Pose a family shot-how to

[PixelChick78]

Can you please give me some tips and samples on posing family shots. I am taking some photos next weekend for a family of 12-parents, grandparents, kids ect. I would some ideas on how to group everyone without it looking so typical and boring. Thanks.

We will be set up outside, park setting I think.

[ShootingStars]

The most important thing to do is to stay organized & calm. I generally start with everyone gathering around me and braking them into the individual families so I can see who's who. Talk to the kids to get them comfortable. Then for posing I start with the big group first.

I put the grandparents in the center with the individual familes around them. Elevation is always good. Grandparents sitting w/ grown kids on chair backs and women on chair arms. teens kneeling and small kids sitting or lying down. Having the Grandparents holding babies is a nice touch.

I then have the grown parents step out and all the grandkids surround the grandparents. Some standing, leaning, elbows on granddads knees etc

From there I call out for individual families. Shoot those groups, break them down to mom & dads (because they probably haven't done that since they were married) and then the kids as a group and then individuals of the kids.

Next is all the cousins together, then grown kids with parents (grandparents)

Since you are at the park always keep an eye out for the kids (or even a sneaky parent) doing something sweet and grab that as a candid. Be flexible in your shooting & don't be afraid to turnaaway from your group setups. Candids always end up selling way better than you plan for.

Be sure to joke to the moms about always looking at you & not checking to see if their kids are looking. Looking around & laughing is fine but that look of "ARE YOU LOOKING?!" is nasty.

Since your outside (my favorite) look for backlight on the kids. It gives even the snottiest a real angelic look.

Take a look at my website for some examples. By keeping the spirit light, encouraging the use of bribes and acting as if you've done this a thousand times you can be done within 1 hour.