Creative Large Family Portrait Ideas

Treasured family photos are priceless, capturing our fondest memories with loved ones to keep forever, and perhaps even pass down through generations. However, the reality behind a large family group photo often involves challenges: namely, the chaos of fitting everyone in and dodging unflattering mid-blink faces.

Then there's the matter of presentation. How can we move beyond the standard 'tallest at the back, smallest at the front, everyone say cheese!' to truly capture the fun, excitement, and love your family shares?

In this article, we'll provide you with tips and tricks to get the best out of your large family group photos, along with our favourite creative themes and poses to transform these shots into priceless treasures of your memories. Let's get started!

Preparation is Everything

Before we can begin discussing the ideal shoot, we need to get everyone on the same page to ensure a smooth and successful photo session. Here are some of the crucial things you need to communicate with your family:

• Location & Time: This one might seem obvious, but it's worth getting this sorted out first, as you may be hiring a photographer, aiming for a certain outdoor lighting type (i.e. sunset) and more. Therefore, ensure that everyone is available at the same time before making any hard decisions on the themes and logistics of your shoot.
  

• Coordinate Outfits: Whatever style and theme you are going for, it's definitely always a good idea to make sure that everyone’s outfits are coordinated. This doesn’t mean everyone has to wear the same outfit, though this is an option, but rather it just avoids some turning up in smart wear versus those in sports casual outfits. Your outfit can even relate to the theme you are shooting, more on that later!
  

• Plan Group Dynamics: Ahead of time, work out where everyone will be stationed in the shot. Are you grouping by family, height or age group?
  

• Shoot Plan: Finally, how will the session go? Are you planning to shoot a single group image or have individual or smaller group shots to accompany it?

Location & Setting: Crafting the Perfect Backdrop

Beyond the studio: While there are certainly great photos to be made in a studio environment, shooting treasured moments outdoors will allow you to capture more natural shots as opposed to the more formal setting of a studio. Natural light and beautiful environments are also a huge benefit to making your shot a success.

Natural Landscapes

• Beaches: Candid playing in the sand, sunset silhouettes and dipping toes in the sea are all wonderful moments to photograph.

• Forests: Walking trails, sitting on logs, and playing in leaf piles are great ways to show your family’s connection with nature.

• Fields: Playing in fields, sitting among wild flowers, or enjoying a picnic, are all great activities for capturing the perfect day out.

• Mountains: Stunning vistas will be on show as your family can find their favourite views as a backdrop to the shot.

Urban Environments

• City Streets: You can showcase your family walking together in the city and finding your favourite places to use as backdrops, including interesting architecture.

• Parks: Similar to the fields in natural settings, enjoy some playtime along with a family picnic for your shoot.

• Murals: There’s the chance to have a colourful and artistic backdrop with your family positioned in front of a mural in the city.

At Home

• Candid moments in the house: Place your family in different rooms to capture candid moments, such as all cooking together in the kitchen or enjoying talking together in the living room.

• Gathered on the staircase: If you have a large staircase, this could make for an interesting composition with different set-ups, such as the oldest members at the top descending down to the youngest at the bottom.

• Backyard activities: Enjoying a barbecue, playing in the garden or among the flowers will make for some memorable moments in a familiar setting.

Posing & Composition

Breaking the Lineup

Now we move on to making sure your photo isn’t the overly formal two rows of family members arranged by height. While this composition offers little in terms of creativity, it also leads to fixed posing that may result in awkward postures and unnatural smiles. Instead, we want to do away with this classic set-up and lean more towards creative and candid moments that will result in natural energy and happiness evident by beaming smiles.

Varying Levels

If you do want to showcase the family in a posed setting, that is not a problem, but consider options such as the staircase set-up we mentioned earlier. You can also have the family posed on a hill, or some sat in the branches of a tree. Find ways to break up the rigidity of the two rows.

Interactive Poses

Waiting for the shutter of a camera as you say “Cheese!” isn’t going to give you the best results most of the time. Not everyone is comfortable in front of the camera, and that can certainly be seen when people are overthinking their pose and facial expressions. Instead, invite everyone to loosen up and engage the family in a fun conversation to get people laughing and smiling. Recall funny family memories, play word games, or even partake in physical activities to capture both genuine memories and joy.

Framing

Use natural or architectural elements to frame the family. Look for doorways and archways or the boughs of a tree to frame the family and have the attention drawn immediately to them.

Focus on Subgroups

Aside from the main group image that you’re capturing, you can also have the camera dial in on subgroups within the composition. Such as children playing together or grandparents enjoying a quiet moment, looking affectionately at others.

Themes & Concepts

Seasonal Themes

• Winter: Festive and winter themes can be captured for amazing shots that can double as seasonal greeting cards. Think matching jumpers, snowball fights or cosy indoor settings with the family enjoying the festivities.

• Autumn: Playing in the leaves and autumnal colours for outfits can help capture perfect autumn shots. There’s also the chance for Halloween festivities with pumpkin patches, outfits and other activities that can be captured at this time of year.

• Summer: Beaches, family picnics, and walks in the sunshine with bright colours and outfits make for some fun and vibrant shots. Make use of the good weather and start up some activities such as sports and games to capture the family’s energy, perfect for candid moments.

• Spring: Flowers, picnics and outdoor games can be explored as themes for a spring-themed photoshoot. Capture moments such as grandparents showing nature to their grandchildren, capture dear family moments among flowers and enjoy the arrival of the sun with outdoor activities. You can opt for pastel and lighter colours to reflect the blossoming of spring and life.

Activity-Based Themes

• Games and Sports: Wherever the setting may be, games and sports showcase natural movement and joy, making those candid moments easier to capture.

• Cooking or baking together: Is Grandma an avid baker? Are the rest of the family avid enjoyers of Grandma’s baking? Cooking and enjoying food are great ways to showcase your family’s love for one another through food!

• Reading books as a group: Perfect for younger children in the group, as they listen to stories being told from their favourite books by a parent or grandparent. Focus on the look of wonder on their faces or the animated expressions of the storyteller as they bring the tale to life.

• Working on a puzzle or craft: Perhaps your family has a trade that multiple members do, such as farming or woodwork, or you enjoy doing puzzles together. Capturing your family working closely together and the dynamic between them is a more interesting approach to family photos.

Tips for Success with Large Groups

Finally, let’s take a look at how you can ensure a smooth day with shots that will bring back memories of a fantastic time with your family.

• Plan ahead: Once again, planning ahead and communicating it with your family will alleviate stress on the day and allow you to maximise the fun!

• Delegate Tasks: Work out who needs to bring certain equipment and props, look after the children, prepare food, etc., so that all the work doesn’t fall on your shoulders.

• Take Breaks and work in short bursts: This means everyone looks relaxed and happy, and it is especially important for children in the group who may get bored or distracted.

• Don’t aim for perfect: Striving for perfection can mean reshoot after reshoot, making people more tired.

• Consider professional help: Bringing in a photographer would help take the stress off one family member and give you more professional results.

• Keep it fun: The number one factor is to make sure it is a fun-filled day so that the joy and happiness are easier to capture and the photos remain a fond memory for everyone involved.

The Bottom Line

Captured moments of your family aren’t just photographs; they are treasured memories that can be hung up on your wall to remind you of a great day spent together. Break away from the traditional rows of family members with fixed poses and unnatural smiles, and aim to capture candid moments filled with genuine joy and happiness. Consider shooting around themes such as seasonal set-ups or activities to encourage fun, candid movements. Either way, base it around what your family loves the most, and that will show on their faces, resulting in perfect keepsakes.