Family Portrait Ideas

"Family portrait ideas are needed
to bring more creativity to family portraits."

How often have you entered someone's home and the first thing that you saw was their family portrait?

Do you usually think...So that is your family, or ...Wow, that is a nice portrait...?

I would guess that it is probably more often the first one.

This happens because it is usually a traditional staircase family portrait with the short people in the front, the tall ones in the back, and everyone is dressed nice saying cheese.

While this setting does depict a nice clean cut family, we have seen thousands of them. There is nothing original about it, and it says nothing about the family.

Before taking a family portrait, a few things should be asked: what do I want the photo to say about my family, what are some things that the family likes to do together, is there a theme that would make this photograph more interesting? When these questions are answered, great family portrait ideas may come to mind.

Interesting Settings

If your family likes to go camping, arrange for the portrait to be taken during your next campout.

If they enjoy fishing, make it the theme (preferably with a big catch to show off). If the picture is going to be taken on the water, don't forget a UV filter and a lens hood.

The activity does not really matter, but you get the idea. Everyone will be in a good mood and the joyfulness of the family will come out in the portrait.

If you want to get really creative, play dress up. Pick a theme and find cloths and props that will help really pull it off. One of my favorites is the pirates on the beach.

Another interesting one is the farm or barnyard theme. It reminds me of that classic painting of the farm couple where the husband is holding a pitchfork.

Return to the top of Family Portrait Ideas, Family Photography Tips, or Photography Tips.