I know that booking a professional family photography session doesn’t always work. And even when it does, you still need far more family photos than the handful you get from a shoot, whether that’s a full session at home or a mini session at Fleet Pond.
Children change quickly. And so do we. I was recently looking at photos of myself from five years ago and was reminded just how fast time moves. With a phone camera always at hand, we all have thousands of snaps, but there’s a difference between casual photos and intentional ones. The kind you’ll look back on in a few years and not only like how everyone looks, but also think, “This was us.”
If you’re reading this, I’m fairly sure you’re a mum. And I’m also fairly sure you have very few photos of yourself with your children. We joke about it all the time. If someone were to look at my camera roll, they’d think my children had no mum at all.
So I’m on a mission to help mums get into the photos. The good news is that you don’t need a professional camera, perfect children, or endless patience to take family photos that feel natural and look good. You just need a few simple principles.
Below is my guide to DIY family photos.
1. Start with light, not gear
Lighting matters more than the camera you use. A basic phone in good light will always beat an expensive camera in bad light.
A few simple rules:
- Natural light beats artificial light every time.
- If you’re indoors, work near your biggest window.
- Avoid harsh light, such as direct midday sun or strong ceiling lights.
- Morning and evening light is your friend. If you’re outside at midday, find open shade.
- Avoid dappled shade. It creates patchy light on faces that’s hard to fix later.
- Watch how light falls on faces. You want even lighting and soft shadows for foolproof results.
If the light feels soft and calm to your eyes, it will usually photograph well.
2. Choose location based on light, then think about the background
When choosing where to take the photo, think about light first and background second.
Outdoors
Outside gives you the biggest light source possible: the sun. Cloudy days are even better, as clouds act like a giant softbox.
You don’t need a tripod unless you already have one. Benches, logs, walls, backpacks, or a chair in the garden all work fine, as long as they’re stable.
Indoors
If you’re inside, choose the brightest room in the house. A bed, a sofa, or the floor near a window works well and naturally brings people closer together.
Background matters
Try to keep backgrounds simple so faces stay the focus.
- Plain walls, headboards, greenery, or blue sky work well.
- Avoid busy feature walls with frames or small-leaved trees.
A full, tidy bookcase is an exception. It adds personality, and you’ll love seeing those details in years to come.
3. Keep composition simple and close
You don’t need perfect posing. You just need everyone visible and close enough to feel connected.
A few guidelines:
- Keep everyone’s faces on roughly the same plane so they’re all in focus.
- Bring people physically close. Gaps feel distant in photos.
- Placing the tallest people in the middle works well. Children can sit on laps, stand to the side, or hug from behind.
- Leave space for yourself if you’re setting the timer.
- Place the camera at about chest height for full-body photos and around neck height for half-body shots.
- Leave a bit of space around everyone. You can crop later.
Once you’ve set it up, take a test shot. Check focus, light, and framing before committing.
4. Use simple settings (or let your phone do the work)
If you’re using a camera:
- Use Auto or Aperture Priority mode.
- For groups, aim for an aperture between f/4.5 and f/8.
- Keep ISO as low as you can while still getting enough light.
- Centre-weighted metering helps the camera expose for faces.
If you’re using a phone:
- Use the longer lens if your phone has one. On most phones, this is available if you have multiple lenses and is more flattering than the standard wide-angle lens.
- Portrait mode can help separate faces from the background. You can adjust the blur after the photo is taken.
- Sometimes turning the flash on in daylight can help lift shadows. Test it first.
Don’t overthink this. Getting everyone relaxed matters more than perfect settings.
5. Edit lightly
Most photos benefit from a small edit.
- Auto adjustments are often enough.
- Brighten slightly, lift shadows gently, and don’t overdo contrast.
- Snapseed is a great free app if you want more control, but there are many others.
A good rule of thumb: if it starts to look unnatural, you’ve gone too far.
A final note
DIY family photos don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Some attempts will fail completely, and that’s OK. You’ll get better at it the more you do it. What matters is that you’re all in the frame, together.
And if you try this and decide you’d rather not do it yourself next time, that’s also completely valid. If you’d prefer to be in the photos without worrying about any of this, you can read more about my family photography sessions here.
Good places for family photos around Fleet and the surrounding areas
These are all places that work well for relaxed, natural family photos:
- Fleet Pond
A good variety of backgrounds, including open spaces, heathland, and the pond itself. Parking available. - Edenbrook Country Park
Large open spaces, a carved dragon, and plenty of benches. Particularly lovely at sunset or on a frosty morning. Parking near Hart Leisure Centre. - Basingstoke Canal
Natural leading lines and water that helps soften the light. Park at Zebon Copse Community Centre. - Hartley Wintney Commons
A green space with oak trees and crocuses in spring. Beautiful soft light in the mornings and afternoons. Plenty of logs to sit on. St John’s Church makes a lovely red brick background. Park on Church Lane, Green Lane, or in the village car park. - Hazeley Heath and Heath Warren
Beautiful heathland with conifers and long paths. Great in the morning and on frosty days. Park on Bramshill Road. - Farnham Park
Open spaces, a large wooden playground that won’t spoil your photos, and Farnham Castle if you want more texture. Park on Castle Street or in the park car park. - Waverley Abbey
Beautiful ruins, plenty of space to run around or picnic, a pond, and an incredible yew tree. Parking on site.
You might also want to explore National Trust and English Heritage sites. Many of them are ideal for photography and make a great family day out.
