Best Photography Prompts to Use for More Natural Looking Photos

Best Photography Prompts to Use for More Natural Looking Photos

Are you having trouble making your subject look natural?  Do you feel unsatisfied with your posed portraits?  YOU are not alone!

Stiff images are not NOT flattering and have become less popular as lifestyle and casual photography has taken the lead.

But how do you make people look natural if they KNOW they are posing for a portrait?

THE BEST SOLUTION IS USING PHOTOGRAPHY PROMPTS!

In this article, you will learn what photo prompts are and how to use them, a giant list of prompts to use for different types of portraits, and some photo examples taken after using various prompts.  Are you ready to get started?  Let’s go!

What are Prompts and How to Use Them?

To prompt is to bring out a feeling or an action; to encourage a hesitating person.  So, when photographers prompt their subject(s), they are giving them a cue to act or react to as they take their picture.

Does this sound complicated?  Don’t worry - it's not.

Simply stated, prompts are the easiest way to make something happen.  For example, you can suggest an activity to your subject to capture them in action, or YOU can do something that makes them laugh, sweeten or relax.

Unless your subject is a professional model or has a lot of experience with photo sessions, they will probably be nervous and awkward in front of the camera.  And when you are photographing children or large groups, it isn't easy to have everyone engaged at the same time. 

Utilizing prompts is the perfect way to handle these common situations!

 Prompt: "Show us your muscles" - Brandi Graham Photography

Photography prompts have existed since the popularization of photography.  I’m sure you're familiar with “Watch the birdie,” a popular prompt used by photographers holding a toy on top of the camera to encourage children to look towards the lens when they release the shutter.

“Say cheese!” is another super common prompt that alerts everyone to look at the camera just before the photographer snaps a photo.  In addition, when subjects say "cheese," the "ee" will make them smile automatically and often makes them feel awkward enough to actually laugh - a natural emotion photographers love to capture.

As you can see, photo prompts are not complicated and have been commonly used for a long time!  In fact, I'm sure you have used the "Say cheese" prompt many, many times.

However, using CREATIVE PROMPTS WILL GIVE YOU BETTER RESULTS and MORE NATURAL LOOKING PHOTOS than just using the same two classic prompts over and over again.

IMPORTANT TIP: When using a prompt, MAKE SURE YOUR CAMERA IS READY TO SHOOT right after you use it because you will want to capture the actions and expressions as they happen.  If you have to repeat a prompt, it will lose some spontaneity, defeating its purpose.

Prompt: “Let’s play a game…hold hands and…wait, what’s that smell??” - Brandi Graham, SC Photographer

Photography Prompts Ideas

As you can imagine, not all prompts work for all types of subjects.  For example, if you are photographing a couple, you will want to encourage romantic gestures.  And if you are photographing children, you will want something more fun and active.

In addition to using particular prompts based on the subject, the prompt should also fit the situation.  For example, if you are shooting a professional headshot, it wouldn’t make sense to prompt your subject to "Jump."  Instead, you will want to encourage them to smile casually or use a simple prompt to put them at ease.

To help you find the type of prompts you are looking for quickly, we have divided the top prompt ideas into separate subject categories.  Are you photographing children today?  You can skip right to that section below for review.

Prompt: “Look at your sister, but whatever you do, don’t laugh!” - Brandi Graham Photography

Prompts for Individual Adult Portraits

Individual adult portraits can be difficult because being alone in front of the camera can cause a lot of anxiety for a single subject.  Use these prompts to help them relax, so you can capture more natural-looking photos:

• Shake your body.
• Jump.
• Jump and make the Mario Bros pose in the air.
• Walk towards me.
• Walk away from me and turn around when I call you.
• If I were a genie, think about what you would ask me as your one wish.
• Imagine your biggest crush is standing next to me - now smile at them.
• Remember a moment when you felt the proudest.
• Think about a funny memory.
• Stretch.
• Scream.
• Make a silly face.
• Stick your tongue out.
• Run your hands through your hair.
• Pull the collar of the jacket/shirt or pashmina/scarf.
• Pretend you’re fixing your watch.
• Dance like I’m not here.
• Try to make an impression of your favorite character from your childhood.
• Close your eyes and relax, then open them when I tell you.
• Tilt your head and imagine something that makes you go ‘aaawww’ like a puppy or kitty.
• Imagine looking in the mirror and telling yourself a motivating phrase.

Prompt: “How does it feel to be marrying the girl of your dreams?" - Tina Auten Photography

Prompts for Individual Child Portraits

Children can be difficult subjects to photograph because they get distracted and don’t like to remain still for very long.  They also DON'T like to be told what to do.  So, when you prompt them, try to make it look like a game with cues that make them feel like THEY are in control.

• Did you hear that?  No?  Shhh, listen carefully.
• Twirl.
• Jump.
• Throw a ball ( or a bunch of autumn leaves, etc.) into the air.
• Show me your favorite toy.
• Tell me about the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen.
• Pull your ears and stick your tongue out - but come on, be serious about it!
• What if you were a king/queen?  How would you pose for the royal portrait?
• Whisper a secret to your teddy bear.
• Scream.
• Imagine you’re asking mom and dad for something you really want - say pleeeease!
• Imagine that you’re a superhero.  Now, show me your super powers.
• Use a sprinkler and ask them to play with the water (if the weather is appropriate).
• Run towards me like you’re escaping from a monster.
• Blow a kiss to mom and dad.
• Tell me a funny joke you heard in school.
• Think about the funniest dream you’ve ever had.

Bonus: If you need help posing children or teens, or photographing children in general, click on these links for great tips and ideas.

