5 Tips To Get The Most Natural-looking Family Poses

We’ve all heard the cue, “just act natural” - and felt the panic that comes along with it as you wonder if you have ever even felt “natural” or how to make sure you act like it in front of the camera.

I promise you’re not alone! And, to put my words where my promise is, here are my favourite tips for helping us all hit that perfect “natural, unposed” family sweet spot for our shoot together.

1. Just breathe

Your family shoot is supposed to be fun - and it will be! One long breath in through the nose and out through the mouth should do the trick to calm those nerves and help you relax. If you’re still feeling frazzled, try the 4-7-8 breathing technique: breathe in for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds. You’ll feel better in no time.

2. Choose a comfortable location

Your environment should make you and your family feel at ease, so pick somewhere that makes you all feel most ‘you’. Whether it’s at the beach, in the bustling streets of Hong Kong, or in your home - your location is a big part of your ability to relax and get natural-looking photos.

3. Interact normally

Now is not the time to try forced smiles and stiff poses. Instead, do the things you’d normally do as a family - tell each other inside jokes and belly laugh until you cry, give hugs, hold hands, chat about your day, play in the beach sand… do whatever you’d normally do when there’s no camera involved - these are the moments I’m looking for behind the lens!

4. Take a break

I’m pro snack breaks in all facets of life, but especially when it comes to family shoots. If it feels a bit overwhelming or like it’s just not quite working, we can take a couple of minutes away from the camera to let things settle, shake off any tension and nervousness, and come back to the photoshoot when everyone’s ready and relaxed.

5. Wear comfortable clothes

And clothes that make you feel good! There’s a whole blog post that goes into all of this, more in depth, but my top tip really has to be making sure that you feel like yourself in your styling choices for the day. There’s nothing like feeling good in your own skin on any day, but especially when you’re in front of a camera!