26 best ideas for a summer family photo shoot in nature

Features of a summer photo shoot

What is a summer photo shoot?

A summer photo shoot, oddly enough, is in no way tied to the three calendar months of summer. Most often when we say “summer photo shoot” we mean a photo outdoors on a warm sunny day. It could be late spring, when the trees delight us with their blooms and bright green lush foliage, or it could be early autumn, when the heat is no longer so debilitating, but nature still preserves the beauty and fullness of colors.

Regardless of the time of year, a “summer photo shoot” is always filled with bright emotions. It doesn’t matter where the shooting takes place - in a forest clearing, on the beach or in a city park - one of the main themes always remains the unity of man and nature.

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What is the difference?

Any photographer will tell you that it is in the summer that the pictures are the most juicy and vibrant. This time of year offers a lot of opportunities to make photos lively, natural and at the same time very beautiful. Any activity in the fresh air has a positive effect on our well-being, let alone a fun and interesting photo session that you will spend with your loved ones!

In the vast majority of cases, summer photo shoots do not require the use of additional professional equipment - natural lighting is quite sufficient, natural scenery does not need to be supplemented. All you need is a couple of your own accessories and a great mood!

You may also be interested in the article “The best poses and ideas for a family photo shoot”>

Positive and negative sides of a summer photo shoot?

Naturally, not everyone loves summer. Some simply cannot stand the sun and sweltering heat, while others would rather go skiing than sunbathe on the beach. A summer photo shoot has its own positive and negative sides:

Positive:

Natural lighting that does not require the use of additional lighting equipment.
Natural scenery.
If you are supposed to take part in a photo shoot for a child, then in the summer, in nature, it is easier for children to relax, they behave at ease, so the photographs turn out to be very bright and emotional.
A huge selection of shooting options and thematic areas. This could be a photo shoot in an ethnic style, a beach shoot, a family picnic, a hike or a fishing trip.

Negative:

Some people do not tolerate heat well, suffer from allergies, and due to skin sensitivity cannot stay in the sun for long. In this case, you need to try to provide them with comfortable conditions, using the available opportunities: move the photo session from a flowering meadow to the shore of a lake, try to choose a day that is not very hot, or “hide” under the canopy of trees in a park or forest.
If, when shooting in a studio or at home, you have everything at hand (makeup and hairstyle can be done by a professional artist right on the spot, if necessary, you can quickly change clothes, you have everything you need for children - food, drink), then in nature you may encounter temporary discomfort. To prevent this fact from disrupting your plans, try to think through everything in advance - take food and drink, a change of clothes, comfortable shoes, toys for children, and plan your route.

The most important thing when preparing for a family photo shoot, including a summer one, is your mood! All participants must be in a great mood, nothing should overshadow this day!

For autumn photo shoots

Autumn is a time of bright accents and slight sadness. Scatter leaves, stock up on hot coffee, philosophize, look for picturesque places before the snow falls.

How to prepare for a photo shoot?

How to behave?

The answer is simple - relaxed and natural! Imagine that there is no photographer, that he is just a random passer-by next to you. Just have fun, be happy, show your feelings and share your happiness with each other!

If you are afraid of the camera, feel embarrassed in front of a photo lens, or have simply never participated in professional photo shoots before, it is better to practice in front of the mirror in advance, practice some poses, ask your loved ones to take pictures of you in order to find the ideal angle in your opinion (of course, this does not mean that the photographer will photograph you exactly as you intended - just so you can quickly find a compromise and work out this photo shoot perfectly).

What to take?

It all depends on the theme of your photo shoot. In addition, discuss this point with the photographer in advance - most likely he has special accessories. If you want to use exclusively your usual “props”, be sure to inform your master about this.

A wicker basket, soap bubbles, a blanket, toys, sports equipment (badminton rackets, balls, rollers) will never be superfluous.

In addition, if you have a pet, such as your favorite dog, be sure to take him to the photo shoot!

What to wear?