Prompt: "ATCHOOOOOO" - Raphaëlle V. Photo

Prompts for Couples

Many of the prompts to use when photographing couples are sweet and romantic but don’t forget to throw in some fun and silly ones too.  Here are some great prompts for couple's photoshoots:

• Rub noses.
• Kiss…but stop JUST before you actually kiss.
• Run towards each other as if you haven’t seen each other in a long time.
• Hold hands and walk.
• Hand a flower (or any prop) to the other person.
• Look towards the horizon and imagine your future together.
• Look into each other eyes and remember the first time you kissed.
• Think about the happiest memory you have together.
• Hold out champagne glasses and make a toast.
• Hold out champagne glasses, cross arms, and drink.
• Slow dance and take a dip.
• Dance as silly as you can.
• Play with her/his hair.
• Fix his shirt collar or tie.
• Place a flower in her ear.
• One of you hug the other one from the back.
• Give her/him a piggyback ride.
• Sit down and cuddle like you’re watching a movie on the couch.
• Feed her/him a strawberry (or any other food).
• Use a cake (for anniversary photos) and smear frosting on his/her face.
• Whisper in his/her ear the funniest sounding word you can think of - like "Hullabaloo."

Bonus: If you need help posing couples, click on the link for our top 10 couple poses and photography tips.

Prompt: "Face each other, hold hands, now whisper in her ear the name of as many breakfast cereals that you can think of." - Crystal Trevino Photography

Prompts for Families

Using prompts when taking family photos can be really fun!  They are generally multi-purpose and can be used with siblings, mom and dad, and all together.  Just choose the best prompts based on the age and composition of the family.

• Look at your kids; they’re so cute!
• Give a big big hug to each other.
• Show me who’s the most ticklish.
• Look at each other, but whatever you do - don’t laugh.
• Make a pyramid.
• ATCHOOOO (fake sneeze to make kids smile).
• Have a pillow fight.
• Play red light - green light coming towards the camera, or up and down stairs.
• Hold mom and dad’s hands and jump as HIGH as you can (for toddlers).
• Arrange yourselves in order of who’s the funniest one.  Now the smartest one (and so on).
• Give the kids a piggyback ride.
• Play "You’re it" and take turns.
• Parents, stay as still as you can, kids - tickle them!
• Everybody look at the camera and cover their faces.  When I say "Peek-a-Boo,"’ you all lower your hands and say, "I see you!"
• Only the siblings - whisper a funny secret to each other that you haven’t told mom and dad.
• Throw some balls, frisbees, or any activity you enjoy as a family.
• Everybody sit down on a blanket as if you were having a picnic (if you want, include pretend food and props).
• If you were a music band (or a team of superheroes, etc.), how would you pose?

Bonus: If you need help photographing families, check out our family photo session guide as well as tips on family posing here - both are excellent references for family photographers. 

Prompt: "Look at your kids; they’re so cute!" - Raphaëlle V. Photo

Prompts for Groups

Groups are definitely more difficult to pose.  Using prompts will help make your job so much easier, and the images will look much more natural.  Here are some great prompt ideas to use for groups:

• When I say go, everybody JUMP!
• Hold hands and spread out, then try to make waves with your arms without letting go.
• Tell everybody to pick someone else in the group and pose as they think the other person would do it.
• Ask people to stand back to back in pairs, then give the cue for everyone to push against the other one as hard as they can (without falling).
• Ask the person on one side of the group to think of a funny word and whisper it into the ear of the one standing next to them.  This person needs to add another funny word trying to make a funny sentence.  Keep going until the last one says the whole sentence out loud.
• Imagine you’re a band playing air instruments - you can dance, head bang, etc.
• Everybody try to look sexy, now try to look bored, now like you’re a giant (choose adjectives based on the age group).
• Have everyone stand side by side, holding one group member in their arms.
• Whisper a different emotion or prompt to each person.  Then ask them to do it when you count to three.
• Put folded pieces of paper in a hat - one for each group member.  Write the word "Bunny" on one of the pieces.  Have each person pick a paper and keep their pick a secret from the others.  Right before you take the photo, the person who picked the "Bunny" must hold up bunny ear fingers behind the people next to them.
• Pose them standing next to each other and holding their neighbors by the shoulder.  Then, ask them to start doing a kick dance like the Rockettes.  You can vary this prompt with any coordinating group dance the group might know.

Prompt: "Everyone hug and lean in."

Prompts for Pets

Humans aren't the only ones who understand prompts.  They work great for pets too!  Here are some great cues for pet photography or family portraits that include pets:

• Staaayyyy!
• Throw them a treat from far away.
• Good boy!
• Hold a ball for dogs or a feather for a cat on top of the camera - move it to get their attention.
• Try to bark/meow in different pitch tones.
• Ask the owner to run towards the camera so the dog will follow.
• Put a treat or a toy on a tree branch.
• Squeak a squeaky toy.
• Hold a treat or a toy close to them, then pull up your arm quickly to make them jump.
• Hold a treat or a toy and move it quickly to get their attention and have them look towards different sides.
• Blow soap bubbles.
• Ask the owners to interact like petting them, asking them for a paw, etc.  Each owner will have their own prompts.

Prompt: "As an animal photographer, my fav pose is "Stayyyyyy." - Chick-Inn Ma'am Photography 

Photography Prompts - Conclusion

As you can see, there are so many different prompts you can use.  Be as creative as you can - there are no rules or guidelines that you have to stick to!

With experience, you will learn which prompts work better in different scenarios, and things will get easier.

Now it’s up to you.  Go out and try some of these prompts with your next photo session.

Do you have any questions or comments about Photography Prompts or prompts that YOU love to use?  Leave us a comment below - we would LOVE to hear from you!  And PLEASE SHARE our tutorial using the social sharing buttons (we really appreciate it)!