Every Woman's Guide to Looking Good in Family Photos

Family photos are a great way to create and capture memories, especially during holidays or milestones. However, not many people feel comfortable being in them or having their pictures taken in general. Fortunately, this task doesn’t have to be daunting.

While you may know how to look your best when taking a selfie, when it comes to family pictures, you want to evoke a certain sense of candidness and warmth while still maintaining flattering angles. Here’s how every grown woman can look good while posing for family photos. Read on if you feel awkward but still want to participate, have fun, and look great.

Don't be so stiff when taking photos with your family. Put the fun in posing by engaging in more candid poses! Laugh with your loved ones and lay on the grass while engaging in conversation. Have a laugh or play and cuddle with little ones for a more dynamic photo. If you’re taking pictures with your parents, have them sit and wrap your arms around them for a warm and engaging image you'll cherish forever.

Knowing your body angles can help increase your ease and confidence in taking group photos. Watch where you position yourself and be aware of your body movements, as these can affect the final product.

If there’s a massive height difference between you and other family members, have taller individuals sit in front to keep everyone in the frame without creating odd, empty spaces. If you’re at the far end (the short end of the wide-angle stick), turn your hips towards the group, then turn your shoulders towards the camera and lean back slightly. This creates an S-shaped that gives your body dimension.

Find yourself squeezed in the middle? If the photographer asks you to get closer, create gaps by folding your arms and legs slightly instead of looking stick-straight into the camera.

While huddling and hugging can evoke warmth in a photo, there are other ways to make a family picture more interesting. Don’t be afraid to spread out and create fun and interesting moments in the frame.

Ask your photographer to play around with perspective. Instead of lining everyone up horizontally, place some people in the foreground and the background a la Vanity Fair or request a tighter shot. One way to achieve this is to hit 2x zoom on your phone instead of shooting with the default range. It can still create that illusion of closeness without squeezing people together while adding depth to your picture.

Most women had their frizzy-hair phase in high school – with family albums worth of proof. Not keen on reliving that era in your life? Take care of frizz. One secret to looking extra good in photos is making sure your hair looks neat and in place. Stray tresses and frizzy strands can look distracting in photos; ditto for brassy hair or colored hair that begins to show signs of tampo while growing out.

When you have no control over how your hair will look (such as during a windy day or even a hot, humid afternoon that can cause frizz), you can take steps to prevent messy hair and keep it manageable. Use TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shine Serum to ensure hair remains tame even on windy days. You can also add Dove Nourishing Oil Care 1 Minute Serum Conditioner to your haircare routine. It penetrates the hair shaft, moisturizing your locks and giving them a silkier texture.

To care for colored hair, use Cream Silk Triple Keratin Rescue Ultimate Color Revive Ultra Conditioner, a sulfate-free formula that keeps even colored hair nourished and manageable.

Follow these tips because taking family photos shouldn't have to be so awkward. You may even have fun with it!