Creative and fun family portrait ideas for families of every kind.

There are certain family portrait poses, outfits, and places that have become so common that they’re now the fruitcake of photography: predictable and outdated. Avoid turning your family photos into fruitcake with these unique family portrait ideas.

For lasting keepsakes that become a permanent fixture in your wall décor, look to these fun family portrait ideas, poses, destinations, and more.

These fresh and imaginative ideas will inspire other projects, too, like custom posters, holiday letters or cards, and even flyers for family events. Take your pick of these creative family portrait ideas — they’ll inspire your family to show off what makes you, you.

Family portrait outfit ideas you can customize for every “look.”

Cute family portrait ideas require coordinated outfits just like formal family portrait ideas do. The cliché matching denim look had its heyday, but for more creative ideas with the potential to say something unique about your family, these outfit ideas and prompts give you exactly what you need.

Layered neutrals with pops of everyone’s favorite colors.

Family portrait color ideas don’t have to oblige everyone to one color. Dress in neutral outfits (with beiges, browns, whites, and blacks) and let everyone adorn with a pop of their favorite colors. Mom might love emerald, while Dad might love orange. The balance of neutral and accent hues will look cohesive while letting individuality shine.

Denim with large-print florals.

Pair the standard denim bottoms with floral tops or dresses. To match the fashion and design trends hot today, choose large format floral patterns with loud color palettes.

A “favorite hobbies” show-and-tell.

Everyone bases their outfits or accessories on their favorite hobbies for a show of personality and passion. Imagine one family member in a jersey of her favorite team, another with his neon green running shoes on, etc.

Color block portraits.

Other family portrait color ideas come from your favorite complementary colors. Choose a complementary palette, then let everyone mix and match pieces in those shades.

Beachy blues with nautical details.

Choose a palette of ocean-inspired blues, from navy to aqua. Combine the hues with soft textures, like in linen skirts and cotton shirts.

Earthy tones with textures.

Combine warm and earthy tones like terracotta, olive green, and mustard yellow with flowy fabrics. Layer the outfits with jewelry, hats, and cardigans.

Jewel tone palette.

Pick a palette of jewel tones (emerald, ruby, sapphire, etc.) and let each family member pick their own outfit with those colors, combining fabrics like silk, chiffon, or velvet for a classy look. These fabrics are the best for formal family portrait ideas.

Reinvent denim and white.

If you secretly love the denim and white shirts look, add a twist of personality with unique details, like your favorite accessories or elaborate hairstyles with colorful jewelry or make-up.

The best outdoor family portrait ideas and sites.

Everyone has a favorite local park, but these outdoor family portrait ideas give you even better prompts to pick the best sites for your family photos. There are places that inspire better poses, and others that give your portraits a unique look that no one else will think of. Which of these family portrait ideas immediately hits home for you?

The local park with the most trees.

Parks provide natural light and greenery, which are perfect for family photos. For the best park, pick the local location with the largest spread of trees or the biggest open spaces.

Beach or lakefront.

If you live near a beach (on the ocean or a lake), this setting makes for peaceful family photos. The water evokes calm, and the sandy shores and docks add texture. Family beach portrait ideas are typically the most casual.

The largest local playground.

The largest and most colorful playground will offer a vibrant setting for a family with small kids. Get them in action and capture candid moments with genuine personality.

Historical buildings.

Taking pictures in a nearby historic building can add a look of timelessness to your family portraits.

Neighborhood street.

Choose a residential street in your neighborhood, or even the street you live on. A street lined with cozy homes and trees offers the most personal backdrop. These family portrait ideas tend to be the most nostalgic when you look at them years later.

Urban alley with murals or brick walls.

If you live in a city with alleyways lined with murals or brick walls, these provide an artistic backdrop to play with.

Botanical garden or arboretum.

Gather at a botanical garden or arboretum loaded with plant life for a vibrant, colorful backdrop. The paths and gazebos inspire fun poses, too.

City rooftop with skyline backdrop.

Take your family portraits on a rooftop with a view of the city skyline. Schedule your photoshoot when the sun is coming up or setting, depending on how it falls on the city behind you.

