Tips for Beautiful Connection in Your Family Photos

You’ve made an investment in family photos, and now you’re anxiously waiting to see how your Kirkland family photo session will unfold. Will the kids behave? Will your partner be present or distracted checking their phone? Will you like any of the pictures of yourself?

It’s easy, as a parent, to worry about everything! But a little forethought (and visualization of your session beforehand) really can go a long way into helping you feel more confident and relaxed, and in turn, ensuring your family feels the same.

Read on for 4 tips to create beautiful connection and a magical quality in your family photos.

When the kids are going crazy (and let’s be honest, it’s expected), remember to smile!

Maybe you had high hopes your kids were going to put their best foot forward after you promised them ice cream for good behavior, but when you get to your session they just aren’t having it. Don’t panic, I’ve seen it all before and I’m not planning to send you home with the words ‘bad behavior’ written on a report card.

Instead of bringing focus to things going awry, relax and, bizarre as it sounds, smile through it. When parents are smiling, laughing, and look engaged in photographs, often no one can tell behind the scenes it was chaos!

People take social cues from adults’ faces and body language - if the parents are happy then all must have been going well (wink, wink!). Additionally, when parents are having a good time, all that pressure we put on the kids to act perfectly suddenly dissolves, and kids take their parents’ lead.

Don’t expect your children to look at the camera and smile during the whole session.

Yes, we’ll start your session getting that shot of your family looking at the camera while everyone is fresh and ready to please (so grandma has a picture to put in a frame on her mantle). But then, I’ll give your family plenty of prompts to play, joke, and connect with one another. When families are engaged with the ones they love, they forget the camera is even there, and that is when the magic happens - that’s when they smile.

If your family is more serious or you have an intense child, you don’t need to worry either. Forcing children to smile only results in picture taking fatigue. Non-smiling pictures are often more artistic, emotive, and authentic. There is beauty in real life.

Promote connection by keeping your hands engaged.

Whenever possible I want family members to connect. If you have a child standing by you or sitting on your lap, put your hand on their arm, shoulder, or wrap them in a hug. An arm hanging straight down brings the viewer’s eye away from the action happening in the middle of the frame. If everyone is touching it creates a circular shape that keeps the viewer’s eye going from one person to the next. This also allows the interaction between you to feel more authentic and less posed.

Play up the angles for a more flattering look.

After alleviating any fears about the kids not behaving, I know moms start to worry about themselves and how they will look in front of the camera. But don’t fret! Instead, breathe easy and turn towards your family. Looking at your loved ones beside you elongates the neck and gives your body a soft twist at the waist. If you are turned towards your family, hugging or touching them, you’ll probably also be smiling and engaged.

Wow, now you have accomplished all four tips - high five, you’re an over-achiever!

Now that you are ready to create beautiful connection at your family photoshoot, check out this post on What to Wear.

For more tips to help you feel prepared for your next family session and to be the first to know when Stephanie George’s seasonal calendar opens, join the newsletter!