Go to Poses for Family Photos in minutes!
Vanessa Joy is a wedding photographer and educator helping photographers grow profitable businesses. While I’m usually behind the camera for weddings, I also love capturing families. In this post, I’ll walk you through one of my fall family sessions, sharing tricks for posing, getting toddlers to smile, and designing albums that families treasure. If you’re a photographer looking to improve your family portrait sessions, this one’s for you.
Starting the Session with Confidence
Fall is the perfect time for family sessions. The light is golden, the leaves create a natural backdrop, and there’s so much room for play. I started this session by having the family walk down a path together while holding hands. Simple movement like this eases everyone into the shoot and creates natural, candid moments.
Getting Toddlers Engaged
If you’ve ever photographed toddlers, you know they run the show! I keep their attention with fun prompts—like having the parents swing the child between them on the count of three. It instantly brings out laughter and joy, which translates beautifully in photos. Another trick is to keep sessions moving quickly so kids don’t get bored.
Capturing the Details
Along with the wide family shots, I make sure to capture smaller details—like the way the parents look at their child, or the child reaching up to hold a hand. These in-between moments tell the family’s story and often become the most cherished images.
The Editing & Album Process
After the shoot, I pulled the images straight into Lightroom, where I refined the colors to highlight the rich fall tones. I love using my presets to keep editing fast and consistent. Once the photos were ready, I designed a family album with Fundy, my go-to album design software. It’s quick, easy, and allows me to showcase the story of the day in a way that families can hold in their hands.
Final Thoughts
Family sessions may not be my everyday work, but I absolutely love them. They’re a chance to slow down, capture real life, and create tangible memories for families. If you’re a photographer, remember—posing, engaging toddlers, and storytelling through albums are the keys to sessions that families will treasure forever.
Want to see my full process in action? Watch the video version of this shoot on my YouTube channel, where I share even more behind-the-scenes tips.
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