8 Simple Prompts for Natural Family Poses

Natural family poses very rarely happen … well, naturally! The thought of posing for a photo is intimidating for many people, and even more so when parents have to not only consider themselves, but also their kids.

As a photographer, you may worry that this translates into stiff, unnatural poses and fake smiles. We have polled some of our amazing students from the Family Retreat, and they have helped us come up with 8 super simple prompts that easy to remember, but will result in natural family poses and expressions every time!

1. “Tickle the kids!”

Rebecca Lueck (Becca Jean Photography):
“They were cuddled up and looking at daisies, but the little boy was starting to make goofy faces so I told mom to tickle them. Fixed those funny faces right up!!”

tickles create natural family poses
Becca Jean Photography
kids tickled by parents
Aspen Dawn Photo

2. “Give them a kiss!”

Carrie Pfister (Carrie Lynn Photography) shares:
“I just told mom and dad to look at the kids and asked big brother to give little brother a kiss on the side of the head. I didn’t quite get the kiss, but loved this moment nonetheless.”

brother giving sibling kiss during family session
Carrie Lynn Photography
baby being kissed by two siblings
Laura Yost Photography

3. “Group hug!”

A good old group hug will always elicit smiles and giggles, and a twinkle in everyone’s eyes! It doesn’t need any skill other than parents loving on their kids – probably the easiest of all the natural family poses.

family group hug
Shannon McTighe Photography
dad embracing mom and baby
Paige Casazza

4. “Look at someone!”

“‘Look at anybody but me!’ And they did it perfectly!”, said Diane Welter (Diane Welter Images).

natural family posing
Diane Welter Images
Carissa Anthony Photography

5. “Smell her ear!”

This may seem like a weird one, but it works beautifully to create an intimate moment between 2 people. It could be a parent and child, two siblings, or even the parents. You can direct them to just rest their nose against their loved one, but giving that extra direction to actually smell will put a natural smile on everyone’s face!

mom cuddling up with baby
Paige Casazza

6. “Whisper a secret!”

Melissa Bernard (Melissa Bernard Photography) got this great expression by prompting “”Whisper in Millie’s ear what you love the most about her”.

mom whispering in girl's ear
Melissa Bernard Photography

7. “Tip the teapot!”

All it took for these giggles and playful expressions was for Cathy (Cathy Marie Photography) to shout: “I’m a little teapot… tip me over!”

parents tipping kids over
Cathy Marie Photography
playful and natural family posing
Olesya Photography

8. “I’m just checking my settings!”

Sometimes the best prompt is no prompt at all!

Cindy Rawlings (Captured Moments by Cindy) has discovered this little gem:
“I asked them to huddle up in the spot I wanted them in while I got my settings right. (I use this prompt a lot to snap natural shots where everyone is relaxed.) They naturally squatted down and grabbed the littles, I zoomed in on their hands and started capturing.”

family hands together
Captured Moments by Cindy

As you can see, there is no need to memorize a bunch of complex posing prompts. Keeping it simple can create an experience for your clients that will result in those natural, authentic expressions that will delight them when they see their photos.

Pin this to find this post easily!

1 Comment

  1. Nora on October 13, 2023 at 10:36 pm

    Love these, thanks for the inspo!

Leave a Comment





related

Posts

divider

Picture Perfect Productivity: Strategies for Streamlining Your Photography Business with Brittnie Renee

Countdown to Success: Using The Rocketship Blueprint to Propel Your Photography Business Forward with Senior Photographer Sean Brown

Focus on Inclusion: Empathy and Advocacy in Neurodivergent Family Photography with Stacey Feasel

Learning Curves: How Maintaining a Lifetime Learner Mindset Can Help You Master Your Fine Art Maternity with Esther Kay

A Kid at Heart: The Art & Business of Preschool Photography with Trina Julius

The Business of Being Yourself: How Embracing Your Uniqueness Unlocks Your Creativity & Helps You Stand Out in the Newborn Niche With Natasha Simpson

Better Together: How Hiring a Team of Associates Can Help You Grow Your Photography Business With Jill Smith

From Scrubs to Shutter: Balancing Nursing, Photography, and Passion with Shannon McTighe

The Wild Side: Embracing the Beautiful Mess, and Capturing Authentic Connection with Tiffany Crenshaw from Animal House Photography

Golden Moments: Elevating  & Nurturing Client Relationships with Maternity and Newborn Photographer Kellie Golden

The Heart of Photography: Josie Tan’s Approach to Client Connections & Building Relationships in Your Photography Business

Advice From the Pros: Lessons and Reflections From 16 Photographers on What They Wish They Knew as Beginners

Giving Up the Ghost: Releasing the Stories Holding You Back in Your Photography Business.

Practicing Presence: The Healing Power of Slowing Down & Tuning into Mindfulness & Creativity in Photography with Joy Prouty

Inkpot Insights: Crafting Web Magic for your photography business with KP and Jessie from Inkpot Creative

Creating or Consuming: Education as More Than Entertainment, Taking Intentional Action Towards Your Creative Goals

The Art of Elegance: Elevating Your Photography Business Through Client-Centric Strategies with Kayleigh Ashworth

Making Maternity Magic: Empowering Women, Staying Profitable, and Nurturing Creativity in Photography with Karli Braaten

Guiding Stars: 6 Truths from 14 Years in Business & Photography with Lisa DiGeso

Prints with Purpose & Crafting a Luxury Studio: A Conversation with Photographer Ambreia Turner

The Honest Lens: Capturing the Beauty of the Everyday with Documentary Photographer Amy Dangerfield

Storytelling Films: Incorporating Family Legacy Video in your Photography Business with Dorte Kjaerulff

Finding Focus Amid the Chaos: The Importance of Nervous System Regulation and Self-Care for Photographers with Renee Bowen

The Fine Print: Legal Tips Every Photographer Should Know with Paige Griffith from the Legal Paige