Pinterest Pose Ideas- yeah, we don't need them...
One of the biggest questions I hear before a family photography session is:
“What are we supposed to do?”
And honestly? You don't have to know!
You don't need to know how to pose. Your kids don't need to sit perfectly still. And nobody needs to show up knowing exactly what to do with their hands.
That's my job. 😉
As a Central Arkansas family photographer, I want your session to feel less like a photo shoot and more like time spent together as a family. I'll give you direction when you need it, but I'll also give you plenty of opportunities to simply interact, play, laugh and enjoy one another.
Because some of my favorite images aren't the ones where everyone is looking at the camera.
They're the ones where you're doing something together.
So...What Do You Actually Do During Family Photos?
Here are some of my favorite ways to keep a family photography session moving and create genuine moments along the way.
1. We take walks…we move.
Sometimes the simplest activity creates some of the best photos.
Walking gives everyone something to do, and I always throw some extra prompts in there too…always makes it fun and entertaining!
And don't worry about everyone walking perfectly in sync. Real life isn't choreographed—and your photos don't have to be either.
2. Let the Kids Run
If your kids have a little extra energy, let them use it!
We can race, chase each other, run toward Dad, run back to Mom or simply let them explore.
Some of the best family photographs happen immediately after the kids have been running around because the smiles are real and the interactions are natural.
Your kids do not have to “behave” perfectly for family photos.
Embrace the chaos.
3. Snuggle Up
Sometimes we'll slow things down and pile everyone together.
Sit down, cuddle your babies, put your arms around one another or let the kids climb into your lap.
And if your kids are too big to sit in your lap?
They can still lean on you, wrap their arms around you or squeeze in close.
Those little moments of connection are often the images you'll treasure years from now.
4. Play a Game
Want to get everyone laughing?
Let's play!
Remember those outdoor games we used to play at recess when we were little, well, apparently they are still around, and they create some pretty awesome photographs.
The goal isn't necessarily to get a perfect photograph of the game…it's to create an opportunity for your family to interact naturally.
The photographs happen in between.
5. Let the Kids Explore
Maybe there's a trail, tall grass, flowers, trees, water or something else interesting nearby.
Let your kids investigate.
Collect flowers. Look for bugs. Pick up sticks. Throw rocks in the water. Climb. Splash. Explore.
A beautiful location doesn't automatically create a meaningful photograph.
What your family does there is what turns a pretty location into part of your story.
6. Tell a Secret
This is one of my favorite tricks for getting those genuine smiles.
I'll have one person whisper something into another person's ear.
It could be a secret, a joke, something completely ridiculous—or something I make up on the spot.
The goal isn't always to capture the secret.
It's to capture the reaction.
That little laugh. The surprised face. The look between siblings.
Those are the moments that feel like your family.
Sometimes taking the pressure off of “smile for the camera” is exactly what helps a natural smile appear.
7. Let Mom and Dad Interact
This one is important.
Parents often get so focused on getting the kids to cooperate that they forget to simply enjoy each other, but guys, we are still in the middle of our story too.
Look at your spouse.
Hold hands.
Laugh together.
Give each other a quick kiss.
Whisper something.
Let the kids see you being yourselves.
Your family photos aren't only about the kids. They're about the people who created this family and the relationship that holds it together.
8. Do Something That Is Actually “You”
This might be my favorite idea of all.
Think beyond traditional family poses.
What does your family actually enjoy doing?
Maybe your kids love baseball.
Maybe you spend weekends fishing.
Maybe your family loves exploring trails.
Maybe your daughter is obsessed with flowers.
Maybe your son would rather climb a tree than stand still for a photograph.
Let's use that.
Your session doesn't have to look like everyone else's family photos.
If something is meaningful to your family, I want to know about it.
Because ten years from now, you may not remember what the field looked like—but you'll remember that your son spent the entire session climbing everything in sight.
And that's the story I want to capture.
What If My Kids Don't Cooperate?
Then we roll with it.
Seriously.
Kids are kids.
Someone might get distracted. Someone might refuse to smile. Someone might run in the opposite direction. Someone might decide that the middle of the session is the perfect time for a meltdown.
For example, the sweet little lady here, fell asleep on their drive, then she gets out to meet a stranger on top of that. She didn’t smile the first half of the session, but that did not stop us and we got some of the sweetest, sentimental photos of her!
It happens.
Instead of fighting those moments, we'll work around them.
Sometimes the best images happen immediately after the “not-so-perfect” moment.
And sometimes those imperfect moments are part of the story, too.
You Don't Have to Know How to Pose
If you feel awkward in front of the camera, you're definitely not alone.
You don't need to arrive with a Pinterest board full of poses.
I'll guide you.
I'll tell you where to stand, where to sit, where to look and what to do when you don't know what to do with your hands.
But I'm also going to encourage you to interact with your family instead of staring at my camera for the entire session.
Because I don't want to create photographs that simply show what your family looked like.
I want to capture what your family felt like.
The Best Family Photos Aren't Always the Perfect Ones
Years from now, I want you to remember more than what everyone was wearing.
I want you to remember how your little boy used to grab your hand.
How your daughter laughed when Dad chased her.
How your kids fit perfectly into your arms.
How your husband made you laugh.
How your family moved through this particular season of life.
That's why my approach to family photography is centered around connection over perfection.
We'll get the beautiful portraits, too. But we'll also leave room for the movement, the laughter, the cuddles, the chaos and all the little things that make your family yours.
So if you've been putting off family photos because you're thinking, “My kids won't cooperate,” or “We're terrible at posing,” or “I have no idea what we're supposed to do…”
Don't worry.
You bring your people. I'll take care of the rest.
If you're looking for a Central Arkansas family photographer who wants to capture more than everyone standing and smiling at the camera, let's chat about your family, your ideas and what makes this season of your life special.
Because the goal isn't just to take pictures.
It's to create memories you can see.
