Family portraits don’t have to be a version of those old, ceremonial ones hanging over the mantelpiece- everyone in suits and dresses posing formally, and sometimes awkwardly, against a large red armchair. When you do decide to do a photography session with your beautiful family, there are several fun and laid-back ideas that might be more suited to your individual personalities.

All photographs are indeed different and it does not do you good to recreate other people’s creative ideas. What you can do is take inspiration from them, and add your unique touch to make your photographs entirely your own. Let’s have a look at some inspiration for family portrait photography.

1.     The Great Outdoors

While having a photoshoot at your home may seem like the most reasonable and comfortable idea, you can change things up by deciding to take yourself outside to the garden or the nearest park. Not only will you all have plenty of room to move around freely, but your children will love running around the grass. Plus, it will put them in a playful mood from the get-go.

It is also no secret that pictures look better in daylight. Your outdoor photoshoot can end up giving you sharper and crispier photographs than you expected. If the sun is out that day- even better! Go out and make a family day out of it.

2.     Faux Candid

If organized-looking photos are not your cup of tea, you can also try the faux-candid idea. Instead of gazing directly into the eye of the camera, you can prepare your pose in a way that looks natural. You could be talking to your children, hugging them, holding your spouse’s hand- anything that seems natural enough to you.

This way, the love amongst family members will be evident in the photos, making them memorable and sweet to reminisce about for years to come.

3.     With the Grandparents

Everyone would agree without question that grandparents are the sweetest, most loving beings on earth. If you want to take memorable photographs to keep in your family album for the next few generations to see and adore, grandparents are an essential presence. From being your kid’s first babysitter to spoiling them with candy and love, grandparents have an especially tender relationship with the little ones.

You can even combine the faux-candid idea with this one and end up with the cutest picture ever! Tell the grandparents to be their natural selves and let the photographer do the rest.

4.     Find an Aesthetic Location

If you are feeling especially ambitious about the family photo and are dedicated to taking the best possible one, it might be cool to head over to a better location. Depending on what kind of city you are at, you can choose mountains, hills, forests, or the beach as the backdrop of your photoshoot. If you are in the Greensboro area, you can try the Arboretum for a stunning venue. All you need to do is plan a family day out to the particular location (pack a picnic if you must) and take your photographer with you!

This will be an opportunity for you to take a different family photo than the usual. Play around with depth of field, poses, shutter speed- you will just have too many options to choose from.

5.     Find Some Props

To add a bit of accent to your photographs, you can use props too. Some people prefer funny posters and signs, but lights are one of those trending photography styles that add a bit of oomph. Tell your photographer that you would like to play around with the bokeh effect- trust us; if they know what they are doing the photos are going to turn out magical!

If you are taking photos around Christmas, your tree can make the perfect bokeh background for family portraits. Save the idea for December!

6.     Bring in the Family Pet

Last but not least, if you have a family pet, it needs to be in the picture! Often, pets are considered part of the family and many people love to include them in the family portrait.

Their presence in your portrait will not only be of sentimental value for you all, but it will be the most adorable thing ever! Whether you have a dog, cat, rabbit, or hamster- bring your furry friend in the frame and make the photo truly unforgettable.

While formal portraits may be the way to go for some people, you can look into these alternatives and make a statement many will want to get behind.

If you are located in Greensboro or nearby areas and are motivated to take the best portrait of your family inspired by these ideas, there is nothing to stop you! Hit us up at 336.486.9932 and Doug Burke Photography will take charge, delivering you the quality family portraits you’ve always wanted.