A step-by-step guide to capturing magical family moments

Forget perfect photos: you know the ones – stiff smiles, awkward arm-around-the-shoulder poses, gritted teeth because someone really didn’t want to be in the photo. We’ve all been there.

But family photos don’t have to be cringe or complicated. With a bit of intention (and maybe a chair as a makeshift tripod), you can capture moments that actually feel like you. Whether it’s belly laughs, muddy adventures or toddler tornadoes, the magic is in the messy middle – and sometimes an ice cream bribe doesn’t hurt.

Looking for family photoshoot ideas that don’t feel forced or overdone? Here’s how to create your own DIY family photoshoot (no fancy gear required), brought to you by content creator and “non-outdoorsy, outdoorsy mum” Aimee Morris who shares her adventures with her followers on her Instagram Aimee Gets Outside.

Set the scene, not the pose

Instead of barking “say cheese!” and receiving stiff smiles, think about what your family actually loves doing together and capture that. Consider activities like jumping on the bed, playing in the garden or making pancakes on a Saturday morning.

Choose a setting that’s naturally full of movement, emotion and fun. You’ll get genuine smiles and a background that means something to you.

Use natural light (it’s the secret sauce)

Good light changes everything, and it’s free! For the most dreamy shots, head outside during golden hour – the hour after sunrise or before sunset. If you’re indoors, open the curtains wide and position your subjects so the light falls on their faces. This creates the most cinematic lighting.

Avoid harsh midday sun or overhead lights, as these cast very unflattering shadows in all the wrong places.

Prop your phone up and walk away

Tripods are great (even the £10 kind), but a bookshelf, shoebox or window ledge works just as well. Set your phone to Self-timer or Burst mode, then forget about it.

The best photos often happen when no one’s looking directly at the lens – it’s less posed, more relaxed, and infinitely more personal.

Give the kids a challenge

Movement is absolutely key to getting natural photos, which is handy because children don’t like sitting still. Rather than winging it and hoping for the best, setting them a challenge keeps them engaged, in the right position, and gives you the best chance of capturing some decent shots.

Ask them to pick flowers, show you their silliest dance move, whisper a secret or see who can jump the highest. It creates movement, emotion and moments that feel genuinely fun.

Posing tips for natural family group shots

You’ve propped up your phone and found decent light. Now you just need to get everyone doing something so it doesn’t feel like that dreaded “OK, now smile!” moment. Here are some super simple prompts that work brilliantly, especially with young children:

“Big group hug... but tighter!”Get everyone in for a hug, then say, “Now squeeze as tight as you can!” It always ends in a pile of laughter, wonky faces and a photo that feels like your actual family, not a school photo.

“Kiss Mum/Dad/sibling in as many places as you can… go!”A total winner with little ones. Forehead, cheeks, neck, shoulders – you’ll get movement, giggles and pure chaos (the good kind).

“Everyone jump on Mum/Dad/sibling!”Have whoever isn’t behind the camera lie on the floor (brace yourself), then say, “Everyone pile on top!” The results will be full of unfiltered joy and brilliant mid-action photos.

“Look at the littlest one”If someone’s feeling shy, make them the focus: “Everyone look at [toddler’s name] and pull your silliest face!” It shifts attention away from the camera and creates a genuine shared moment.

“Walk towards me and bump shoulders” Set your phone to Burst mode and have the whole family walk towards it shoulder-to-shoulder. Then shout, “Now bump into each other!” – which is almost guaranteed to end in laughter.

No matchy-matchy (unless that’s your thing)

Photoshoots don’t have to mean matching outfits and bow-ties. In fact, I always advise against matching outfits because they simply aren’t a vibe. Coordinated colours, however, definitely are. Most importantly, let everyone wear what makes them feel good, even if that’s muddy wellies and a superhero cape.

One day you’ll look back so fondly on that phase when your child wouldn’t leave the house dressed as anything other than Spider-Man. The more comfortable they are, the more relaxed the photos will be.

Take more than you need, then edit down

You don’t need 100 photos – you need five that feel like you and your family. But to get those five that feel authentic, you’ll probably need to take 25. So snap away, then keep only the ones that spark joy (think Marie Kondo circa 2020).

Look for emotion, connection and little details like hand-holding or scrunched-up noses.

Embrace the blur and imperfections

Blurry photo of your child mid-giggle? Keep it. Dog photobombing in the background? Even better. These are the moments that tell the real story of your life right now, and those are the ones worth printing.

Blur can actually emphasise emotion, movement and energy. You might not see the crisp detail of your child’s iris, but you’ll be transported straight back to that gritty toddler laugh they used to do every time you tickled their foot.

Let someone be the storyteller (even you)

Try this: switch to video and capture a few minutes of real life – playtime, cooking, chatting. Later, screenshot a frame that feels authentic. It’s a sneaky trick that often gives you the most heartfelt images, and it’s a beautiful way to capture the ordinary things that turn out to be the most memorable.

Perfect for those who get intimidated by the thought of having their photo taken.

Print the memory before it’s forgotten

Don’t let these moments live and die on your camera roll. Once you’ve captured the good stuff, turn it into a photo book or print. Seeing those everyday moments in print (rather than just scrolling past them) makes them feel even more magical.

Bonus tip: get in the frame too

Even if you’re in your comfy clothes. Even if you haven’t brushed your hair. You’re part of the story, and your children will want to see you in it.

There’s nothing worse than flipping through a photo book and you’re nowhere to be seen. Set the timer. Jump in. One day, these might be their favourite photos – and you won’t be thinking about how you looked, you’ll be remembering how it felt.

Real > Perfect

You don’t need the perfect shot – you just need the real one. The one where someone’s mid-laugh, someone’s squinting into the sun, and someone’s eating a biscuit when they shouldn’t be. That’s the photo that tells your story.

So prop up your phone, let the carnage commence, and press the shutter. You won’t regret it.