a world of difference in your photos. Hands tell a story- try not to leave them out!

The only exception to this rule is if you are intentionally creating space between you and the other members of your family!

have fun

Your photos always look 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.

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 you’re shooting at home, bake something together or snuggle up for a story. When I do a family shoot, I always tell the family that I will guide them into some poses but I really want them to just be themselves. My favorite photos are those that I just took impromptu as the family did something fun together without me telling them to.

use your surroundings

Very often, standing upright in the middle of a room or garden will make your photos look and feel boring. Use your surroundings to make yourselves more comfortable. For example, if there’s a wall in the vicinity, lean up against it. If there’s a couch available, pose on that for a few shots. Give the kids a couple leaves or flowers to hold. Using your surroundings is the best way to create natural looking images.

make use of props

Now, some photographers will tell you that props take the attention away from you, but I disagree... if they are used correctly. A few small props can be a great way to show your personality or create a theme for your images. If you would like to change things up a bit or give a younger child something to do, you can also always incorporate a few basic props into your photos to get a few non-standard shots.