During a family session, time moves fast. Kids change moods. Light shifts. So pick a pose you can set up in under 10 seconds and use it as your “home base.” Then build small changes from there: a step closer, a turn, a hand swap, a cuddle, a walk. You’ll get variety without losing control of the session. Simple beats perfect. Repeatable beats random.

Hey hey hey! 👋 I just added the first course to the Classroom: How to Build a Strong Family Photography Portfolio. It walks you through how to choose your portfolio direction, plan a few core sessions, use model calls without giving everything away, and keep your portfolio tight as you grow. After you watch, do the “Portfolio Trim Challenge” - remove 3 weaker images and replace them with 1 stronger one. Comment what you replaced. You can find it in the Classroom (linked below). https://www.skool.com/family-photography-experts-9882/classroom/a934837e?md=7b1732860e6543d2aef6984cf97b6cb4

Hey 👋 glad to be here early always nice joining a community while it’s still growing. I actually enjoy seeing how new communities develop and helping where I can with things like structuring the space, improving onboarding, keeping engagement active, and setting up simple systems that make growth easier over time. Looking forward to learning from everyone here and supporting the journey as this community grows 🙌

Be honest—what’s the main thing getting in the way of your progress with family photography right now? Vote below.

Hi there! Let’s break down this image and see how I took it. I asked the boy to stand around 5 feet away from the backdrop to avoid harsh shadows. For this photo, I used a 50 mm f/1.2 lens at f/1.2, ISO 400, and a shutter speed of 1/500. I also had a large umbrella diffuser with a continuous light inside. The light was set in front of the boy, around 4 feet away from him, slightly higher than his eye level, and tilted down. With toddlers, I usually let them be themselves and give simple prompts. Here, I asked him to start spinning his body and go wild, which he totally nailed. Tip: 1/500s helps freeze the motion while still keeping the look soft at f/1.2. I would rather raise the ISO than end up with motion blur. Tip 2: If your subject doesn’t understand your prompt, show them what you mean. Do a quick demo first, then let them copy you.