Four Rules that Will Help You Get Natural Family Photos
TLDR/Quick Answer: Natural family photos start with being present with your loved ones during a photoshoot - not perfect outfits or posed smiles. These four rules help your family stay present, connected, and comfortable in front of the camera, whether you're already an affectionate family or more reserved.
Perfectly styled outfits and a great location in Central Oregon won’t guarantee capturing natural family photos that make your heart melt. Capturing photos that will become treasured memories actually starts as a decision before the shutter clicks - by being fully present during your photoshoot.
Creating space for connection between your loved ones during a photoshoot involves cutting away distractions and setting some ground rules in advance.
Following these four practical tips for family photos will prepare your family for images filled with genuine emotion.
Why is setting some ground rules before the photoshoot important for natural family photos?
Taking family photos together shouldn’t have to feel stressful. In fact, the most meaningful moments happen when families feel free to be themselves. Photographs capture more than just a scene - they are also remarkable at capturing mood, emotion, and details that might otherwise be missed by the human eye. If your family is feeling uncomfortable, that emotion will be visible in your pictures
In more than seven years of photographing families, I’ve seen a lot of different types of personalities and family dynamics. In every single situation, there was one key factor that could make or break a lifestyle family photo session: families need to feel comfortable - which starts with being present together.
Pro Tip: Slowing down and staying present will make everyone more comfortable in front of the camera.
Rule #1 Ignore your phone (and smart watch) during your photoshoot.
I know, I know - there’s a thousand things to do every day. But how often do you get a chance to ignore the world for an hour or two? Think of it as a gift, because it is. Your kids love attention from you, so use it to your advantage to get those pictures you really want. Plus, research has shown that taking breaks from smart devices have positive outcomes for your well-being.
Your notifications will still be there after your session ends. You know what won’t be there again at the end of the day? The camera. So, put everything on silent and ditch the tech for a bit.
If you’re my client, I’ll even ensure phones aren’t in pockets and smart watches aren’t on wrists (they’re not pretty in photos). You’ll be glad you took the time to ignore your tech when the edited gallery comes back to you.
Rule #2 Remember that parent attitudes matter more than a child’s behavior.
Parents often express concerns about their child’s behavior. I’m a parent myself, so I understand the concern. I’ll let you in on a secret, though: most photographers are more worried about a grumpy adult than a child who might have big feelings. It’s easy to turn a kid’s frown into a smile with affection or a game; it’s not so easy to do that with an adult.
If you’re ready to plan a session built around your family’s real dynamic, please reach out to see how I can serve you for family portraits.
Rule #3 Whatever happens, let it be. (Really)
Don’t worry about stray hairs, clothing not being perfectly in place, or forcing smiles the entire time. If there’s something that truly needs to be fixed before the camera snaps a picture, your photographer should address it. Otherwise, don’t break a good moment to adjust a detail that doesn’t matter.
If you’re really worried about how everyone looks, check out this post on styling for Central Oregon in any weather to take the pressure off.
Pro Tip: Emotion wins over perfection every single time.
Think about how all of the imperfections of a session can contribute to storytelling for your family’s gallery and add depth to natural family photos. Windblown hair shows movement, rumpled clothing on a kid shows their personality, streaks of dirt from exploring shows a moment in time. This is a season - and it’s worth remembering in its raw, imperfect beauty.
Rule #4 Engage with your family & sink into the moment.
This is the single most important thing you can do in your photo session. Genuine emotion in photos begins with true connection. No camera or Photoshop magic can create this - it starts with you.
Sinking into the moment means letting yourself be immersed in the experience. Don’t try to direct your children’s attention to the camera. When capturing lifestyle family photos in Bend, my goal is to document how your family interacts with each other against the Central Oregon landscape, not to force unnatural moments.
Read this blog post if you’re looking for advice on how to get candid family photos.
How does following these rules help create great lifestyle family photos?
Kids are watching their parents for cues in photo sessions. Even very young children sense how parents are feeling, and are cued in to whether their parents are actively paying attention to them. Researchers term it the ‘still face effect’, where babies visibly react within minutes when their parents’ attention disappears.
A lot of families walk into photo sessions feeling apprehensive, and I can usually tell how quickly we’ll get to the good stuff just by watching the parents. Attentive parents means we get to the quality moments fast, while a reserved or distracted parent means it takes longer for everyone to warm up to the camera.
