Natural and Candid Family Photos: Here's what you need to know

There’s a big buzz word that gets tossed around when it comes to getting family photos done. Any guesses on it?? You probably know because it’s consistently trendy; candid. One of the most used words when people are inquiring about family photos with me is that they want their photos to be natural and candid. And to be honest, that is definitely my style and what I prefer most for family photos! I do prefer to call myself a storytelling photographer, because that’s how I see it, as I'm telling your family’s story. This is also how I manage to capture natural and candid family photos. I think this is how most people understand storytelling photography, is by referring it as “natural and candid” photos. 

In this article I’m going to outline for you everything you need to know about getting those natural and candid family photos that you’re always seeing all over Pinterest. If you think that natural and candid photos “just happen” I’m here to tell you that it takes a lot of factors to be able to get those Pinterest worthy images. So let’s dive in! 

Choosing your Photographer for Natural and Candid Family Photos 

First things first. Picking your photographer. Choosing the right photographer for your family photos can be a challenge. Ideally you need someone who is good with kids and can give direction, but also not have unrealistic expectations. Kids are going to be kids, and as a photographer this is something that needs to be at the forefront. Your photographer should make everyone feel comfortable and at ease. 

When you’re choosing your photographer for natural and candid family photos a few things to keep in mind are to take a good look at the photographer’s portfolio and reviews or testimonials. Does the photographer have galleries in their portfolios that are aligned with what you are hoping to document. Do the images look posed or feel natural and candid? Within the reviews how do their past clients describe the photographer. Do previous clients talk about how the photographer made them feel during their session? You could go as far as reaching out to past clients via social media to ask about their experience, if you're comfortable! 

Another factor to consider when choosing a photographer for natural and candid photos is when you are communicating with the photographer how does it feel? Is the photographer taking the time to understand what you’re looking for and what’s important to you, or are they just trying to make the sale. Does the photographer communicate effectively and discuss planning for your session together? All these pieces should be considered when choosing a photographer. 

Ideally your photographer should make you comfortable, want to understand what’s important to you, and help guide you through what the planning and preparation will look like to capture those natural and candid moments. 

Planning for Success: How to Prepare for Natural and Candid Family Photos

I feel like a lot of people look at natural and candid family photos and often think that those type of images “just happen” in their sessions. In actuality it does take a level of planning to create these types of images. Although they look very natural and candid, they are often well thought out and planned by the photographer or family. 

When my clients reach out I make sure to begin this planning by getting to know my families. This way I can make suggestions for our session that will feel comfortable for them, that will create those storytelling moments. The storytelling moments are when you capture the natural and candid photos. Each family is different, therefore I ask specific questions to get to know what might work for each family. During the planning process I discuss location, styling, and activities. When I arrive to sessions I make sure to have activities, movements, and different ways for the family to engage that will keep them engaged and in the moment with each other. 

It’s important for families to communicate with their photographer anything they are hoping to capture. This helps photographers plan for this so they can set up interactions that will document details of what the family is looking for.

All this planning will help create success in preparing families for capturing natural and candid photos! It’s important to note that each family is different, so what will be comfortable for a family will vary. With a plan in place, a family knows what to expect and can engage in interactions that feel comfortable and natural to them, which allows the photographer to document the natural moments. 

Keeping It Light: The Secret to Getting Playful, Candid Family Photos

A large part of documenting natural and candid photos is to keep things light! I like to describe my sessions as easy and stress free. When documenting children the easiest way to get those natural and candid photos is to follow your children’s lead. Children naturally are going to be playful and are always on the move. Really staying present and playing with your kids is going to be the best. 

It can often be challenging to act like there’s not someone there watching, but the more you can stay present and focus on your children, the more natural and candid your family photos will look and feel. When you’re in your element responding to your children, fixing their hair, or chasing them around the yard, those are the moments that are the best to capture. 

If you’re feeling stuck, your photographer should be able to guide you through different interactions that will help with this too. Try not to come in having too many expectations, however letting the flow of the session be easy and have space for pivoting. You can’t always plan everything perfectly with kids! Having a loose plan helps prepare, but making sure the focus is being present with your children will document images that you can feel. So keep it light when trying to capture natural and candid moments.

Why Posing Doesn’t Work: Embracing Natural Moments for Candid Family Photos

Posed photos often can come across as stiff and uncomfortable. I think in terms of family photos, this comes across as uncomfortable because it is. It’s not normal when you have children to sit perfectly posed and say cheese. I specifically have a “no cheese please” message in my Welcome Guide to let families know that we don’t need to pressure kids to be looking at the camera and saying cheese all the time. I think it’s ok for a few photos, however if you’re looking for natural and candid family photos, this is just not the way. 

Anyone with young children knows that in the matter of 15 minutes you can have a roller coaster time of emotions. One minute your little one is giggling and so happy, then next they could be in full on melt down mode on the floor. This is realistic. Think about those range of emotions and what the process of settling, calming, or making your little one happy again looks like. It’s really something beautiful, getting down to their level, giving them hugs, and putting your hands through their hair. All these little moments are the natural and candid moments that create the detail to tell your family’s story. If you are strictly posing for the camera, you and your children will not look natural or candid. This is why it’s best to stray away from posing. Sometimes starting off the session with a few more posed photos can help get some camera jitters out of the way, however after this, moving into movement, play, and easy interactions is how you’ll get the natural and candid family photos.

Ensuring Comfort for Natural and Candid Family Photos

Ideally to be able to capture natural and candid family photos your family needs to be comfortable. This all encompasses everything that we’ve discussed. From picking the photographer and those first pieces of communication, to planning for the session, keeping the session light, and straying away from too many posed images. There’s something to be said about a photographer that can make your session feel easy. This often comes down to the photographer's skills in directing and leading a family, while also reading into a family's cues as to when breaks are needed, what’s working, what’s not, and what will feel comfortable for the family. 

In getting to know the family a photographer can get a sense of what activities or plans will work with the family and be reflective of a family in a natural way. A photographer’s ability to communicate during the session and encourage a family that they are doing great, or even when things are not going well, they should know when to pull back or pivot. All these are important to ensure a family’s comfort level. Being comfortable during your session will help ensure that your images look natural and candid. 

This session with the Davis’s was so much fun! The kids were able to get their energy out and Sarah and Scott had space to play and be present with them! If you want to see more from this session head here!