You may have considered taking family photos over the years, but it just hasn’t happened. There are so many reasons as to why families never end up having a proper photo session and one of the biggest concerns I often hear from my clients is not knowing how you should pose.
The idea of a family photo shoot can be intimidating, and it can be challenging to come up with ideas for how to appear natural behind the camera. When you hire a professional photographer, you want real, unposed and emotive photos that show your genuine love and family story and that is exactly what I offer as a family photographer.
I am going to tell you right now that making the decision to invest in family photos is something you will not regret and feeling comfortable in front of the camera is key to capturing a natural and authentic style in the images. So let’s dive right in, here are some of my favourite posing tips for your family photo shoot.
Top Posing Tips
Angle Your Body To The Camera
In photos, the mum will typically stand between their children and wrap an arm over each child when posing with two or more of them.
I recommend that you turn to face one child and give them a hug with both arms while keeping your body angled toward the camera for a more appealing pose. If you have several kids, let them wrap around you.
Don’t worry that you may come off as favouriting one child over another or that someone will feel left out. You will still be all snuggled into each other and you can always switch directions of your hugs to mix up the poses. We will make sure everyone is involved!
Get Your Faces Up Close To Each Other
Get your faces close up to each other, almost touching, to show your genuine family connection in your photos. Move behind your child, put your arms around them, bend forward and to the side, and smush your face into theirs for some cuddles and kisses.
To make sure you are getting close enough as I understand you may feel awkward doing this in front of a camera, you can go cheek to cheek with them or tickle their cheek with the tip of your nose. Have fun with it and be yourselves so I can capture those real emotions!
Avoid Unwanted Shadows
Even if you believe that posing with the sun in front of you will provide more light, the outcomes can still be quite unappealing. Deep shadows can appear under your eyebrows, nose and neck which can change the appearance of the shape of your face, and even you skins texture.
Depending on the situation, direct sunlight is not always recommended as it can sometimes be very harsh on the skin, making your skin appear older and enhances textures and blemishes. However, with the correct positioning and preparation, shooting when the sun is at is brightest can offer a more creative and bold look to your images.
Keep Your Back Straight
Relax by taking deep breaths. This will tighten the skin on your neck and shoulders, which will assist in keeping your back straight and holding a good posture. Imagine there is a thread on top of your head being pulled up to the sky. Do not go overboard with this movement though. Just make sure your spine is straight from your waist to your shoulders. Rolling your shoulders back will also improve your posture, lengthen your neck, and tighten the skin around your shoulders. Take a deep breath in, arch your back, and drop your shoulders.
Follow My Lead
Follow my lead, and your children will do the same. Often parents worry about how their children will behave during a photo session, but my best advice is to let them be themselves. If you get them excited and prepared ahead of the session then that will relieve any anxiety and nerves they may be feeling. By following my lead, setting a good example and most importantly show them you’re enjoying yourself this will encourage them to play along, get involved and listen when changing positions or moving location.
Be Yourself
With all of these tips in mind, it is important to just be yourself. We do not want to create a session of forced and unnatural poses. But we do want to create magic that comes from your hearts in the most natural, appealing and beautiful way, right?
Show off your family’s personality by having fun, showing real emotions through cuddles and kisses and being your authentic self.
Are You Ready for Your Family Photoshoot?
I hope that these posing tips for your family photoshoot have made you feel at ease!
Whether you want to capture your family photos in the comfort of your own home, in a location that you all enjoy or in the studio that is full of warmth, love and joy, you will not regret having these memories captured so that you can look back on them in years to come.
You can enquire about my photography services here, I would love to capture your story.
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