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10 Family Photo Poses: Fun Prompts for Making Kids Smile
Family Photo Poses
Want to know one of our favourite (perhaps surprising) family photography facts? Family pictures should be FUN! Whether you have a large family or small, family portrait sessions should be far from painful, and we’re going to let you in on 10 of our best family photo poses and prompt ideas that will make your family shoot a huge success!
Here at Flytographer we easily connect people with trusted photographers for fun photo shoots and have captured over six million memories worldwide. 🌍 The magic of Flytographer is both the experience and the photos. Explore the city with a fun, talented photographer and get wall-worthy photos to relive your trip, forever. Are you looking for the best family photo poses? Read on for the best tips from our local professional photographers worldwide, and save these photo poses and prompts in your back pocket for your next family shoot!
TLDR
- Hold Hands & Follow the Leader
- Tickle Your Neighbour
- Cuddle & Snuggle Up
- Swing the Youngest Kiddo
- Red Light, Green Light
- Jumping for Joy
- Dance Party
- Group Hug Sandwich
- Zoo Animals
- Emotion Challenge
- Frequently Asked Questions
Photo: Taena in Maui for Flytographer. Stephanie and family capture memories in Hawaii with a family photoshoot.
1. Hold Hands & Follow the Leader
Particularly if your family includes young children, movement is your friend… so get ready to roll! For this silly idea, have family members walk in a line and hold hands either all looking ahead or all looking back at the caboose! (Train noises are encouraged.)
Photo: Rachael in Paris for Flytographer. Michelle and family capture memories in Paris with a family photoshoot.
2. Tickle Your Neighbour
It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting down, or needing a standing pose, nothing shows off natural smiles and toothy grins more than a little tickle! Have each family member turn and tickle the person next to them, creating a chain reaction of genuine laughter and natural expressions. This is why it’s one of our favourite family photo poses!
Photo: Julieta in Cancun for Flytographer. Nicole and family capture memories in Mexico with a family photoshoot.
3. Cuddle & Snuggle Up
In between all that movement, sitting poses are your friend. Take a minute to catch your breath by having everyone snuggle close together in a cozy group hug, with parents wrapping their arms around the kids and each other for a close and intimate family portrait. We love to recommend speaking in a whisper when it comes time for a cuddle and snuggle up— this quieting will naturally lend itself to calming little, wiggly bodies.
Pro tip: Let’s take a quick minute to talk about how much time to book for your next family photo shoot. Although we love mini-sessions, it’s important to remember that predicting moods, the weather, last-minute circumstances, and a host of other situations can make timing tricky. Check out why parents with young kids are choosing longer family photo sessions.
Photo: Elisenda in Washington DC for Flytographer. Kamille and family capture memories in Washington with a family photoshoot.
4. Swing the Youngest Kiddo
This is one of our favourite family photo poses because it’s perfect for younger siblings or kids who may not be quite as fast or balanced as older children. Have parents each hold one of the youngest child’s hands and gently swing them between them while siblings gather close, capturing pure joy and movement in a classic family activity.
Photo: Enzo in Honolulu for Flytographer. Eunice and family capture memories on Oahu with a family photo session.
5. Red Light, Green Light
Capture your family playing this classic game with one person as the leader, and others freezing in various funny positions when “red light!” is called. This makes for hilarious expressions and poses. Red Light, Green Light is another great idea for outdoor family photos where you have a little space, and/or a great backdrop to highlight.
Speaking of light (we love natural light) and colours, let’s talk about what to wear! Our photographers are great resources for the best colour recommendations for outdoor photos.
Photo: Mariana in Guanacaste for Flytographer. Kasey and family capture memories in Costa Rica with a family photoshoot.
6. Jumping for Joy
Get that family group in line and jump for joy! Having your family jumping together works especially well on a beach or grassy area and is also fun for big families. It’s one of our more active family photo poses to try!
Pro tip: Be prepared to take multiple shots! Practice makes perfect, and since most of us have a different opinion on whether everyone should jump ON “3” or AFTER “3” it’s hilarious to run this one through a few times while you try and nail it down.
Photo: Trieu in Hoi An for Flytographer. Danica and family capture memories in Vietnam with a family photoshoot.
7. Dance Party
Pictures of candid moments are the hidden gems that come from family photoshoots, and a family dance party is a top photography tip we recommend to liven up any low energy crew. With or without music, encouraging everyone to do their favourite dance move, creating a candid and joyful group shot that shows each person’s personality.
Photo: Marie in Maui for Flytographer. Charleen and family capture memories in Hawaii with a family photoshoot.
8. Group Hug Sandwich
One of our classic family photo poses, starts with Mom and Dad (or the parents) hugging, then have kids run in from different sides to “sandwich” themselves in the middle, making for a warm and playful group shot. You can add family members to your group hug as you go!