The dress code also directly depends on the subject of the shoot. In addition, try to maintain harmony of style for all participants in the photo shoot. Here are some tips to help you choose outfits for your upcoming shoot:

For an ethnic photo shoot, make sure you have costumes for the whole family - you must admit, it will look very ridiculous if mom and dad are dressed in their usual clothes, and the children dress up in folk costumes.
Don't try to look luxurious by choosing expensive fabrics. Firstly, this will most likely deprive the entire composition of harmony (of course, if you do not plan to take pictures near the walls of the family castle.
Secondly, being in nature always has a relaxing effect on people - there is a desire to lie on the grass, jump, play tag with the children, but in a floor-length silk snow-white dress it is not very convenient, and the risk of ruining an expensive and beautiful outfit is very high .
Dress comfortably. This could be a shirt, a T-shirt and jeans, a loose summer dress or a skirt with a blouse, leggings, shorts, a tracksuit - anything, as long as the outfit does not restrict movement and does not cause discomfort.
Pay attention to the color of the clothes. Do you want to achieve complete harmony and unity with nature? Choose subtle tones – shades of blue and green work well. Do you want to stand out from the crowd? Red, orange and yellow are your choice. For a romantic summer photo shoot, it is best to choose white, beige or soft blue and soft pink outfits.

If you doubt the correctness of your choice or just want your family to show off in several outfits in photographs, just take with you a few basic things that can be combined, thereby creating new images: for example, a T-shirt and a shirt will go equally well with a skirt and jeans.

Selecting a location

When choosing a place for a summer photo shoot, be sure to pay attention to the following points:

Crowded. If you prefer privacy and do not want to be disturbed or distracted while shooting, give preference to remote countryside locations. Agree, you are unlikely to feel privacy in a city park, and extraneous glances from strangers will only hinder your liberation.
Picturesque. Take a closer look at the places around you. Most likely you have not noticed this before, but there are a huge number of very beautiful corners nearby. Forest edges, fields, small rivers, lakes, outskirts of villages and towns - all this looks very prosaic in life, but when choosing the right angle it can look truly fabulous in the photo.
Memorable places. If your family has a favorite picnic area or you like to go fishing together or relax on the beach, be sure to choose these areas for a photo shoot. Just make sure in advance that everything around you is clean and tidy (pick up trash, remove dried branches, etc.).

A summer photo shoot can take place in the city or outdoors - in fact, it doesn’t really matter. The main thing is that all other photography attributes correspond to the chosen location.

What is the best time to choose?

There is no single recipe here. Focus on your wishes and capabilities. If you plan to take photos with children, you will need to adapt to their schedule, although photographers consider the best time (in terms of lighting and general atmosphere) to be early in the morning or before sunset.

During the day, the hot sun can make things a little more difficult (this warning doesn't apply if you're photographing on the beach), and in the evening you can be very tired. In general, when choosing the time of day, rely on your own wishes and capabilities.

If we talk about the time of year, the most picturesque time is the time of rapid flowering - this is the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Well, or early autumn, when golden foliage is gradually mixed into the greenery.

The photography time also depends on the chosen topic. For example, if you are planning an ethnic photo shoot in a field, then it is better to wait until the fall, when picturesque sheaves of dry hay appear there.

Posing rules

In order for everything to go as smoothly as possible, you should follow some recommendations and tips that will make you and your photographs more beautiful and original.

We watch our posture. Any clothes and decorations can fade if the model is standing in a closed position and hunched over. Make sure that there is no slouching in your body: stretch your neck, which will noticeably lengthen it, lift your chin, pull your shoulders back and lower them a little, straighten your chest. For a more chiseled and dramatic look to your pose, pay attention to the position of your lower back: you can arch slightly, giving your body an S-like curve. You can make the pose more interesting by simply leaning on one leg.

Think less about posture. Your intense thought process about how good you look in front of the lens will be reflected in your body position: stiffness and tightness will not keep you waiting. Try to relax and stand in front of the camera in natural and relaxed ways.
Make sure that your toes and shoulders do not point in the same direction in the photo - this adds extra weight to the body.
Symmetry is not always good. Sometimes the models look like soldiers standing at attention. Add a little asymmetry to your body position: for example, putting one leg forward.
When working with your hands in close-ups, pay attention to how your hands and fingers look: sometimes it’s very easy to ruin the whole impression of a portrait with the wrong hand pose.
Hide the second selection, if there is one. To do this, you need to place the camera lens slightly above the model's eye level.
You can stand on tiptoes or stretch one leg forward a little - this will visually lengthen them.

Ideas for a summer family photo shoot in nature

On bicycles, rollerblades

Outdoor activities are gaining momentum, so why not use it in your photo shoot? Take a bicycle for each family member and go to country paths or to the park. Needless to say, clothes in this case should be comfortable?

