How to Pose Families Naturally: My Go-To Poses That Never Fail
If you’ve ever stood behind your camera during a family session and thought, “Okay… now what?”—you’re not alone.
Posing families in a way that feels natural, connected, and not overly staged can feel like a mystery if you don’t have a solid flow. And when you’re mid-session with kids wiggling around and a client looking to you for direction? You want to be prepared and confident.
Over the years, I’ve developed a system that helps me lead sessions with ease—without stiff posing, awkward silences, or second-guessing myself. And I’m sharing some of it with you today.
Posing Starts Before the First Shot
One of the most underrated secrets to natural family posing? It starts before the camera ever comes out.
I send my clients a detailed questionnaire before their session (you can grab my exact ones for free HERE!) and it helps me get a sense of their vibe. Are they shy and quiet? Silly and energetic? Hoping for a calm, cozy session—or one full of movement and laughter?
That insight completely shifts how I prepare to direct them.
I also spend a few minutes before we begin chatting with them—either at the car or as we walk to the location—to feel out their energy. This is where connection starts. Once we begin shooting, I talk the whole way through, explaining the pose as I go, physically helping guide them when needed, and reminding them to breathe, soften, and relax.
My #1 Posing Rule: Close the Gaps
If I could give you one rule that instantly improves your posing, it’s this: Close. The. Gaps.
Whether standing or sitting, families should feel connected in your photos—not spaced out like strangers. If light is shining through gaps between people, they’ll look disconnected. So I’m constantly adjusting arms, legs, and bodies to bring them physically closer—because closeness in body language = closeness in emotion.
Two Go-To Poses That Never Fail
Here are two of my go-to poses that never let me down (and yes—they’re inside my course, too!):
1. The Mind Reader
Have mom and child place their foreheads together, eyes closed, and hold each other’s faces in their hands. Then say:
"Okay—can you read each other’s mind? Think of your favorite ice cream flavor or pizza topping. Don’t say it out loud!"
You’ll get a soft, still, emotional shot—and then laughter and connection when they reveal their answers ("Did you say pineapple?!"). It works every time.
2. Bumper Butts
For families with two parents and two littles who can be held, I have each parent hold one kid on their hip, and sway side to side until the kids’ butts bump into each other. It’s playful, engaging, and brings out the best kind of real smiles—especially if the kids are nervous or shy.
One Pose, Many Variations
One of the best parts of having a strong posing foundation? You can adapt almost any pose to fit any family size. Whether it’s a walk-and-hold-hands setup, a laying down cuddle, or a big group hug—you just need a few base poses to build from.
With small tweaks and prompts, you can use the same concepts with families of three or seven and still create images that feel unique and authentic every time.
For example, shown below, the “laying down” pose with a family with one child, two children, and three children. ALL different ages as well! See how you can adjust and modify one pose or concept, and make it work for everyone?!
Want to See These Poses in Action?
Inside my online family photography course, Photos You Can Feel, I don’t just give you a list of poses—I show you everything. You’ll get:
Real behind-the-scenes videos of me working with actual families
My go-to prompts and pose flow in a printable guide
Visual examples, editing tips, and the why behind every decision I make
Because posing isn’t about memorizing a list—it’s about learning how to lead with confidence and create genuine connection.
Natural posing is possible. It’s learnable. And it starts with how you connect—not just how you direct.
If you want to prep your sessions with more confidence, grab my free client questionnaire to start understanding your families before the shoot even begins HERE.
And if you’re ready to take your posing, prompting, and confidence to the next level, check out my course Photos You Can Feel HERE!
My online course for family photographers! Grab it now for access to more posing, styling and all tips to create beautiful, emotive images!