Posing Tips for Family and Children Photo Sessions

Photographing more than a few subjects in a photograph isn’t exactly easy as pie. For family and child photographs, you’ve got different heights to consider as well as the various relationships between each family member. Portrait photographer Kimberly Reid knows how to pose families whether they have three, five, 12 or even more members! We’ve pulled a few tips from her Family and Children Photography Guide to help make your next family shoot a successful one.

Lean in and Kiss Pose

The picture above is so adorable I can hardly stand it! Kimberly admits that photographing 18-month-old children is tricky because they’re often “too busy for pictures” and don’t focus very easily. One of her solutions is to really engage them in the photograph. The “lean in and kiss” pose does exactly that.

For this pose, she had mom and dad sweep up the child in their arms and give each other a smooch. She made sure to photograph the child’s face, which was looking downward. Kimberly also gave the child a flower, a quick trick to keep her attention that also added a pop of color to the photograph.

3 Things to Keep in Mind When Photographing Families:

  • Details matter! The way hands are placed and bodies are positioned make all the difference in your photographs.
  • Think about the different heights of each family member. For example, in a sitting pose, Kimberly says she almost always has the youngest child standing.
  • Give compliments often. They provide an inner confidence that exudes from whoever you’re photographing. Not just, “Your outfit looks amazing,” but reassurance that they’re doing a great job posing, too.

For even more helpful advice for posing family and children, check out Kimberly Reids’ Family & Children Photography Guide. Click here for more information and to buy.

{What people are sayin’:}

Simply put – WOW! These guides are amazing. Kimberly really gives great detail in describing her posing…hand placement, body angles, spacing, relationship to surroundings. It is the most detail I’ve seen in any guide whatsoever. Kimberly also shares her editing style and how she achieves it! The posing cards for printing are such an added bonus. I can’t believe everything that is included.” – Brooke T

Topics Covered:

  • How to pose families
  • How to make them relax
  • How to talk to the parents even when it’s awkward
  • How to use different props with children
  • How to find the best locations
  • Camera/Lighting/Editing Techniques

Also includes posing cards so you can take these tips on the go!