It is not necessary to use modern sports bikes and rollers. If you prefer to shoot in a retro style, then you can take regular old bicycles, dress up in 60's costumes and go on a fun costume family picnic!

With soap bubbles

Nowadays you can buy a wide variety of soap bubbles. There are bottles for small bubbles, and there are bottles for huge soap balls. If you wish, you can even find special machines that independently “make” soap bubbles in huge quantities.

Such a photo session will certainly be memorable for both you and your children, and the photos will turn out bright, colorful and emotional!

With animals

Does your pet have the status of a “family member”? Then don’t hesitate to take it with you to a photo shoot, because otherwise the composition will be incomplete!

You can arrange a bike ride, a picnic or active games on the beach - just think of a specific role for your pet (the dog can run next to you, catch a ball, a cat will need a special carrier).

Very often, family photo sessions are held on horse farms. You don’t have to ride a horse – you can just stand nearby. Well, then have a family picnic! Photos with animals always look more alive and natural - after all, animals don’t know how to pretend.

Picnic

Here you will need a bright blanket (large checks are in fashion now, but if you prefer to show your individuality by choosing a knitted blanket or a blanket with a floral pattern, your photos will in no way be worse), a basket of food (thermos with tea, sandwiches , fruits and vegetables), toys for children.

Choose a place for your picnic that your whole family will enjoy and make sure the surroundings are safe. Behave at ease - as if you had just come to nature to play with the children or take a break from the city noise.

Active games

A healthy glow on the cheeks, a sparkling look, joy, energy, health - all this can be easily preserved in memory if you go to a photo shoot with active games. Choose what you like best: badminton, football, sack races, family relay races, Frisbee.

Don’t set yourself the task of going all out: remember, this is not a fitness workout, this is a family vacation. The main thing here is spiritual harmony, support and joy of loved ones.

On the sea

Oddly enough, photo shoots at the sea are not only about the bright scorching sun, cocktails and hot sand. A family photo shoot on the seaside may not be held during the holiday season. In this case, it is advisable to dress comfortably (keep in mind that there is often a strong cold wind on the coast), and take a “change” with you - the likelihood that you will wet your shoes and clothes is very high.

On the beach

The principle is the same as during a photo shoot at sea - comfortable clothes, a change of clothes, some necessary thematic accessories (bedspread, sunglasses, sun cream, swimming ring for children, etc.).

It is not necessary to be on the shore all the time - if the weather permits, you can swim, swim, or splash with water. If you take your dog with you, play with it.

Hike

A family hike is always fun and exciting! We will need a tent, backpacks, a fire (don’t forget to take care of safety, dig a hole in the ground, and after the photo shoot, carefully extinguish the flame) and enthusiastic models!

Secret forest paths, streams, picturesque meadows - there’s so much you can see on a hike! And during the photo shoot, you will also film it all on your camera!

In field

There are several shooting options here:

Ethnic photography in folk costumes with suitable props (pottery, baskets, milk can, working tools nearby).
Modern style. In this case, you can dress as usual. In the photo you will see relaxed people, having taken a break from the frantic city life - a happy family basking in the sun on green grass, surrounded by an endless number of colorful wildflowers.

Balloons

A balloon is a symbol of freedom and joy. In a photo shoot, you can use balloons of the same color or different colors. Ideally, combine several shades so that they are in harmony with the environment and, of course, with your clothes.

It will be great if there are balloons inflated with helium - in this case you can take several photos “in the jump” - the illusion of flying in a balloon will be created.

The more balls, the brighter the composition will be. It would be great if the balls were of different sizes - from huge ones, one meter in diameter, to very small ones (sausage balls, for example, twisted in the shape of animals or flowers).

With food

All sorts of goodies can decorate a summer family photo shoot. Of course, you shouldn’t take banal food with you - it’s unlikely to look original in photographs. But beautiful homemade hamburgers, macarons, juice in bright glasses, lollipops, gingerbread cookies in the shape of funny figures - all this will certainly decorate your family photographs.

On green grass

Green is the color of summer! Run barefoot on the grass, lie on it, holding a long blade of grass in your teeth - this is country romance!

A photo shoot on green grass is suitable for those who prefer the absence of bright and catchy elements. Dress simply - girls wear light dresses, men - light trousers or shorts and light T-shirts or shirts.

Under the tree

Of course, you understand that just the first tree you come across won’t do. It must be a beautiful plant, perhaps very old, with spreading branches. There is no need to explain that any conifers are immediately excluded - there are a lot of needles under them, and sitting on dry needles is not very pleasant.