How can we get natural family photos?
Showing affection or physically engaging with your family will create natural family photos. If your family is affectionate, then kissing, hugging, and holding hands on camera will likely feel more comfortable to you.
If your family is more reserved with affection or doesn’t feel comfortable showing affection in a public setting - which is totally okay - you can still convey physical closeness to one another. Keeping your bodies near each other by leaning in, touching cheeks, or keeping your gaze focused on each other will still look like you’re very connected in your photos.
All of that wonderful physical closeness visually translates into emotional closeness. And you know what else? Bodies react to loving physical touch positively. This is an easy way to create a sense of calm and end up with photos you’ll cherish forever.
How can parents commit to being fully present before the session starts?
If you’re not particularly excited about taking family portraits, you’re not alone. I’ve worked with plenty of families where one parent felt apprehensive going in - and watched them leave the session happy and excited to see the resulting photos.
Commit to being in the moment during your lifestyle photo session by remembering that it’s not just photos - it’s a chance to slow down and sit with where your family is currently in life.
How does visualizing a good end result affect your lifestyle family photos?
Shifting a nervous mindset into a positive one starts by picturing a good end result. Imagine how it will feel to have real, lasting proof of memories your kids will cherish forever. That’s the frame of mind you want to carry into your photoshoot - the more present you feel, the better your chances of capturing meaningful memories. Voila, instant mood booster.
Shift a nervous mindset into a positive one.
This starts by picturing a good end result. Imagine how it will feel to have lasting proof of real memories. That’s the frame of mind you want to carry into your photoshoot - the more present you feel, the better your chances of capturing meaningful memories. Voila, instant mood booster.
How does a parent’s enthusiasm get kids excited, too?
Set the tone for the session by showing enthusiasm, and usually your kids will follow suit. Even if you’re not feeling particularly enthralled with the idea of taking family portraits - don’t show that to your kids. Instead, try to remember that you’re doing this for yourself as much as you are for your kids. We only get this one short life. You might as well make it a life well-remembered.
It is completely normal for one partner to feel hesitant or unenthusiastic about a portrait session. If you or your spouse are dreading the camera, the best way to shift that mindset is to treat the hour as a dedicated break to just play and connect with your kids, rather than a stiff performance.
Why should you hire a photographer who will guide you through your photo session?
All of these rules are simple changes to make, but they can be challenging to implement if you’re not used to it. Hiring a seasoned family photographer who can navigate the things that really matter - like helping you feel comfortable in front of the camera - can make a huge difference in the resulting photos.
It’s your photographer’s job to guide the moments and move the camera accordingly. Similarly, if you’re sitting with your family, don’t be thinking about grocery lists or what you have to do at work tomorrow. Think about how the sun feels on your face, the sound of your children’s voices, or the feeling of your partner’s hand in yours.
If you’re not sure how to go about being present, watch your kids. Children are excellent guides at finding wonder all around them. You can even take it a step further by looking into secrets for happy family photos.
If you haven’t worked with a photographer who makes your experience feel fun, then perhaps you haven’t found someone who is truly aligned with your family’s needs. I specialize in activity-based photos that help your family to relax in front of the camera. I’d love to chat with you about your family’s needs.
Commonly asked questions about getting natural family photos:
How can I help my family relax during a photo session? The biggest factor is presence - putting phones away, following your kids’ lead, and letting go of small imperfections. Natural family photos come from connection in front of the camera, not poses.
What if my child won’t cooperate during family pictures? A child having big feelings is far easier to work through than a tense adult. Truthfully, most photographers worry more about parent energy than how your kid might behave. It’s easy to pause a session and help your child feel better.
Do we have to be very affectionate to get good lifestyle photos? Not at all - if hugging and kissing in front of a camera doesn’t feel right, there are other ways to convey connection. Leaning your bodies into one another and shared eye contact also read as closeness on camera. Connection that is genuine to your family matters, not a specific type of affection.
Hello, I’m Elise.
I’m a Bend, Oregon photographer also serving Redmond, Sisters, and Sunriver. I take time to get to know your family before I pick up my camera - because the real magic of a family session isn’t in camera settings, it’s in knowing how to support your unique dynamic during a photoshoot.