7 Ways to Capture Natural Interactions in Family Photos

 

1. Start Posed

Ok, so this kinda contradicts the natural interactions, but trust me, it helps for a great starting point. Easing the family into the photo session is a great way to start. Take control of the pose and the frame. This puts you in charge and sets you up for success. Start by posing the family in a very basic, simple way. This could be just a straight line or simple staggers.

2. Give the kids simple commands

Next, after you’ve taken a few simple posed shots, with the family still in the same place you can cue one or some of the kids to do things. This especially works great with younger kids. For example, tell the kids, ok on the count of three I want you to ___________ (Fill in that blank with: hug mom, tickle dad, high five each other, kiss mom, etc.)? This starts to relax the kids and family and will probably get you some pretty cute shots as well!

3. Make a Game

This doesn’t have to be super complicated. Think of some basic games (depending on the age of the children) It could be duck duck goose, ring around the Rosie, a running race, Simon says. Set the family up in a nicely lit area and ask them to play a short game of your choice.Step back and start taking shots of the game in action! ( For more games to play during a family session read 7 Games to Play At A Family Portrait Session)

4. Share a secret

This works great when the family is sitting. Place in a nice location while sitting. This might be on a blanket or bench. You can cue one of the family members to share a secret with the other. If the kids are a little older, you could also prompt a game of telephone and see if they can take a secret through the whole family.

5. Group hug

While you have the whole family sitting still, it’s time to prompt a group hug. I like putting dad in charge of this one and asking him to hug his family in nice and tight. Make sure to move around the group hug quickly to get shots from all angles.

6. Have them go for a stroll

Ask the family to take a brisk walk together. Choose an end point and have them walk either holding hands (or not) Prompt them to talk about their favorite part of the session as they walk away from you (or towards you).

7. Capture in between moments

All throughout the session, as you take short breaks or walk to other areas, you should be watching for those in between moments that are truly candid. When you see something natural, be aware and ready to capture the hidden gems you might not have looked for otherwise!

I truly hope this helped give you some inspiration in capturing natural interactions with families for the next time you have a family photo session.

To learn 9 Simple ways to Pose Large Families in Portraits, read here! Do you have a trick you like to use to capture natural interactions with family members. Let us know in a comment below.

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