Don't forget about a neat blanket, a basket of fruit, a book or magazine. Check with the photographer if he has props in the form of a small table and chairs.

In identical suits

Not so long ago, identical suits for the whole family came into fashion. And if in everyday life mothers and daughters most often dress the same, then for a photo shoot you can buy a set common to the whole family. It is not necessary to completely copy all the clothes - say, T-shirts with the same print are enough.

You can play on contrasts: dad and daughter will be dressed in light colors, and mother and son will be dressed in dark colors, or vice versa.

In fact, for any costume photo shoot, if done correctly, you don't need any other props!

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Hello! I'm Kolya Yakubovsky. I take photographs in Moscow. I love smiles until the eyes wrinkle, lively emotions, life style.

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Family portrait

Of course, bright live photos are an excellent filling for your family album. But your grandparents are unlikely to appreciate a photo in which you all stick out your tongues, make faces, or jump on a trampoline.

In order not to offend anyone, in any photo shoot you must definitely work on a family portrait. Of course, we are not talking about the prim examples of the last century, when mom sat on a chair, dad stood behind, and the children were on either side of mom (but this option in modern processing can also look very decent). A cheerful, cheerful, energetic portrait depicting people loving each other will be a wonderful addition to a photo shoot on a picnic or in the field.

Embrace

A family photo shoot involves the participation of your closest and dearest people! Well, here’s how you can do without hugs! There should be “hugs” in at least a few pictures: mom and dad, children with each other or with their parents. These can be either loving, romantic or friendly hugs.

In order for the photos to turn out beautiful, you need to choose the right angle, find good lighting, otherwise it may turn out that half of the faces will be in the shadows, the poses will seem awkward and unnatural.

By the way, during a family photo shoot, you shouldn’t forget about kissing! After all, in real life we kiss each other, we kiss our children!

Unusual angle

What is an unusual angle? Shooting from the bottom up (the photographer stands at the foot of the cliff, and you are at the top) or from the top down (you are photographed from a hill or from a tree). Or the well-known “man on the palm” angle. Or "upside down." In general, there are many options.

The main principle of success is your willingness to experiment.

Connection of generations

Most often, when they talk about the connection between generations in photography, they mean non-standard photographs, such as “father’s hand, mother’s hand, baby’s hand,” or children’s hands in the hands of their parents with a heart embedded in them.

To take such a photo, you will need to concentrate a little and strictly follow the photographer's instructions. But believe me, you will not regret spending time on this work!

Will be built

To make a photograph look natural and beautiful, you need not to play for the camera, but act as if there is no photographer here at all. But there are times when you need to pose a little. For example, it will be built. This could be based on age, or gender, or height... There are a lot of options. Offer the photographer your options, he will offer his own - as a result, choose the one you like the most!

Portrait within a portrait

An interesting technique, although not new at all. The point is to depict... a family portrait on the finished family portrait. There are many options for doing this: from the standard (all family members stand and hold their family photo in their hands) to creative (mom and dad look at graffiti that depicts children).

Not every photographer knows how to work in this technique, so before you offer this option to the master, make sure of his skill, otherwise, instead of a high-quality photograph, you will get a cheap version processed in Photoshop.

In the country

It is not necessary to look for a summer house for a photo shoot. To do this, it is enough to take with you the necessary props into nature: wicker baskets, an imitation of a fence or wattle fence, a couple of clay pots, wicker furniture.

A white tablecloth on the table, fruits and vegetables in a basket, milk in a jug - all this will help create an atmosphere of carefree relaxation in the country.

Inventory (letters, numbers)

Taking a full-fledged candy bar with you into nature is quite problematic, so many families limit themselves to the minimum set - an inventory of cardboard letters and numbers from which you can make words, names, dates, etc. Such photos do not need to be signed; they will already have the names of everyone present or the date of shooting.

With musical instruments

Do you know how to play the accordion? What about the guitar? No? Piano, violin, maracas? Although this doesn’t matter - in the photo you can play any musical instrument! If this is a field shoot, you can take an accordion or balalaika; the violin will look perfect in a photo in the Provence style. The guitar is suitable for a hike or a picnic.

If you don't know how to handle a particular musical instrument, ask a photographer for help.

