Large families that include of grandparents, moms, dads, children and grandchildren are just the best! There is always a photo to be taken and a moment to be shared.

Now that you’ve finally managed to get your entire family together to update your family photos, how do you get everyone to fit into one picture and how should you pose?

5 Posing tips for large families

Below are a few useful tips that should make your next family photo session a little easier:

1. Create a line up. Start by lining your family up in one or two rows. To make the photo a little more interesting and relaxed, get everyone to either place a hand on their hip, lightly cross their arms or place one hand in their pocket. Remember to place shorter adults and children in the front row.
2. Create a focus point. Always place the main subjects of your photo in the middle, a tip that’s particularly relevant if you will be including grandparents, they should never be on the ends of the photo. If you have a new baby in the family, it’s also best to place them near the middle for the best shot.
3. Use steps, ledges and chairs. Add some movement to the shot by making use of any stairs, ledges or chairs that you might have around. Positioning your family at different levels using structures or props will add some character to the shot.
4. Don’t forget the candid shots. If you’ve gotten enough posed shots, start chatting and having a bit of fun in order for your photographer to capture some candid shots of the family. You could even have your family walk towards the camera from afar.
5. Use one camera only. Whether you’ll be taking your family photos yourself or will be using a professional photographer, it’s important to only use one camera to take the shots. If a second person is taking photos over the shoulder of the first, people won’t know where to look, which could ruin the shot.

Hopefully, these tips have better prepared you for your upcoming family photo session. Chat to your photographer if you’re still unsure or would like further advice on other aspects of your session.