10 Creative Family Photo Prompts for Genuine, Natural Smiles
As a Family Portrait and Lifestyle Photographer here in Salem, Oregon, I am well versed in how to get genuine smiles from not only kiddos and baby’s but adults too! We all need a little help getting those real smiles out of us.
If you’ve ever wondered how to get natural smiles in family photos, the answer usually isn’t “Say cheese.” The best family photo ideas aren’t about perfect posing. They’re about connection, movement, and creating moments that feel real.
As a family portrait and lifestyle photographer in Oregon, I’ve learned that genuine smiles happen when families are relaxed and truly interacting with one another. Kids, babies, and even adults sometimes need a little direction to forget the camera is there. When the pressure is gone, the magic shows up.
While I always capture a few classic, beautifully posed family portraits, most of my sessions are built around playful prompts and real connection. Laughter. Snuggles. Movement. Inside jokes. When families focus on each other instead of the lens, the images feel effortless and full of life. I want them to try to forget I am even there!
Below is a list of my favorite family photography prompts that consistently create authentic expressions and joyful, natural images.
SNEAK UP BEHIND AND HUG FOR NATURAL KID SMILES
One of my absolute favorite way to get genuine smiles at my Family Photography Sessions is I have kid(s) stand near me, and then have a parent sneak up behind them and either give hugs, or tickles. (And I do not allow the kids to look back to see where the parents are!) This adds to the surprise element and always give the BEST smiles without fail. Often this becomes a favorite part of the session, and kids ask to do it over and over. Their laughter is contagious and always creates beautifully joyful images without fail.
For this images, I had Mom sneak up behind her daughter and give her hugs! This resulted in the best smiles from both of them! This image was done at Minto Brown Park here in Salem, Oregon at golden hour.
For this one, I had both mom and dad sneak up behind 4 year old Lily, and give her big kisses! Symmetry is powerful here. Two parents leaning in creates a natural frame around the child. When you control direction, you control composition without it feeling stiff. Hugs or kisses both work perfectly, whatever is most comfortable for your clients.
The in-between moments with this mom and daughter are often stronger than the posed ones. Stay ready after the “official” shot. That’s when the real expressions happen.
This is an example of both parents sneaking up and hugging their kids (twins in this case!)
This is an example of another variation you can try! Sneak up and give tickles! Kids genuinely LOVE this game!
Another image example of sneak up, and give a sweet hug.
2. WALKING HAND IN HAND FOR MORE CANDID FAMILY PHOTOS
A simple walk while holding hands can creates a candid and relaxed vibe, especially because this can be done with your zoom lens, and they actually cannot look at me if they don’t want to trip! Whether it’s through a forest trail or fields at the golden hour, or along the Willamette River at Minto Park, this pose showcases family togetherness naturally. Have the family walk away from you in a line holding hands, then turn around and walk toward you. I always tell them not to look at me, but look at each other and keep smiles on their faces! If they need more warming up, I say walk with BIG steps as SILLY as you can, and this really adds to the laughter and smiles.
Tip: This pose also works great for Maternity Photo Shoots!
Hand-holding lines create built-in composition, and I always do this pose during this family’s sessions! We have done countless photos together over the years, and always make sure to do this prompt!
I had this Family of four hold hands during their photoshoot and walk towards me for some beautiful genuine smiles. I let big sister lead and pull them along behind her.
I love how this prompt allows them to stay connected, and almost ignore me completely! I have photographed this family of 5 back when it was just mom and dad! What a gift it has been to watch them grow.
This sweet family of four had the most perfect evening for our session! This is a classic forward walk, but notice the small connections. Dad looks down at his daughter. Mom looks toward Dad. The little one looks at the ground. Not everyone needs to look at the camera for it to feel cohesive.
3. SNUGGLE TOGETHER ON A BLANKET FOR COZY FAMILY PORTRAITS
At every outdoor family session I do, I always have everyone pile on a blanket for some sweet snuggle images. Lay out a cozy blanket in a beautiful spot and have the family snuggle close. Typically I get mom situated first then have everyone squeeze in and snuggle around her. Kid can lean up against her, lay in her lap, , kneel behind her, whatever they like. I always keep a stash of blankets in my vehicle, and pick one when I see what colors my clients are wearing. This is usually a client favorite image, and adds so much emotion to their gallery! I do this image a lot at Bush’s Pasture Park or Minto Brown Park here in Salem.