Family destination portrait ideas to think outside the box.

Fun family portrait ideas can take you to destination locations, too. Or, you can plan your family destination portrait ideas around the trips you take for any reason.

It’s most people’s instinct to search for photographers and brainstorm locations where they live, but destination family photos turn family memories into photogenic moments.

Historic landmarks.

When you’re on a vacation to a historical site like a fort, monument, or even a castle, schedule family photos to capture everyone exploring the views.

Coastal cliffs.

Vacation destinations with coastal cliffs offer a dramatic ocean backdrop. Sit together on the rocks, walk along the edges (but not too close), and capture adventurous family photos to treasure the memory.

Vineyards or orchards.

Visit a vineyard or fruit orchard and arrange to bring a photographer. Pose with the fruit, crates, and landscape for a rustic look.

City streets.

When you travel somewhere with bustling streets and colorful shops and cafés, capture family portraits of everyone walking hand-in-hand or looking at window displays.

Vibrant market backdrop.

Walk through a local market filled with fruits, flowers, and crafts at your next vacation destination. Your family photos will be dynamic as you interact with vendors and products.

Vintage railroad station.

Tour a vintage train station or scenic railway to capture photos on old platforms or leaning out of a train car.

Lake vacation.

A lake vacation gives you a stunning backdrop for serene photos at sunrise or sunset, posed along docks, and sitting on the water’s edge.

Festival or fairgrounds.

Plan your photos during a fair or festival to incorporate all the cotton candy and colorful props. Fun family portrait ideas start with having real fun together.

Unique family portrait ideas to break the mold.

Unique and creative family portrait ideas turn your photos into true keepsakes. With rare takes and uncommon perspectives, you’ll capture something truly special about your family. Choose your favorites and they’ll be the family portrait wall ideas that define your décor for years to come.

Family reflections in the water.

Take your family photos using reflections in the water, posed near a calm lake or pond. You can also get some standard family portraits with the water as your backdrop.

Upside-down family portraits.

Hang the family (or at least the younger family members) upside-down on monkey bars or off one side of the couch. Get some funny family portraits like this, and you’ll have just as much fun taking them as you will sharing them in Instagram stories and social media posts later.

Shadows on the ground.

Take your family photos on a day with strong sunlight so you can play with shadows on walls, sidewalks, and sand.

Movie poster recreated.

Recreate (or invent your own) movie poster ideas with your family members as the cast. Print your favorites as real posters and they’ll make great gag gift ideas, too.

Frames within a frame.

Use a large vintage picture frame as a prop — or several (one for each family member). Pose holding the larger frame together or the individual frames side-by-side.

Family in motion.

Funny family portrait ideas use motion to great effect. Stage a running photo or another action shot where everyone does something silly. Maybe the whole family is running from a dinosaur (added later in photo editing) or from the family dog.

Family portrait drawing.

For the most keepsake-worthy family portrait ideas, drawing renderings of your family photos can be perfect. Hire a professional artist with a style you like, whether you prefer photo-realistic drawings or more whimsical sketches.

Family portrait painting.

Family portrait painting ideas start with a real family photo you love, which you then hand off to an artist to paint your portrait in style.

Christmas family portrait ideas and other holiday pictures.

Some of the best formal family portrait ideas are for those pictures taken right before the holidays. Christmas family portraits and other holiday photos end up on greeting cards, in family letters, and in announcements and invitations for holiday events.

The best Christmas family portrait ideas could end up hanging on the tree as a photo-custom ornament, too, or in Christmas decorations pulled out every year to fill the fireplace mantel with memories of holidays past. Peruse these ideas and see which one fits your family’s personality best.

Fireplace scene with cozy sweaters.

It’s the classic look — huddled near the fireplace, everyone in cozy sweaters. The glowing light from the fire and lights offer an intimate vibe. These portraits are perfect for custom invitations and holiday cards.

Decorating the tree together.

Instead of going for the “standing by the Christmas tree” look, capture family photos of everyone decorating the tree together. Get candid shots of people hanging ornaments, stringing lights, and placing the star on top of the tree.