Pro tip: Make mom feel special! We love focusing on getting mom back in the photo, and there’s no better time than when hugs are involved.
Photo: Darine in Banff for Flytographer. Leigh and family capture memories in Canada with a family photoshoot.
9. Zoo Animals
For another silly pose that little kiddos love, have each family member pick their favourite animal and strike that pose (a tall giraffe, jumping kangaroo, or roaring lion). This is a huge hit for little ones who typically thrive on making animal sounds and faces!
Photo: Ramon and Sonia in Barcelona for Flytographer. Nadia and family capture memories in Spain with a family photoshoot.
10. Emotion Challenge
For a group posing idea that’s easy and always recommended, we like to think of this one as “make a silly face!” except, elevated! Count to three and have everyone switch to showing a new emotion (super happy, surprised, silly), catching genuine laughs as people see each other’s expressions.
Photo: Claudia in Lisbon for Flytographer. Lauren and family capture memories in Portugal with a family photoshoot.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best colour to wear for family photos?
The best colors for family photos are coordinated neutrals that complement each other without matching exactly. Think navy, cream, gray, and soft earth tones. Avoid bright neons or busy patterns, and instead opt for solid colors or subtle prints that let your family’s personalities take center stage. Our photographers are great resources for specific colour recommendations based on your shoot location and time of day, so don’t hesitate to ask!
How can I look more photogenic in family photos?
Looking photogenic is less about finding a perfect angle and more about feeling relaxed. A few simple tricks go a long way: take a few deep breaths before the shoot, turn your body about 45 degrees from the camera rather than facing it straight on, and tilt your chin slightly forward and down. Most importantly, focus on interacting with your family rather than looking at the lens. Genuine connection is always more flattering than a posed smile.
How do you pose for family pictures without looking stiff?
The key is to keep moving. Rather than asking everyone to stand in a line and say “cheese,” try walking together, whispering something to the person next to you, or simply snuggling in close. Even small moments of interaction, like a hand on a shoulder or leaning in for a laugh, create natural body language that reads beautifully on camera. Your photographer will guide the group and capture the in-between moments that end up being the most memorable.
How do you avoid looking awkward in photos?
The most common source of awkwardness in photos is not knowing what to do with your hands. A simple fix: give them a job. Hold someone’s hand, wrap an arm around a family member, tuck a thumb in a pocket, or pick up a child. Keeping your hands engaged with the people around you eliminates stiffness instantly and creates warmth in the frame.
How long should a family photo session be?
For most families with young children, we recommend booking at least a 60-minute session. This gives everyone time to warm up, work through a variety of poses and locations, and leave room for the unexpected, whether that’s a mood shift, a wardrobe fix, or a spontaneous moment worth capturing. Shorter mini-sessions can work well for older children and adults, but with toddlers and babies, more time is always your friend.
Photo: Carolin in San Miguel de Allende for Flytographer. Abby and family capture memories in Mexico with a family photoshoot.
Capturing Memories with Kids
We hope these posing prompts have helped get you pumped to have fun, be silly, and let loose the next time your beautiful family is in front of the camera, making your group photos a breeze!
Whether you’re planning a photo shoot for a specific celebration, while on vacation, or just to capture your family in this season with your little ones, we’re here to help. If you’re looking for a family photographer who is a pro when it comes to photography poses and lots of fun in front of and behind the scenes, leave it to us here at Flytographer and schedule your family photo session today! 🙌
"We had the pleasure of working with Emily for family photos during our vacation in London, and she was absolutely amazing! From the moment we met her, she was warm, friendly, and so easy to work with. She made us all feel comfortable and relaxed, which made the whole experience fun and enjoyable. Her attention to detail was impeccable, and she really captured the essence of our family in every shot. We couldn’t be happier with the photos! We highly recommend Emily—she’s a true professional, and we’ll treasure these memories forever!"
Lindsey
Tower Bridge
"Elana did a great job taking photos of our extended family while on vacation. She was attentive to our needs and desired photos and took our high-energy crew (three young boys) in stride. We are so happy with how our photos turned out!"
Katherine
Shipwreck Beach
"Sara was absolutely amazing! She worked with our whole family and grandparents and every picture was perfect! She was all about listening to music, playing games and making the best of the photoshoot. We will use her again in the future 100 percent!"
Lindsay
Po’olenalena Beach (South Shore)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amanda Petersen
Amanda is a published travel writer and professional photographer based in New York City. Specializing in photography and travel focused articles, Amanda brings a wealth of technical knowledge to her articles. When she is not behind a lens or laptop, you can find her spending time with her family enjoying life in the big city.