It’s simple. Don’t! Posing for a family photoshoot, especially if you want to capture memories, isn’t necessary.

I’m so glad, as a photographer, that we’ve moved away from the wooden, posed and awkward family shoots from yesteryear. Yes they can look great and they are wonderfully shot, specially those skilfully shot in film. But as a photographer who is always excited about capturing memories, I think it’s important to do exactly that. Capture memories!

When a family comes into my studio in Tunbridge Wells, especially when there are young children, the first thing I want to pick up on is their vibe. They are usually shy when they first enter because, let’s face it, their usual experience in front of the camera is their school photo…..

I give them the time and space to let their family dynamic show up, and BOOM! We’re ready to go.

To me, this is what memories are made of. All I do is get the family in the frame, make sure they fit, and the rest is up to them. They can laugh and joke, fool around and play.

There are so many benefits to NOT posing in family photoshoots

#1 You can pick up on the emotion of the shot

I have found that when families are left to be themselves, without any awkward posing or trying to please the photographer, what they are feeling comes out in the image. And in the spirit of creating memories, there’s nothing better when looking back at a photo and remembering what was going on at the time. Remembering how you were all feeling, or the joke that was told that made everyone laugh.

*Natural, playful images make the best memories.*

#2 You can look back at a photo with fondness

Unposed photography brings back the fondest of memories. Photos with your loved ones smiling and laughing naturally, will definitely warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. These are heartfelt memories. This is what I work so hard to create for all my families who come into the studio.

When you share these images with grandparents and other family members, it can have the same heart warming effect, even if they weren’t there at the time of the shoot.

#3 You can see how much your children have developed and grown

When there’s fun and laughter, and little idiosyncrasies, you’ll be able to see just how much the children have grown, while still being able to keep hold of those cute little memories of when they were smaller. And these natural and unposed image will conjure up memories for them too, because these are often forgotten as they grow.

It’s wonderful when you can look back at a natural photo and say “…do you remember when…..”.

#4 They make the most precious heirlooms

These photos can be passed down through the generation, they are precious heirlooms. When the photoshoot is natural and unposed, the images give later generations a good feel for what their family was like, the fun they had and the love between them.

They say “a picture paints a thousand words”!

*Look at that natural, loving gaze between father and daughter*

#5 Unposed photography is natural and timeless

It’s absolutely true that unposed photography is natural and timeless. When families are allowed to be themselves in front of the camera, this is timeless, because at some point there’s always fun and laughter, and above all there’s love. Not to mention that when people are photographed being natural, that’s when they look their most amazing.

Staring back at the photographer and saying “cheese” doesn’t make memories. Looking at each other alters your look from awkward to natural, and your smiles and laughter are genuine. These are what memories are made of!