In the glow of holiday lights.

Indoors or outdoors, the family surrounded with holiday lights will give your family portraits a festive glow. Coordinate outfits with all dark or all light to let the lights stand out.

Front door cheer.

If you have a wreath hanging on your front door, get the family out in front of it in outfits with one or two colorful winter accessories apiece.

Winter wonderland ideas.

Gather for family photos in a snowy park or forest. Dress in coordinated winterwear, especially matching scarves or gloves, or in accessories with complementary holiday colors.

Gift unwrapping captured.

Even if you have to stage it before the holidays to use the photos in letters and cards, take photos as candid moments of family members opening gifts. Sitting together among the shredded wrapping paper, with the tree fully lit, these become joyful pictures.

Sleigh ride magic.

Schedule a photoshoot during a sleigh ride or at a winter festival with a decorative holiday sleigh or wagon.

Snow globe illusion.

Holiday family portraits can be funny family portrait ideas, too. Use a fishbowl lens and take your family photos from a high angle with everyone posed among holiday décor at home. Add some falling snow in the editing process, and you have your family depicted with a funny snow globe effect.

Family portrait wall ideas to decorate with family photos.

Family photos are destined to be added to your most intimate wall decorations. Whether you hang your favorite photos in a collage or design a whole gallery wall to feature them, family photos are meant to be shared. Their presence on the walls — usually for years at a time — ends up defining whole spaces, so choose your family portrait wall ideas wisely.

Single statement portrait.

Hang a single, oversized family portrait in the middle of a wall. Center it above a piece of furniture to make it a true focal point.

Floating shelf display.

Use floating shelves to display a mix of framed portraits in different sizes and frame styles. Add in some other decorative items, too, like candles and small plants.

Asymmetrical collage.

Cluster portraits of different sizes and orientations into an asymmetrical arrangement, covering as much of one wall as you dare. Use a mix of frame textures and styles.

Cohesive gallery look.

Hang a collection of your favorite family portraits in like frames in a grid for a clean and cohesive look.

Poster-style mounting.

Print your favorite portraits as posters and mount them directly to the wall using poster rails or clips.

Clothespin string display.

Hang several portraits along a string, each clipped on with a clothespin, for a casual display. Add some fairy lights or decorative twine for extra charm.

Shadow box portrait wall.

Frame your favorite portraits in shadow boxes, adding small and meaningful objects like pressed flowers or souvenirs to each. This works especially well for family destination portrait ideas.

Floor-to-ceiling portrait grid.

Fill an entire wall with a grid of small, evenly spaced portraits.

Tips to get the most out of your family portrait ideas.

Once you take your family photos, then the fun really starts. You’ll have access to the digital versions of all your favorites, meaning you can use them everywhere.

Your favorite family portrait ideas aren’t just for sharing on social media. You can also use them in:

• Custom cards, whether at the holidays or just to say “hello.”
• Letters sent with family updates.
• Banners printed out for family events.
• Photo collages for your own wall décor or to give as picture gifts.
• Flyers to promote an upcoming event that loved ones are invited to.
• Invitations and announcements for those same events, too.

Exercise: Consider the occasion.

Is there a specific reason you’re taking these portraits, like the holidays or a big milestone? The occasion can help you determine the right settings, outfits, and tone for your photos.

These are the things to consider:

• Take stock of who will be in the photos. Will there be multiple generations? Will small children or pets be included?

• Put your family’s personality into words. Are you laid-back and playful, or are you on the lookout for formal family portrait ideas?

• Add unique family elements. If you want to avoid that cliché, “fruitcake family photo” look, add things that represent what’s unique about your family.

Adobe Express can help.

Adobe Express has templates and customization tools to put your family portrait ideas to work. If you want to use family portrait ideas in cards, letters, posters, banners, photo collages, flyers, or other creative projects, Adobe Express makes it as simple as picking a template and personalizing it, or making your own idea with easy-to-use tools. Whatever message you want to transmit, Adobe Express brings it to life, no experience required.

Design with your idea