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Calgary Lifestyle Family Photographer
Family portraits are more than just pictures; they are cherished memories that capture the essence of familial love and connection. As a family photographer, your goal is to create images that are dynamic, heartwarming, and genuine. This guide provides you with 20 creative and engaging poses to make your family portrait sessions in Calgary truly special. From classic hugs to playful interactions, these posing ideas will help you bring out the best in every family, creating portraits they will treasure forever.
1) Go stand behind dad and give him a big hug
Starting with a classic pose, ask the children to stand behind their dad and give him a big hug. This creates a beautiful moment of connection and affection. The resulting image showcases the protective and loving nature of the father, with children expressing their love and dependence.
As a photographer, angle yourself to capture the expressions on both the children’s and father’s faces. Ensure good lighting to highlight their emotions. This pose works well in various settings, whether it’s in a cozy indoor environment or a scenic outdoor location.
2) Look at mom and tell her you love her sooooo much
An emotional moment unfolds when children look at their mom and say they love her. This pose captures the deep bond between mother and child. Have the child or children face their mom and hold her hands, looking deeply into her eyes.
Photograph this interaction from different angles to capture the raw emotions and expressions. Encourage the mother to respond naturally, creating a genuine moment that reflects their loving relationship.
3) Forehead to forehead, nose to nose
This intimate pose works wonderfully for showcasing the close bond within a family. Ask the parents and children to bring their foreheads and noses together. This pose limits physical distance and creates a warm, intimate atmosphere.
Focus on capturing the serene expressions and the small smiles that naturally occur. It’s a beautiful way to highlight the unity and affection among family members.
4) Put your son on your shoulders
Adding a playful element, have the dad lift his son onto his shoulders. This pose brings out the playful side of family interactions and is particularly great for outdoor shoots. The height difference adds a dynamic visual element to your shots.
Capture both wide shots to show the full scene and close-ups to focus on the expressions of joy and excitement. This pose is perfect for adding a sense of scale and adventure to your family portraits.
5) Walk hand in hand
Walking hand in hand is a timeless family portrait pose that symbolizes togetherness and support. Arrange the family members in a line, holding hands, and have them walk towards or away from the camera.
This pose works beautifully in various settings, from parks and beaches to urban streets. Try different perspectives, such as shooting from the front, back, or side, to capture the movement and connection.
6) Everyone warm and cozy under the blanket
This pose is perfect for creating a sense of warmth and closeness, especially during colder seasons. Have the family gather under a large blanket, snuggling close to each other. This creates a cozy and affectionate atmosphere.
Emphasize the family’s faces and interactions by adjusting your focus and ensuring good lighting. This pose is ideal for capturing the essence of family warmth and love.
7) Play peekaboo (with or without a blanket)
Playing peekaboo brings out the playful and innocent side of children. Use a blanket for added fun, or let the children hide behind trees or other props and pop out to surprise their parents.
As you photograph this pose, be ready to capture the spontaneous moments of laughter and surprise. The joy and excitement on the children’s faces will make for endearing and lively photos.
8) Run to or around mom and dad and go hug them
Encourage the children to run towards their parents or circle around them before enveloping them in a big hug. This pose captures the energy, playfulness, and love within a family.
Photographing this action will result in dynamic and lively images. Experiment with different shutter speeds to capture both the motion and the final embrace clearly.
9) Twirl
Twirling is a fun and energetic pose, perfect for capturing the carefree spirit of children. Have the parents hold the child’s hands and twirl them around. This creates motion and excitement in your photos.
Focus on capturing the joy and movement in the child’s face and the parents’ expressions. This pose is especially beautiful in outdoor settings with ample space.
10) Feel the sand, water, leaves or anything else that is fun to play with
Incorporate natural elements like sand, water, or leaves to add texture and interest to your photos. Encourage the family to interact with these elements, whether it’s picking up leaves, feeling the sand, or splashing water.
This pose encourages natural behavior and expressions, resulting in relaxed and enjoyable portraits. Capture the interactions and the sensory experience to add a tactile element to your photos.
11) Show me the biggest hug ever
Ask the family to give each other the biggest hug they can muster. This pose is sure to bring out genuine smiles and laughter. It’s a simple yet powerful way to showcase the family’s love and affection.
Photograph this pose from different angles to capture the warmth and closeness of the hug. The resulting images will be heartwarming and full of genuine emotion.
12) Lift your child way up and back down for cuddles
Capturing a parent lifting their child high into the air and bringing them back down for cuddles is an excellent way to show the bond and happiness between them. This pose works well with younger children.