When you have families sit, dont be afraid to ask them to “do something” Play with the grass. Look for bugs etc etc. This image is one of my dearest friends and her two boys. Five year old Grayson, and 3 year old Lucas . They are the sweetest family, and I adore them so much! Completely obsessed with their entire session! I made them stay up way too late for the perfect sun. It was worth it!
This sitting down family photo is one of my favorites. The sweetness and connection between all of them was palpable. This family was just the sweetest and were actually winners of a giveaway I held! And can you believe it, the mom MADE all of their dresses!
In this family of three, I loved this sitting down pose and how it showed connection between mom and dad, but also the sweetness between dad and his five year old daughter Estrella. Sometimes sitting low to the ground changes everything.
When having them sit, be sure to bring them in tight. When you close physical distance, you amplify emotional impact. Tight framing removes distractions and forces connection. And keeping the parents looking at baby or toddler is always the perfect image.
When doing the sitting pose, don’t forget to also have them look directly at you! Most family’s usually choose this image first. For this family of 4, I have a blanket under them, but have them try to tuck it in as much as possible so the focus isn’t on the blanket, but on them.
4. PIGGYBACK RIDES FOR PLAYFUL, GENUINE FAMILY SMILES
Piggybacks or even shoulder rides are a great way to get playful smiles from both kids and parents! You can have kids on parents backs, or if there are two older kids, I often have them do it to each other, and it ALWAYS gets the best smiles between them. It’s something they love doing, and probably already do at home, so it’s a great idea for some really sweet images. This also helps get a sibling warmed up if they are feeling shy or just need extra time.
For this sweet sister photo, I asked them to do piggyback rides and it resulted in some of the most darling images ever!
This is a great one to do for older kids too, like these brother and sister siblings. Let them climb on each other. Let them be silly and laugh too loud. Piggyback rides invite movement, and when you do that, you invite real joy.
If you want genuine expressions, give them something to do. Like piggyback rides! I have been photographing siblings Bailey and Wyatt since they were teeny tiny. They are growing up before my very eyes! They always ask me to do this piggyback pose, and really were the ones who stared me doing it regularly!
5. WHISPER SOMETHING SWEET OR SILLY FOR TRULY AUTHENTIC REACTIONS
If there’s a child extra clingy to a parent, I love to ask parents to kneel next to them and whisper something funny or sweet in their ear. If mom says something like “I love you sooooo much,” it often ends in just precious hugs and connection between her and her child. I’ve even had some moments where this brought happy tears from both the child and the mom. If mom whispers something funny, giggles are immediate and will give you the most darling images. This technique not only breaks the ice for shy little ones but also creates an atmosphere of comfort and trust, making it easier to capture those genuine smiles. These moments are often among the most treasured by families, as they capture a raw, emotional connection that shines through in every photo.
If you have kids, you know that no one can make them laugh like each other can.
Ask them to tell secrets. Ask them to say something silly. That split second before they explode into laughter is where you should be ready. Especially for preteen girls like these ones, this prompt of whispering in each others ears is always a huge hit!
For this image, I had mom tell her daughter something she loved about her in her ear, and it brought an instant unprompted hug. The sweetest moment that this mom will have forever.
6. LET THE KIDS RUN AROUND PARENTS FOR MOVEMENT-FILLED PHOTOS
What kid doesn’t love to run? This photo idea is a fantastic one to do at the end of the family photo session when kids are wild, and just want to run and play. I have the parents hug and put their foreheads together while I let the kids run crazy around them. I give them some direction and ask them to run on opposite sides of each other, and try to run at the same speed. I also ask them to stay close to mom and dad. When I get the image I need, I yell at them to run and attack mom and dad with hugs, and that gives you another great opportunity for beautiful images.
For this image, I had mom and dad hug and let the girls walk slowly around their parents. It resulted in the sweetest picture, where mom and dad’s relationship is highlighted too! Let the parents sink into each other. Let the children run. This family was photographed here in Salem, Oregon.
This is one of my oldest and most faithful clients the Tangemans! Their family of 4 started with just mom and dad, and I met them for the first time at their Maternity photoshoot. Fast forward multiple years later, and we have hundreds of photos and memories captured.
