Five Photos Every Family Session Should Include

A decade ago, I started my family photography business. Over the past ten years, my approach to family photos has developed and I have learned so much. My approach to family photo sessions is to always capture your love and connection. There are quite a few ways that I accomplish this during the session. So, although it may feel fun and maybe even a little chaotic, there is a method to my madness.

While every family dynamic is unique, there are some key images that I strive to capture during every photo session. Here are a few of those ideas.

1) The Photo for Grandma

This is the photo in which everyone is looking at the camera and smiling. It is a traditional photo, that I try to make more natural with the type of posing and prompts I use. I tend to start almost every session with this capture. It tends to be the type of posing with which most families are comfortable and it serves as a great ice breaker. Although I personally would not hang this type of photo in my own home, I still like to have it captured for archival purposes and I know that most clients want it too. I have kids and I know how hard it is to get a photo in which all eyes are on the camera and everyone is smiling, especially when you have young children. I also know that grandparents tend to want this type of picture on their walls. Just because everyone is looking at the camera, doesnt mean that the image has to be a rigid or stiff pose.

family standing on a dune dressed in blues and pinks at sunset with a little boy on dad's shoulers

family dressed in blue and grey and front of a fall field of weeds

family dressed in green and white on the beach seated on a jetty and they are all looking at the camera and smiling

2) Embraced and Closely Knit Emotive Image

I love this type of photo so much. I usually will anchor the photo with the parents embraced and surround the couple with their children. Usually, once the family is placed close together connection and interaction automatically occurs and I will further facilitate it with prompting. I love to capture this photo towards the end of a session when the sun is setting and little ones are tired. This is the image that you will want to hang on your wall. It will remind you of how much love you share as a family.

Family embraced and smiling on the beach at sunset Mom is holding a little girl and the girl is cuddling her mom

mother and father embraced holding sleepy toddler boy and they are all dressed in blue

father and son kissing mom at sunset on the beach and she is looking at the camera and smiling while she holds her baby girl

3) Fun or Silly Moment

I ask you to interact a lot during a session. I may ask you to do silly things, but these actions are what facilitate often laughter and silly moments…those are the moments that you will want to remember for years to come.

sunset in a field and mom and dad are chasing after toddler boys

dad tossing daughter into the air in a pink sunset sky

boy holding parents hands and he is swinging and laughing

kids dressed in white and blue running in the ocean aves at sunset

family running and playing in their backyard ad the mom is holding a baby and the toddler girl is in a tutu

4)Walking or Running Together

I know this may feel like a cliche moment, but I truly love to capture this moment. There are so many variations of this pose that are individual and unique for each family. For some, it involves chasing after a toddler. For others, it is a leisurely walk while holding hands as a family. Some families are not into hand holding, so maybe for that family it is just capturing them single file as they walk towards a location.

family dressed in blue and white walking single file down a dune

family dressed in pink white and blue with a glowing red sunset sky behind them and they are wlaking along the ocean with their reflections in the water and looking out at ocean

family dressed in pink white and blye walking down a dune at sunset and the boy is on dad's shoulders

5) Seated Closely Together

This is such a great way to get an intimate photo of the family. Families tend to naturally snuggle up to one another when they are seated and it often segues into fun silly photos.