Family Photography Ideas

One of my first blogs was about the photo that has always inspired me and helped me set and stick to my style.  
It is this photo of my Mum and me.  It was taken by my Uncle on the steps of our front door.  It's not just a photo, it's a memory, and it makes me smile everytime I walk past it.  The door is open and I can see the wallpaper of our home.  I can also smell the wood polish and incense and hear the record player playing Pink Floyd.  This is Mum, the way I remember her, a cool lady, who did things her own way, including letting her only little girl go around topless in boy shorts.  She died of cancer in her mid thirties and these photos are really special to me.

I also have studio photos of Mum and me.  We are dressed in our best clothing, sitting against a brown background with forced smiles on our faces.  These are stuck in an album somewhere, and they do make me laugh because we look really uncomfortable and crazy eyed.  

When it comes to family photography, Calico Jo's endeavours to capture pictures that make you smile for the right reasons.  Photos that will provide and spark happy memories by showcasing your family personality, interests or that special family treasure or location.

Here is a list of family photo ideas to consider for your next family photo shoot.

AROUND YOUR FAMILY HOME

• Using your washing line.  Drape or peg some material/blanket over it for a fun background or play tent.  Peg up some baby clothes for a maternity shoot, or peg up photos, things you love, and sit/stand under it.  If you have a round, rotating washing line, hang things and  spin it, or walk through it.
• A photo on the veranda.  Casual, natural.
• A photo by the gate with the house in the background.  
• Wood piles make cool photo settings and old sheds.
• By the window looking out, or other dreamy shots like lying in a hammock on a tree branch.
• Fireside reading.  Parents reading to kids, even acting it out.  The teen with their feet up on the couch or wrapped in a cosy blanket.
• Jumping on the bed, Pillow fight.  We can do this in our studio too.
• Turn the sprinkler on or the hose and some fun wet family photos.  (your just not allowed to wet the photographer)
• Around the games table.  Pool table.  Play Poker and everyone put on their poker faces.  Play cluedo and everyone look suspicious, play jenga, etc etc
• Put on a family dinner and get photos of everyone around the table, laughing and enjoying themselves.
• Coffee/Tea mugs, Mothers/Daughters/Grandmothers chatting and laughing coffee mugs in hand. (if there is cake for the photographer, even better)
• My Wheels.  Everyone poses with what wheels they are using right now.  Even better if you can include everyone's wheels in one photo.  Wheels = prams, trikes, scooters, skateboards, bikes, cars, trucks
• Family bake off.  Photos with everyone in aprons, baking up a storm, envisioning flour everywhere and lots of bowl licking.
• In Daddy's/Mummy's shoes or clothes swap.  Kids dress in their parents clothes, or everyone just swaps clothing.
• Pets.  Pets are part of the family too.
• A few of my favourite things.  Photos with your fave things. Or get everyone on the couch (the bigger the family, the better), everyone has to bring to the couch something that represents them.

OTHER FAMILY FUN SHOOTS

• Photos of the family playing some kind of ball game.
• Playing hopscotch.
• Playing jump rope.
• Using hoolla hoops.
• Balancing on a log or beam and everyone trying to push each other off.
• Apple bobbing
• Sack race.
• Bull rush, tag, Royal Rumble, Stuck in the Mud
• Stick play (in a pretend non hurting way), swords, bow and arrows
• Go carts
• Wheelbarrow racing.  Either real wheelbarrows or where you grab someones legs.
• Piggy back.
• Make a Mess. Paint fights, waterfights, flour fights, cream, confetti, silly string (again, your not allowed to get the photographer)
• Family interests or sports (go out to the location or get into gear)
• Photo booth, silly faces, wigs etc
• Grass sliding, (oh the stories I could tell with this.... handle this one with care)
• Camp fire and marshmallows, fireworks.
• Tree climbing (just not too high)
• Forts, tents,  made from branches or blankets
• Kite flying
• Dressing up as super heroes
• Picnic lunch out on location
• Photos in the back of the station wagon, ute, camper, van, trailer, cart
• Teddy Bears Picnic
• Fairy lights
• Face paint
• Pick an era and dress up
• Bubbles
• Balloons
• Bubblegum or lollipops
• Framed - using picture frames as props
• Cardboard Boxes, big ones the kids can play in.
• Acting out your theme song, or movie, or story book.
• Reenact an old oil painting.
• Stripes, dots, patterns, clashing colours
• Ice cream sundaes - the bigger and the more colourful the better - (and you have to make one for the photographer too)
• Dressing up in your national costume
• Reenact childhood photos, wear similar clothes in a similar place with the same pose and facial expressions.
• Umbrellas and gumboots, photos in the rain and mud.
• Rock star poses on the road (a quiet road)
• Straight faced, straight up and down poses.
• Go to the Grandparents house and have photos around them and the things you remember them by.
• A walk in the park
• At the playground.  Everyone on swings, down the slide, in tunnels, on the ropes etc
• Long grass. Sitting in it, playing peek a boo, just walking or standing in it.
• On the water, boats, jetties, surfing, fishing, tyre tubes.
• Chalk. Draw signs or scenes.
• A baby photo shoot based on the baby's name.

So theres a few ideas to consider :P

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We would  love to capture your family adventures!
Calico Jo

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