Mother-Daughter Photoshoot Poses
There likely isn’t a photoshoot with more potential for fun and sentiment than a mother-daughter photoshoot! 👩👧When it comes to moms, we’re pretty darn emotional about our kids growing, and often, we’re also the ones pushing for photos of our family together to help remember each special season of life. Although we’re obviously huge proponents of whole-family photos, a photo session with a mom and her little girl(s) is truly extra special, and not to be overlooked. 🥲
Are you looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift for the best mother in your life? 💝 We highly recommend giving the gift of memories with a photo gift card! Whether it’s a female relative, friend, or other loved one, gifting a photoshoot is the perfect way to give something meaningful, heartfelt, and long-lasting. You can even ask your partner for a gift card for yourself to be used in the future—on vacation, or even in your hometown! ❣️ If a family photoshoot isn’t on dad’s radar, asking for a mother–daughter shoot in front of the camera, and without him behind the lens, is perfect for giving and receiving. (Gifting or requesting a birthday photoshoot for your next birthday is another similar idea.) Remember that mother–daughter shoots don’t have to be long or complicated—a mini session is the perfect way to take a little time and get big results. 🥳
Now that we’ve insisted mother–daughter photos are a really good idea, let’s talk about what to do on your actual photoshoot! 📸 Here are 10 of our favourite mother–daughter photoshoot ideas and poses:
Photo: Sara in Maui for Flytographer. Caramel and daughter capture a family trip together in Maui with a family photoshoot.
1. Twinning
There isn’t a mom we’ve met who, at some point, didn’t crave a twinning moment with her baby girl (or big girl)! 👯♀️ Mother–daughter pictures are the perfect opportunity to grab matching attire, particularly if it goes with your locale—in theme with the location of your photoshoot! Aloha attire and matching dresses in Hawaii, cowboy boots in Austin, navy and nautical in Nantucket, berets in Paris… you name it! Twinning can be full matchy-matchy, or just matching an item or accessory here or there. Have fun with this one! ✨
Photo: Flytographer in Maui. Tammy and daughter capture a family trip together in Maui with a family photoshoot.
2. The “Mom, over here!”
The potential for having tons of laughs, bonding experiences, and of course, creating lasting memories is one of the best parts about mother-daughter photoshoots. 💞 Pics with your little one feel like a lot less pressure than other types of photoshoots, so embrace this one and let loose. The “Mom, over here!” is a fave pose because it is an easy way to add movement and natural giggles while holding hands 🤝 and capturing each other’s attention and running around in front of some stellar backdrops.
Photo: Rachael in Paris for Flytographer. Amanda and daughter capture family trip together in Paris with a family photoshoot.
3. Forehead kisses
Especially if your baby girl is too young for super interactive poses, forehead kisses are the perfect solution to create intimate, special portraits. 💋 Often, these little moments of kissing help little ones feel safe, comforted, and even giggly! Make those forehead smooches quick or locked and lingering to elicit a variety of emotions and a range of facial expressions!
Photo: Ellie in Florence for Flytographer. Melissa and daughter capture family trip together in Florence with a family photoshoot.
4. Momma in the middle
“Momma in the middle” is a favourite pose when multiple kiddos are involved, especially if the mood is rowdy or contentious. 🙊 Splitting up the little ones on each side of Mom makes you the center of the photo and helps refocus the energy during your shoot. Make sure to alternate between looking at the camera, looking at each child, and even asking them to look for particular things in the sky, near your photographer, and so on! These variations will allow for different poses, facial expressions, and more. 👍
Photo: Katherine in Phoenix for Flytographer. Michelle and daughters capture a family trip together in Phoenix with a family photoshoot.
5. Vogue (accessorize)
It’s quite common for kids to want their own “props” during mother-daughter photoshoots, so use this to your advantage! Have some accessories ready going into your shoot—think sunglasses, hats, scarves—and use these if necessary to swap out other not-as-photogenic old toys, sippy cups of juice, etc.! Any parent knows the power of distraction (bribery?). Using accessories allows you and your mini-me to channel your inner models and strut your stuff. 🤩 C’mon, Vogue!
Photo: Olga in Paris for Flytographer. Annabel and daughter capture a family trip together in Paris with a family photoshoot.
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6. Dance it out
Dancing is a sure-fire way to let loose, and since we’re talking about photos instead of videos, zero actual skill is necessary! Hooray! 💃 All you need to “dance it out” is a good smile, and some music (even if it’s you singing the songs)—dancing is the perfect accompaniment to your mother-daughter photoshoot.
Photo: Julia in Madrid for Flytographer. Brianne and daughter capture a family trip together in Madrid with a family photoshoot.
7. Big hugs
Big hugs are always special to capture—tiny, growing bodies only fit inside our arms for so long, so no matter the age of your little one, big kid, teen, or adult child, HUG! 🫂 One tip for mom is to do your best to stretch your neck up when you hug (even resting your chin on top of your daughter’s head), helping create a more flattering angle for those final pics. ↗️ Hugging poses can be fun before, during, and after the actual hug— think stretching out your arms and embracing your girl as a form of movement and genuine emotion. No matter how small or big, wrap all those arms around one another.
Photo: Jorge in Playa del Carmen for Flytographer. Imah and daughter capture a family trip together in Playa del Carmen with a family photoshoot.
8. Snuggle up
Speaking of hugs, taking time to snuggle up is a really special pose to create a sense of comfort and safety. 😘 For babies, this is a pretty easy one to accomplish with your little one in your arms or lap, but it’s totally doable for bigger kids too! To snuggle up with older kids, utilize benches, stools, stairs, curbs, blankets on the ground, or whatever else you can imagine! Anything that allows you to get close and comfy is perfect for this one.
Photo: Cheryl in Ft. Lauderdale for Flytographer. Jamie and daughter capture a family trip together in Ft. Lauderdale with a family photoshoot.
9. Big smiles
Although we all love beautiful headshot-type portraits, looking right into the camera, getting (sometimes uncomfortably) close to your mother/daughter’s face typically creates big smiles and lots of laughs. Don’t be afraid to look away from the camera, and straight into each other’s eyeballs. 👀 Look at each other or look around, and smile big! 😃 Talk about some of your best silly memories, funny family stories, or even push buttons with those awkward jokes/crushes! 🤭 Big smiles are sure to abound for your mother-daughter photoshoot.
Photo: Anna in New York City for Flytographer. Rickell and daughter capture a family trip together in New York City with a family photoshoot.
10. Find fishies
One of the best things for smaller kids on mother-daughter photoshoots is to create scenarios that take them away from any pressure of performing, and back to their zones of comfort, exploration, and excitement. Finding fish in water 🐠, turtles in ponds 🐢, birds in trees 🦜, or other elements that exist in camouflage helps create calm moments of togetherness where you can get close, hold hands, and create an intimate setting for seriously stunning photographs.
Photo: Enzo in Honolulu for Flytographer. Chiara and daughter capture a family trip together in Honolulu with a family photoshoot.
Capturing Mother–daughter Memories
With our incredible team of professional photographers all over the world🌎, you can create your own special mom-daughter images pretty much anywhere! We hope these photo ideas helped inspire you to not only cherish the special bond you have with your kids, but to capture them right now. 👏
Mother–daughter photoshoots are some of our favourite shoots here at Flytographer, and this style of imagery is one of the loveliest kinds of portrait photography. Don’t let family portraits be the only reason you take photos together—we can’t wait to capture your special mother–daughter bond. 🥂