Campfire

The fire is mesmerizing. The fire in the photo always turns out very bright and natural. Against the backdrop of a fire, a family photo takes on a tone of coziness and tranquility, especially if the whole family gathers around the fire, curled up in a blanket.

Don't forget about safety - open fire in nature is the cause of fires. Therefore, try to completely extinguish the fire as quickly as possible.

Jump photo

A beautiful, dynamic, bright and life-affirming jump photo is the emotional peak of any photo shoot. In order for it to turn out well, you need to practice well, preferably in advance. There are many variations of such photographs; which one is right for you, you need to decide with the photographer based on your physical characteristics, the age of the children, training, etc.

With flowers

Summer is the time to bloom. And how can you have a summer family photo shoot without flowers? Collect a bouquet in a clearing, pick a lilac branch, weave a wreath. Scatter daisies along the hem of the dress, stick a wild carnation flower into a loop on the dress.

A delicate bouquet will be an excellent addition to a woman’s outfit and will make photographs warmer and more romantic.

We also recommend that you read the article “Family photo session with children: ideas and poses”>

What to wear to a photo shoot?

You first need to think through images and poses for a photo shoot in nature. You should focus on the costumes and clothes in which the shooting will be carried out. Depending on the season, you can use many things and clothes in your wardrobe. The main thing is to always have a choice at hand. In the filming process, special use will be made of catchy and rich colors of clothing and scenery, contrasting against the background of nature: black and red, orange and green, purple, yellow, white and bright blue.

Conclusion

So, if you are still wondering whether to spend time on a summer family photo shoot or whether it is better to just spend a day on the beach, immediately cast aside all doubts and make an appointment with the photographer!

A summer family photo shoot is an excellent opportunity to relax with the whole family (and you must admit, such a chance comes quite rarely) and to preserve the memory of these happy moments in the family album for a long time!

Of course, the success of a photo shoot largely depends on the professionalism of the photographer, so if you are interested in a master who knows his business 100%, be sure to contact the photographer

Nikolay Yakubovsky

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Location

The shooting location must be planned in advance, which directly depends on the time of year. Each season has its own special charms and charms. For example, if in the autumn or summer you can create a unique photo in the forest, then in winter this seems difficult due to the large amount of snow and difficult movement along forest paths. However, it is in winter that there is an opportunity to take excellent photographs on the ice of frozen rivers and lakes, which is impossible to achieve in the summer. The place of work can be absolutely any place, including parks where trees bloom, fields, seas, lakes and mountains.

Family tea party

Hot aromatic tea is not only a pleasant way to warm up, but also an excellent subject for a winter family photo shoot ! Choose large bright circles for shooting that will be clearly visible in the photo. And if you take a samovar and a cozy blanket with you, the pictures will turn out to be especially atmospheric.

Examples of photos from the Internet:

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Ideas for a winter photo shoot

Posing against nature background

The process of composing a shot in nature begins with choosing a location. There are many variations of positions and poses that express the mood, character and behavior of the model. There are both simple poses for a photo shoot in nature, and complex ones, including various staging, tricks and special effects.

A standing pose is considered successful for conveying the beauty of the surrounding nature. Here the main emphasis is on the scenery, spreading trees and river floods. The characters in the photo are given a secondary role, for example, nature occupies 70% of the frame, and the model, located in the center or side, fills only 30%.

If you plan to take a photo in a winter field or in a forest strewn with autumn leaves, and you need to convey a state of sadness or sadness, the best pose would be a half-turn towards the photographer and folded hands on your chest. You can tilt your face to your chest, open your eyes slightly and look down or slightly above the horizon.

The position where the model stands near an object allows you to achieve ease. The technique is simple: you need to lean on a standing object, which can be trees, pillars or rocks. The legs are crossed, one hand lies on the hip, the other is relaxed. In summer and spring, emotions are positive and pronounced. In this case, pictures with grass, greenery and flowers turn out well. For example, you can sit comfortably on a field, crush the grass so that it does not cover the model, and pick up an armful of wildflowers. The wicker wreath and gentle smile in such a photo will not leave any photo connoisseur indifferent.

In cases where it is necessary to focus on a person, portrait poses are most often used. Be sure to look away a little to the side or raise your head up, and not look straight into the lens. A pose with a slight forward bend always visually makes the figure softer and slimmer. While sitting, you can fold your hands on your knees and throw your hair to one side. There is also a way to create a shot from behind - the head and waist are half a turn away from the photographer. A gaze directed into the distance will add mystery to the image.