Family Portrait Ideas

We just did some pics like that with a photographer. We went to Commons Ford Park and dressed casually (jeans and t's) took a ball and a fishing pole and just played while the photographer took pics of us. we had a great time and its much easier to get some big 'real' smiles on the kiddos when they're having fun. plus we all had a great time together doing things we like to do as a family. (we have a 3 yo, 2yo, and 6 mo) keep it simple and fun and you'll get some great memories on paper!!!

We took one one year and we all wore white shirts and jeans. We were sitting on the floor, sorta sprawled out. Try to have some of the photos in black and white. Good luck and have fun!

We have done professional pics 2 times. My favorite pose is where my husband and I are lying on our stomachs leaning on our elbowsand our boys are lying on our backs looking around our heads. that might not work with an 8 month old though. We like casual so we ususally wear jeans or khakis and navy blue shirts. we like our pictures outdoors.

We are a family of non-traditional photos.I think partly due to the fact that we have only boys. Every year we can't wait to see what they come up with, one of a sweet photo was on an outdoor bench swing. the boys were wearing similar shirts with jeans. they were cracking up over who knows what-but the photo is great! our youngest at the time was 2 & he was holding a bagel with cream cheese (which was also around his mouth) but it was just a nice shot, they were looking at the camera laughing. I always tell the photographer-just get them in the frame. I never stress out about it, it's my family. have a great time! Happy Holidays:)

I like landmark photos, like at the court house, library, train...etc. If your shirt has thin close stripes it might come out looking funny. A non pattern shirt works best. necklesses that are beads work best for not going crooked. you might be able to check out the photographers page and it will have tips. for our son we used a special blanket that his grand ma made for him before she passed away. my hubby and i took a picture with our shadows because of comments we had made together( in a store mirror hubby said look how good we look together, got a card that said even our shadows belong together) full of ourselves i know but perhaps your family has something fun you can use as your own.

We did our last family portrait outside around the falling leaves. Another good idea would be by a lake or old barn, or even at the park.

You have received great ideas. May I suggest a sport theme photo, if your family is into playing/watching sports. Wear your favorite team shirt/jersey and jeans. This could be one of the "fun" photos.

E.

When we take family portraits, I try to put my gang in coordinating solid colors--often a nice, button-down shirt (worn with sleeves turned up and tails out) paired with more casual jeans. The solid colors are nice because they don't clash with the background. I think my favorite portrait has been our last one--in which all of us posed on a swing set. We had a great time and it really came through in the photos.

This is one of my favorite poses, and actually went on our Christmas card last year: http://www.frensley.org/Family/2008/December-2008/6940649...

Perhaps you could stack all four of your family members, this way.

Regardless of the poses, have fun with it, because it definitely shows in the pictures!

M.

We did one once with us all wearing white shirts and jeans and we went to Kerrville at the river and all these huge beautiful trees were around and he had us all pull up our pant legs and stand in the water and splash. It turned out to be the nicest photo. He also took one of us all sitting at a picnic table which was also nice. Of course my favorite is at the McNay Art Institute in front of that beautiful fountain. Again we wore white shirts and jeans and were barefooted and sitting on the grass. It is very nice and above my fireplace.

Now that my children are grown (26.24.21) they have each requested a copy of the same family photo for their own homes (and it is the one that has received the most comments through the years). My husband is seated in a large uphostered chair with our daughter in his lap and our boys standing on each side of him and they are all making silly faces! That is the family favorite! It wasn't with a professional photographer, so probably not the answer you were hoping for.

This summer my family got our pictures taken with a beach background at Sears. We all wore light clothing that didn't match but the colors didn't clash either. We wore our flip flops and brought our sunglasses. We took several different shots and had the kids take individual pictures too. My son was two months old at the time and my stepdaughter was 10 years old. He had a little tank top on and we had him propped up on an intertube just like you would put him on his boppy pillow for tummy time. It turned out real cute like he was floating in the water..alot better than him laying on a pillow like our other picture we had taken the month before. My stepdaughter took her pics barefoot also and it looked like she was lounging in the sand under a palm tree. We took some family shots together and some of the two kids together. Then we all put on our sunglasses for a picture (even the baby as I had gotten some strap on sunglasses for him as a shower gift). Sears made a collage of the best poses. We have gotten so many compliments on our pic with the sunglasses. It was a lot of fun and the pics turned out so relaxed, natural and summery which is kind of our style anyways. We aren't ones to get dressed up unless the occasion calls for it. We spend lots of time outside and by the pool. I also thought the suggestion you got about a sports theme was great. I think the baby's next pictures will be in his jersey with his little football.

I saw just this weekend some people taking family photos at the Japanese Tea Gardens. It looked like they will come out good. I was thinking about this myself.

We had fun one year with a family photo in which we all wore our favorite team shirts (all one color) and blue jeans. After a couple of shots and after trying to get all three boys to smile at the same time, my husband picked up and held the 2-yr-old upside down and that was the best of them all. This one we took at home and one I photo-shopped myself. It was just having us parents sitting in chairs and the two older behind (and between) us and with the youngest in a lap.

Both of the older boys wanted their turn to be held upside down!

I can imagine the 8-month-old smiling to see his 6-yr-old sister upside down (and maybe being tickled). The best thing for us to do was to wait until the last moment, getting everyone else ready, then pick up the one child to be upside down, maybe with her legs hanging over your shoulder, then snap real quick!

Have fun! Seeing your family all together in a photo is just precious no matter if you are all dressed formal or not!

Good luck!
D.

We did one in the spring with the wildflowers in our field. We all wore a different color t and jeans. We all laid in the grass and it was cute.

I have also seen where you all lay down it your heads touching. I do not like the photos where everyone is wearing the same thing. My personal opinion.

Good Luck!

P.,

How about wearing matching Christmas pajamas or everyday pajamas?

H.

NOTHING posed! If the weather is nice, rake some leaves together and jump in!

We have 3 kids (10,almost 8, and 5) and do pictures all the time thanks to a great friend of mine - the best pictures are of your family in all one shirt color or boys in one and girls another and Jeans. Just remember to smile for Mom and dad and let the photographer concentrate on getting the kids to smile. That's his/her job. Relax and have fun. Don't do it during nap time or lunch/snack time. For a Christmas one - We did Red and White one year with everyone and loved it and the oldest was only 4mos. Don't stress - just have fun and go outside and enjoy - One of my favs is the trees in the background but my own backyard is great backdrop or water also. Good luck.