When I first started photographing families, I thought the answer was simple: find more poses.
I’d scroll Pinterest, save screenshots, and walk into sessions with a mental list of “maybe this will work.”
But then reality hit. Kids melted down. Dads lost interest. Parents looked at me for direction… and my brain went blank.
That’s when I realized: poses are important, but without a workflow, things can easily fall apart.
Poses Without Workflow = Chaos
Having a pile of poses sounds like the answer, but without structure, it’s overwhelming.
You don’t know which one to use when. You lose track of what you’ve already done. And when things get chaotic (because little kids will be little kids), it’s easy to freeze.
I learned the hard way that poses alone don’t give you the flow you need to lead a session. And that’s exactly what families need from you: leadership.
What Workflow Actually Does for Family Photographers
Think of it this way: wedding photographers have a shot list. They have the built-in structure of wedding day activities to guide them.
Family photographers don’t have that. Every family is different. Every kid is unpredictable. So instead of relying on chance to get the shots we want, we need to create structure for the session— and that’s exactly what a posing workflow does.
A workflow helps you:
- Cover your bases → so you don’t forget the shots you or your clients expect.
- Maximize limited time → because sessions are short, and kids’ attention spans are even shorter.
- Manage the chaos → leaning into kids’ energy when it’s high, and capturing key family shots while they’re most agreeable.
- Balance variety + must-haves → getting the connected, playful images parents love and the classic shots you know they’ll want printed.
After shooting hundreds of family sessions, I created my own workflow to make sure I could consistently deliver galleries full of variety, connection, and all the “must-have” images families expect.
Workflow Without Poses = Rigid
Of course, workflow alone isn’t enough either. Without a bank of solid poses and prompts, sessions can feel repetitive. You need variety and creativity to keep things fresh.
That’s where the right prompts come in — the little cues that spark laughter, movement, and real emotion. They’re essential to guide and elicit your families inot moments that make great family photos.
The Magic Is in Both
The real secret isn’t choosing between workflow or poses — it’s how they work together.
A workflow gives your sessions a backbone. It keeps you calm and focused, makes sure you don’t miss the must-have shots, and helps you move families through the session without stalling out. It’s the structure that holds everything together.
But structure alone can feel a little flat. That’s where poses and prompts come in. They spark interaction, laughter, tenderness, and variety. They turn your workflow into a gallery that feels alive and connected — not stiff or repetitive.
When you combine the two, you stop winging it and start leading sessions with both direction and creativity. You’re not just capturing photos — you’re creating experiences that flow smoothly and result in images your families will treasure forever.
Steal My Free Posing Workflow
Since workflow was the piece I struggled with most, I created my KMP Family Posing Workflow — and I’m giving it to you for free.
This isn’t just a list of random poses. It’s the actual flow I’ve refined over hundreds of family sessions — designed to help you:
- Start with confidence instead of awkward warm-ups.
- Keep kids engaged and parents relaxed throughout the session.
- Balance the “must-have” shots with the playful, connected moments families love.
- Adapt on the fly when chaos happens (because it always does).
It’s short, simple, and designed to work in real-life family sessions, not styled shoots or perfect studio setups.
Get my free Family Posing Workflow here:
Download it, print it out, keep it on your phone for a handy reminder of what kinds of shots you’ll be moving into next.
The Next Step — Add the Poses
Workflow gave me structure. But when I paired it with a curated set of poses? That’s when everything clicked.
That’s why I built the KMP Family Posing Deck:
- 50 go-to prompts with real client photos
- 10 bonus poses just for parents
- Quick usage tips so you know exactly what to do in the moment
- PDF + JPGs you can keep right on your phone
It’s the perfect companion to your workflow — giving you both the structure and the variety you need to create galleries full of connection.
No More Winging It
If you’ve been chasing poses without a plan, or following a workflow without enough variety, I’ve been there.
But you don’t have to wing it anymore. Start with the free workflow. Use it in your next session. Then add the Posing Deck when you’re ready for the complete system that keeps families engaged, connected, and having fun.
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