Focus on the child’s delighted expression and the joy in the parent’s face. This dynamic pose creates exciting and affectionate photographs.
13) Throw snow (or leaves) in the air
For a seasonal and playful touch, have the family throw snow or leaves into the air. This adds an element of fun and creates a lively atmosphere in your photos. Ensure the setting complements the seasonal backdrop.
Capture both the action and the aftermath, focusing on the gleeful expressions and the beautiful flurry of snow or leaves. This pose works beautifully in capturing the joy of the moment.
14) Kiss!
Encourage the parents to share a kiss while the children watch or join in with cheek kisses. This pose showcases the love between the parents and involves the children in a sweet, intimate moment.
Photograph this pose closely to capture the affection and tenderness. It’s a perfect way to highlight romantic love within a family context, making for beautiful and heartfelt images.
15) Parents, each hold a child and have fun!
Have each parent hold a child and engage in playful or loving interactions. This pose highlights the individual relationships between parents and children while showcasing the family as a whole.
Capture the joy, laughter, and affection as they interact with each other. This pose is versatile and can be adapted to various activities, from playful swings to gentle cradles.
16) Dad, go behind mom and interact with your child over mom’s shoulder
This pose creates a layered composition, with the dad behind the mom and the child interacting over her shoulder. It adds depth and focuses on the family bond with an intimate and connected feel.
Photograph both the child’s and the parents’ expressions to capture their interaction and connection. This pose works well in close-up shots, highlighting their faces and emotions.
17) Tickles!
Tickle sessions are guaranteed to bring out genuine laughter and joy. Ask the parents to tickle their children or each other, capturing the spontaneous reactions and happy expressions.
This pose is perfect for showing the playful and fun side of family life. Use fast shutter speeds to freeze the action and focus on the laughter and joy in the moment.
18) Hold your daughter facing you and dip or spin
For a playful and dynamic pose, have the parent hold their daughter facing them and dip or spin her around. This action adds movement and excitement to your photos.
Focus on capturing the expressions of joy and exhilaration. This pose works wonderfully in outdoor settings with ample space for movement.
19) What I like to call the 2-hand handhold
The 2-hand handhold involves each family member holding two hands with the person next to them, creating a circle or chain of connection. This pose symbolizes unity and support within the family.
Photograph this pose from above or from various angles to capture the family’s connection. It’s a simple yet powerful way to showcase their bond and togetherness.
20) Just have fun and explore
Encourage the family to explore their surroundings, have fun, and be themselves. This approach allows for natural, candid moments that reveal the family’s true personality and dynamic.
Capture the spontaneous interactions, laughter, and discoveries as they explore. This organic and relaxed method often results in the most authentic and cherished portraits.
Calgary Wedding and Lifestyle Family Photographer
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Lessons learned
| Pose | Description |
|---|---|
| Go stand behind dad and give him a big hug | Showcases protective and loving nature of the father. |
| Look at mom and tell her you love her sooooo much | Emphasizes the deep bond between mother and child. |
| Forehead to forehead, nose to nose | Creates a warm and intimate atmosphere. |
| Put your son on your shoulders | Brings out the playful side of family interactions. |
| Walk hand in hand | Symbolizes togetherness and support. |
| Everyone warm and cozy under the blanket | Creates a cozy and affectionate atmosphere. |
| Play peekaboo (with or without a blanket) | Brings out the playful and innocent side of children. |
| Run to or around mom and dad and go hug them | Captures energy and love within a family. |
| Twirl | Perfect for capturing the carefree spirit of children. |
| Feel the sand, water, leaves or anything else that is fun to play with | Encourages natural behavior and expressions. |
| Show me the biggest hug ever | Sure to bring out genuine smiles and laughter. |
| Lift your child way up and back down for cuddles | Captures the bond and happiness between parent and child. |
| Throw snow (or leaves) in the air | Adds an element of fun and creates a lively atmosphere. |
| Kiss! | Showcases love between parents and includes children in a sweet moment. |
| Parents, each hold a child and have fun! | Highlights individual relationships within the family. |
| Dad, go behind mom and interact with your child over mom’s shoulder | Creates a layered composition focusing on family bond. |
| Tickles! | Guarantees genuine laughter and joy. |
| Hold your daughter facing you and dip or spin | Adds movement and excitement to your photos. |
| What I like to call the 2-hand handhold | Symbolizes unity and support within the family. |
| Just have fun and explore | Reveals the family’s true personality and dynamic. |
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