I hope you’ve been enjoying these photography feature posts as much as I’ve enjoyed sharing them! The ambassadors have a few final tips to share with you this month on the topic of posing.
Family photos can be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved when your photographer and your family members are willing to have a little bit of fun and move outside the box when it comes to posing. Below are six fun poses aimed at helping even the toughest customers loosen up in your next family photo session.
#1 – Everybody say “squeeze.”
A good old-fashioned family squeeze is a great way to loosen everyone up and remind each of your family members that they really do like each other!
Melissa of Melissa Klein Photography says,
I try to get a mixture of posed photos and fun photos during my sessions, and my favorite thing to have a group of people do is to squeeze together. They will typically all be standing up straight (or sitting), and then I’ll say “OK, now everyone squeeze together!” and it usually results in some laughs, great smiles, and a sense of closeness in the photos.
#2 – Dance it out.
To give your family a break from all of the smiling and posing why not make time for a short family dance party. This can be a fun way to capture your family’s personality and end your session on a high note.
Kimi of Oh Hello Photo! says,
Having family photos doesn’t have to be stiff and boring. I absolutely love bringing in the fun! You don’t always have to be so serious. You can dance! These kids were a blast and was going the newest dance craze the “Dab” during the entire session. We ended the shoot with a family Dab because why not!
#3 – Simple Silhouettes
Family silhouettes are a fun way to capture your tribe in a simple, yet elegant way-highlighting the individual forms that make up your family and emphasizing more basic differences like height, gender, age, etc.
Amy of My Letter-Sized Life says,
I love playing with light in my photography and while I believe its important to capture the details in a family photo session, I can’t resist taking at least one good family silhouette photo if the light will allow for it. This give the family a chance to take a break and interact with each other in a way that is natural and relaxing and not have to worry about smiling or posing. Plus there’s something so simple and beautiful about seeing a family portrayed thru basic shapes, in this case we see this family is made up of a father, a mother, a brother and a baby sister.
#4 – Ready. Set. JUMP!
Show off your families spunk and agility with a perfectly timed jumping photo. This creative pose is sure to add a boost of energy to your session!
Emily of Everbranch Photography says,
Sometimes you just need to be silly. Smiling for an entire session can get tough. Mixing in some play and fun always helps the kids stay engaged and give some natural smiles, as well as adding some fun shots to their gallery!
#5 – Turn that smile upside down.
Family sessions can grow a little long and tiresome for the littlest members of your group. If your little one seems to be getting fussing, a playful toss or flip just might do the trick!
Kimi of Oh Hello Photo! says,
Sometimes toddlers just don’t want to smile. Sometimes they just want to run away and play. That’s when you have some fun. This is one of my favorite “poses” with a solo toddler. They love to be upside down and they love to be smothered in kisses so why not do both!
#6 – Just be.
Sometimes its those candid in-between shots that reveal the most about a family’s dynamic–those random moments where everyone’s just being themselves.
Amy of My Letter-Sized Life says,
Some of my favorite photos that I’ve taken of families are those break-in-the-action shots. Maybe I’m testing the lighting or we’re waiting for cooperation from the younger members of the family. Whatever the reason, no one realizes the camera is on them and for a moment everyone is just being themselves. This photo of my sister-in-law’s family is a great example. We were waiting to see if the wind would die down a bit but when I looked through my lens I saw a tender father/daughter moment, a toddler tickling her daddy and a mother’s unbridled laughter. Is it a perfect photo?…many would say no…it is however perfectly THEM!
In addition to the ideas above you can also have a look at the bluebird chic family photography pinboard for more location ideas for your fall photo sessions!
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