6 Posing Ideas When Working With Dads For Family Photos

6 Posing Ideas When Working With Dads For Family Photos

With Father’s Day coming up, I wanted to dedicate a blog post to dads & share the top 6 poses I always do with kids + dad to not only make the session more memorable but also get more real & raw smiles from dad and the kids!

✅Note: if you are a newer family photographer, save this blog post for later and write down some of your favorite poses you read in this blog post! It may come in handy for your next family photo session! 

(Pose 1) Hold Hand With Dad and Walk Towards The Camera

This is one of the easiest poses I always like to start off with when working with family units! A simple way of directing this pose is just to ask Dad and kid(s) to hold hand and slowly walk towards the camera without actually looking at the camera. You may get some crazy facial expressions, but the in-between funny facial expressions are my favorites!

(Pose 2) Have Dad Hold Baby And Snuggle Them With His Nose

This pose is especially sweet when there is a baby in the family! I usually have mom on the corner of my shoulder, so the baby is semi-looking toward the camera. The only word of caution for this pose is this: the baby may try to grab your nose if they have fast reflexes, so don’t be surprised if you get your nose picked for one or two frames of the picture!

(Pose 3) Dad Sandwich Pose

This pose is the most unpredictable to work with because you don’t know what each child will do! I set the scene by putting Dad in the middle of a bed (or room, or whatever setting we are in), and then I have all the kids surround him for a huge hug (like a Dad Sandwich)!

You just never know what you’re going to get, but I promise you, you will get lots of laughing photos for sure in this pose!

(Pose 4) Daddy Kissing Daughter Pose

This is for all the girl-dads out there! From a young age, a daughter needs to know her dad will always be in her corner & will always be her number one adoring fan! Most of the dads I have worked with in my career as a photographer have always been either so goofy or so serious, but when it comes to their daughters, they become a tender-hearted pile of mush! (The proof is always in the photos) 

When I give direction for this specific pose, I always have Dad snuggle in very tenderly before giving the kiss! It makes for some really adorable photos!

(Pose 5) The Cheesy Dad Jokes Pose

So this one’s for all the dads out there who are armed and loaded with the best dad jokes. I will have dad hold their baby, toddler, or even younger child and just “talk” to them. Most likely, when they are talking to their little one, they are always sharing a cheesy dad joke. It’s ingrained in most dads. 100% of the time I always get some sort of smirk out of the little one, and if it’s a newborn (like this photo) they most likely have gas (the newborn not the dad).

(Pose 6) The Superbaby Pose

Nine times out of Ten the super baby pose is always a hit with younger children and dads.  The direction I give dads is simply to hold their little ones up “like Superman” and keep them in the same position for about 25 to 30 seconds. Kids love being held in the air (again, I say 9 times out of 10, because sometimes I have kids who do NOT like to be held in the air, and that’s okay too!). 

You will most likely get a lot of natural laughs and smiles from this pose, and sometimes you may even have a newborn puke on dad’s face (so be sure to take this pose BEFORE the newborn has their milk break).

Summary

Again, if you are a newer family photographer, please feel free to use this blog post as inspiration when working with families! Remember, these photos are a lasting legacy for the family unit, and every dad should have pictures with their little ones because time DOES fly by so fast! Be intentional about everyone in the family unit, including dad, too!

Did you like this blog post? Please share it on Pinterest!

 

Ready to Plan Your Family Photography Session Too?

If you’re dreaming of a newborn studio session or a Nashville family photography session that feels calm, connected, and beautifully simple, I’d love to help you bring that vision to life. From styling support to optional hair and makeup, everything is designed to help you feel prepared and taken care of so you can actually enjoy this season instead of stressing over it.

You can also download my free Family Photography Session Style and Planning Guide to help you feel confident as you start planning. And if you are a mama looking for a MINI Session version of a motherhood session, I usually announce all of my motherhood minis here. 

And if you’re a photographer looking for support behind the scenes of your business, The Family Photographer’s Marketing Society is such a helpful way to stay consistent with your Instagram and email marketing without feeling overwhelmed.

Whether this is your first baby or another beautiful addition to your family, a studio session or a home session is such a meaningful way to pause and remember it all.

I’d love to help you document it! And of course, let’s include dad in these photos too!