Phrases and Prompts I Use For My Portrait Sessions

January 19, 2024

In this feature I will discuss some of the phrases and prompts I love to use during my portrait sessions. They have helped break the ice and they also gave me great results in the photos.

Some Phrases I Use for My Portrait Sessions

“Act like you like/love each other!” – I use this to get friends or family members to stand closer to each other.

sister hugging her brother from behind at Lake Bistineau in Doyline, LA

“Look at your favorite or least favorite person!” – The “favorite” part is to get everyone to look around at their favorite person. Sometimes I say “least” favorite to get a funny reaction out of it, but I’ll only use it depending on the vibes I get.

family members looking at their least and favorite person in the group while laughing and smiling at Red River Wildlife Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

“Who makes you laugh the most?” – Again, I use this to have everyone look at someone when I move to a different family pose.

family members looking at the funniest person in the group in a grassy field in Shreveport, LA

“Give momma/daddy a hug…she/he deserves it!” – It helps amp up the kids wanting to give their parent a hug while it also helps the mom or dad feel appreciated.

little girl giving her mom a hug while sitting on a bench at Lake Bistineau in Doyline, LA three kids giving their dad a huge in Haughton, LA

“Oh I feel a tickle bug coming on!” – My way of getting anyone to tickle someone rather than me bluntly telling someone to tickle someone.

mom tickling her son while he sits on her lap at Red River Wildlife Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

Some Prompts I Use for My Portrait Sessions

Bump into each other like bumper cars – Whenever I have family members or friends lock arms or hold hands it helps get them active and laughing.

family playing bumping cars and bumping into each other while walking a straight line and holding hands at Red River Wildlife Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

Act like your walking down the yellow brick road – This is fun cause it gets friends or siblings that are locking arms to start laughing as they are doing the motion.

siblings walking down a path locking arms at Red River Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

Keep her in your embrace while you try to get out of it – It brings out genuine laughs between the couple.

couples embracing each other and holding each other while laughing and smiling at Red River Wildlife Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

Run to mommy and daddy… just don’t knock them over! – It shows true and genuine embraces between parents and kids and it’s a fun action shot.

kids running to their parents with open arms at Lake Bistineau in Doyline, LAkids and parents embracing each other at Lake Bistineau in Doyline, LA

Tell mommy a secret…but can’t say I love you cause that’s no secret! – I say this to get the children to whisper to mommy and make them laugh or smile when I say it.

son whispering in his mom's ear while mom is kneeling at Red River Wildlife Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

Dip her and stare at her beauty. – I have the couple do a small dip just enough for the girl’s hair to fall. It brings smiles to them both when I say the “beauty” part and makes it less awkward for them.

husband slightly dipping his wife as husband and wife look at each other in a grass field in Shreveport, LA

Whisper sweet things in her ear. – This is when couples tend to get close and breaks the ice for the man to know what to say to his woman while whispering in her ear.

husband whispering in his wife's ear sweet things as she smiles at Red River Wildlife Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

Walk into each other saying “stop it…no you stop it”. – When couples are holding hands walking towards me it’s a fun way to get them to giggle with each other.

girl playfully bumping into boy as they are walking in Doyline, LA at Lake Bistineau

Kids, run around mommy and daddy. Parents, look at your kids as they do so. – It shows the natural chaos we have as parents with our kids, but it shows us parents admiring our kids while they are just being their pure selves.

kids running around mommy and daddy as parents stare at them at Red River Wildlife Refuge Center in Bossier City, LA

 

Do you plan on using some of these prompts or phrases?! Good! I hope so, and you won’t regret it once you see the results of your photos!

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Hey there!

I'm Jess!

North Louisiana Wedding & Portrait photographer here! I am just a fun, lovin, goofy momma of a 2 year old making life happen while leaning on Jesus every step of the way! 

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light & toned portrait photographer

jESSICA lANHAM pHOTOGRAPHY

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