7. KIDS RUNNING TOWARD PARENTS FOR THE MOST JOYFUL IMAGES
For this family photo pose, I ask kids to come stand right in front of me, then I ask parents to hold their arms open as I ask the kids to run to them! It couldn’t be sweeter of a moment. You also get beautiful smiles when they reach their parents. Be sure to mention to the kids not to knock them over, lol. (Speaking from Experience) Another tip! I often do this both ways! First, I have the kids running towards their parents, capturing their joy and excitement as they leap into open arms. Then, I stand behind the parents and capture the kids’ faces full of pure happiness as they run towards their favorite people. These dual perspectives allow for a variety of heartfelt moments, from the parents’ loving expressions to the kids’ unfiltered joy. It’s a perfect way to highlight the warmth and energy of family connections.
Sometimes the best moments happen when you simply open your arms and let them run to you. So for this image I prompted the kids run towards mom and dad, and I captured the joy on the parent’s faces seeing their girls run towards them. This image was taken at Willamette Mission State Park.
This family of 4 boys, and one little girl, gave me the best running towards parents photos! I had the kids stand right next to me, and then counted down. They ran at the same time, and almost knocked them over! Thankfully they didn’t lol, and I got so many sweet images for them. Everyone closing in. Arms layered. Kisses landing. Big siblings squeezing in close. The chaos is beautiful. The love is loud. And the center of it all is exactly where it should be.
For this image, I shot above parents shoulders, and captured their son’s face while he ran to mom and dad! Same idea as above, just another angle. There’s something powerful about photographing the in-between. The sprint. The anticipation. The way parents wait with open hearts. See below for the next frame captured!
And then Jackson got to his parents and it resulted in one of my favorite images! What a sweet memory for him and them! Wrapped in their arms. Kissed on both sides. Safe in the middle. The kind of image that makes you melt because you can feel it!
8. BIG GROUP HUGS TO HIGHLIGHT CONNECTION
There’s nothing more heartwarming than a big family hug. Group hugs can help the kids feel safe and loved, and bring a sense of togetherness. These images are often the ones that clients print out and place in their home! They look stunning displayed in living rooms or entryways, serving as a daily reminder of the family’s bond. Including everyone in such a close and warm pose showcases the love and connection shared, making these portraits timeless treasures for years to come.
For this hugging photo, I told everyone to “hug and look at baby sister Tabitha”. These are always so darling to me! Where everyone is looking at baby, and shes looking at me. It is not perfectly posed. It is perfectly real. The way everyone circles around the smallest one says everything about who they are as a family.
This Family Pose Idea is one of the easiest ones to get, and also brings such warmth and togetherness and starts your session off on the right foot. It give them an idea of what to expect! It lasts maybe five seconds, but inside that moment is security, belonging, and love of course.
Big families are so much fun for this prompt! They tumble into them. Layers of arms, shoulders, cheeks pressed together, everyone talking at once. And somehow, in the middle of it all, there is a tiny little toddler’s face glowing with delight. This is what legacy and true families looks like.
9. ASK FOR A BIG, OVER-THE-TOP LAUGH TO BREAK THE ICE
It sounds silly, but asking everyone to give the biggest fake laugh they can often results in real, genuine laughter from the whole family! This technique breaks the ice and eases any nervousness, especially for those who may feel a little camera-shy. The exaggerated silliness of a fake laugh not only lightens the mood but also creates an atmosphere of playfulness. As everyone relaxes, the smiles and laughter that follow are natural and effortless. This is a fantastic way to start a session and ensure that everyone feels comfortable in front of the camera.
Giving the family direction to give the biggest fake laughs they can, will often result in images just like this, because everyone feels so silly and it brings out their real joy and laughter which is what I am always trying to find.
10. LOOK AT EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF THE CAMERA
The best smiles come when families are focused on each other, instead of the camera. I often remind parents to look at each other or their kids, and not me. I have kids interact with one another while holding hands or sharing a silly moment like a staring contest. This natural interaction helps everyone forget about the camera and focus on what truly matters—their relationships. Whether it’s parents sharing a quiet laugh or siblings exchanging giggles, these moments bring out authentic expressions of love and joy. These shots often feel the most genuine, as they showcase the unique dynamics and connections that make each family special.
For this image, I asked the girls to look up at their mom, while I asked her to look back at them. You can see the love and adoration in their eyes, and I know this is a photo that will be a treasured moment. One day they will stand taller. One day they will not fit beneath her arms like this. But right now, they do.
This image was taken at Baskett Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Dallas, Oregon.
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