Capturing authentic emotions in a short amount of time is key to a successful Personality Portrait session. How do you do this? With a posing workflow for Personality Portraits, of course! With just 5 minutes per child, you have no time to waste!
Not only will this approach make sure each family loves their gallery, but it also increases the likelihood of them purchasing the entire set of images. And you know what that means … you’re well on your way to a $5K Saturday!
Wondering what a $5K Saturday is? This is my proven system that I built that has enabled me to scale my family photography business. Before I started using Personality Portraits as part of my $5K Saturday system, I was stuck around $50,000 – $60,000 every year. And this was even with incredibly busy seasons and price increases. After consistently implementing the $5K Saturday System, now I am able to consistently hit six-figures.
Want to learn how I pull it off? Keep reading for my go-to posing workflow for Personality Portraits that guarantees both smiles and sales! And if you’re ready to dive deeper, be sure to download my 5-Minute Personality Portrait Playbook to see exactly how you can turn these sessions into $5K Saturdays during your slow season.
Posing Workflow for Personality Portraits: Directing Kids for Natural Expressions and Personality
Kids thrive on fun and imagination, so I keep things light and playful. Instead of aiming for stiff, posed shots, I make the session an engaging experience.
Why does this matter? The more real fun the kiddo is having, the more moments you will be able to capture. The more natural faces and poses that you get from the kids will ensure that families will be obsessed with their images. And better yet? They’ll be obsessed with you! You will be the first person that they think of when someone in the pick-up line asks for a family photographer recommendation.
Here’s how to direct for natural moments:
Be Silly First: Start by making a silly face or doing something unexpected. It sets the tone and helps kids loosen up. Always model ideas for kids too, so they are not anxiously trying to create their own expression.
Offer Encouragement: Use phrases like “That was awesome! Let’s try another one!” or “Can you show me your biggest laugh at the sky?”
Engage in Play: Say, “We’re going to have some fun together. Ready to act with me?” This approach brings out a range of expressions in a matter of seconds.
Step 2: Quick Posing Ideas for Authentic Moments
Finding the right posing workflow for Personality Portraits can be tricky at first. It’s important to go in with a plan, but then be ready to see where the session goes.
Part of my system’s success is that I have a very predictable workflow. Are the kids always predictable? Absolutely not! But I don’t have to think twice about what I’m going to ask them to do next. Here is my tried-and-true posing sequence to capture a mix of candid and classic shots in under 5 minutes:
1. The Grandma & Grandpa Picture
Start with a simple, smiling group photo of all the kids together. This is the classic shot parents will want for gifts and keepsakes.
Why this works: This is the image that parents really want from this session, so it’s helpful to start with the win. This is discussed in-depth in my $5K Saturday System (join the waitlist HERE) but you want to get this shot early since it will be almost impossible to get at the end.
2. Siblings Engaging
Ask them to chat, tell jokes, or pretend to whisper a secret to one another.
Why this works: This pose helps to naturally bring out smiles and laughter!
3. Silly Sibling Picture
Give the green light for silly faces! This shot always ends up being a family favorite.
Why this works: I am very strategic about the timing of this pose (learn more about that in the 5-Minute Personality Portrait Playbook HERE) so for some families I do this one earlier in the session than with others. Just know you need to read the kiddos very carefully before doing this pose too soon. Families usually end up loving this pose more than the first one!
4. Individual Child Portraits
Start with the most hesitant or active child first. If those adjectives don’t describe the kiddos in front of you, I will pick the youngest child since they are going to be harder to bring back in if we lose them.
Why this works: On the off-chance that a hesitant child decides they’re all done, it’s best to get their individual portraits done first. This way, they can just watch their siblings after they are done.
Here’s my go-to sequence for individual portraits:
Smile: Warm and genuine.
Mad Face: Kids love this one!
Sad Face: Encourage a dramatic pout.
Surprised Face: Wide eyes and open mouth for extra fun.
Laugh: Get them giggling by laughing along with them.
Silly Face: Always wrap up with a goofy expression—it keeps things light and ends on a high note.
Each expression takes just seconds to capture, but the variety will leave parents with a gallery they can’t resist. If you’re want to learn more about this posing workflow and see it in action, be sure to download your copy of my 5-Minute Personality Portrait Playbook where you will see me do this posing workflow with clients.
Step 3: Focus on Emotion, Not Perfection
Personality Portraits aren’t about perfect poses—they’re about genuine emotion. Lean into the quirks, the laughter, and even the moments of shyness. Those in-between expressions are what tell the story of who a child truly is.
To get those authentic moments:
Ask Simple Questions: “What’s your favorite animal?” or “Can you show me what a T-Rex looks like?”
Give Playful Prompts: “Imagine you just saw the world’s biggest ice cream cone!”
Embrace Imperfections: A scrunched-up nose, a giggle mid-photo, or a surprised expression? Perfect.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’re a family photographer looking to run your own Personality Portrait events, I’ve got you covered. My 5-Minute Personality Portrait Playbook will show you exactly how to:
Implement a simple posing workflow that guarantees authentic emotions.
Maximize sales by delivering galleries families can’t wait to purchase.
Create $5K Saturdays by hosting these sessions during your slow season.
Download your free 5-Minute Personality Portrait Playbook now and start capturing portraits that parents can’t resist!
Scale Your Family Photography Business With Sharon
I have been a family photographer in Connecticut for six years. For my first three years in business, I struggled to bring home a consistent income, despite the fact that I was putting in the time and energy. When the pandemic hit, I decided to leave my job as a 5th grade teacher and take my business full-time. That meant I had to scale my business (during a pandemic!) and do it quickly.
While I had to do it alone, you don’t have to. I am on a mission to help other family photographers scale their family businesses so that slow season scaries are a thing of the past. You can rest easy knowing you have a business that provides what you need – whether that’s a full-time income or enough so that your family can enjoy a trip to Disney once a year.
Let’s be friends! You can find me on:
Intrigued by the idea of a $5K Saturday, without photographing a wedding? Be sure to download your 5-Minute Personality Portrait Playbook to get started. Ready to hit your first $5K Saturday? Sign up for the waitlist here!
