The Summer Family Portrait
or: How to Capture Love, Laughter, and Family Loonacy Before Someone Melts
Marshall Art and Zephyr giving me a ‘Summer Portrait’ vibe
Summer family portraits sound dreamy, don’t they?
Golden light. Barefoot kids. Flowing dresses. Everyone relaxed and happy.
In reality? It’s 28 degrees, someone is sticky, Dad is squinting like he’s staring directly into the sun (because he is), at least one child has announced they hate the outfit you chose with your whole heart and Grandma has had a little too much sherry.
Fear not.
Summer is actually a brilliant time for family portraits—if you lean into the season, the anarchy, and the fact that nobody stays perfectly clean for more than 3.5 minutes anyway.
Here are some summer family portrait ideas that photograph beautifully… even when life gets a bit… sweaty.
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The “Barefoot & Unbothered” Look
Shoes are optional. Sanity is not.
Bare feet instantly scream summer. They also remove the need for matching shoes, which is a small but meaningful victory.
Think:
• Walking along the beach
• Sitting on a picnic blanket
• Kids dangling their legs off a jetty while plotting mild mischief
Bonus: Bare feet photograph wonderfully and distract from the fact that someone’s shorts are on backwards.
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Golden Hour: Nature’s ‘Instagram Filter’
Golden hour is that magical time just before sunset or just after sunrise when everyone looks 37% more relaxed and 82% more photogenic.
The light is soft. The colours are warm. And most importantly—
the sun is no longer trying to burn your retinas out.
Yes, it’s close to bedtime. Yes, the kids might be a little bit feral while the hound is probably snoozing upside down on the couch.
But the photos?
Gold.
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Movement Beats Posing (Every Time)
Summer portraits are not about stiff smiles and hands-on-knees energy.
Instead:
• Go walkabout – preferably, most of you, towards me
• Race up a tree
• Spin the kids until someone gets dizzy (usually Dad)
Movement gives you genuine laughter, natural expressions, and images that feel like your family—not a school photo day hostage situation.
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Embrace Summer Props
Think:
• A picnic blanket
• A beautiful flower (and a small portable pooch)
• Ice creams (brave, but iconic)
• A big bouncy ball
• A director’s chair
• That bottle of sherry for Grandma – to keep her in place
Avoid:
• Anything that requires instructions
• Anything glitter-based
• Anything that melts faster than children’s patience
Yes, ice creams will drip. Yes, someone will lick theirs dramatically – usually the dog. These are memories. Also… incredible photos.
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Light, Breezy Clothing That Forgives Life
Summer wardrobes should be:
• Light
• Comfortable
• Able to survive sitting on grass – or sand
Soft neutrals, gentle colours, and breathable fabrics photograph beautifully and won’t show every bead of sweat earned chasing a toddler uphill.
Pro tip: If someone can’t sit down in their outfit, reconsider.
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Let Kids (and pets) Be Kids (and pets) (They’re Going To Anyway)
The best summer family portraits are rarely the ones where everyone is looking at the camera at the same time.
They’re the moments in between:
• The toddler decides to share his ice cream with the dog; the dog takes the whole lot.
• The cat suddenly receives a ‘phone call’ (washes his butt) right in front of the family group
• The horse sneezes all over everyone
Perfection is overrated. Personality photographs better.
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In Conclusion: Summer Portraits Are About Connection, Not Control
Summer family portraits aren’t about everyone behaving perfectly. They’re about capturing your family as they are—sun-kissed, laughing, slightly sandy, and wildly loved.
So come as you are. Bring the kids. Bring the anarchy. I’ll bring the camera and a very high tolerance for silliness. I might even join in.
And one day, you’ll look back at these photos and think,
“It was all worth it - every single moment.”