As a family photographer, I need versatility in my gear. That’s why I love using the Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD. With this one lens, I can capture wide group shots, get closer for family portraits with dreamy bokeh, and everything in between.
In this article, I will give you professional tips to help you get the most out of the Tamron 18-300mm while creating candid family photography that feels natural, connected, and full of life.
By Guest Contributor Marcie Reif, Family Portrait Photographer & Tamron Image Master
What You’ll Learn In This Article:
- How to create dreamy bokeh for standout family portraits
- Posing ideas every family photographer can use for natural, fun results
- Techniques for capturing authentic connections in family photography
- How to use the zoom range for storytelling during a family photoshoot
- Tips for working with light to improve your family portrait photography
Pro Tips to Elevate Your Family Photography Sessions
When photographing families, the little details make a big difference—whether you’re capturing family portraits during golden hour, helping kids stay engaged, or using your lens to document genuine moments.
Here are eight of my top tips to creating relaxed and storytelling images of families.
TIP 1: Creating Bokeh in Family Portraits with the Tamron 18-300mm
Bokeh is all about subject separation. And it is easy to achieve.
- Zoom in to the longer end of the range, around 85mm or more.
- Open your aperture to about f/3.5~4.5.
- Position your subject a few feet away from the background.
- Look for backgrounds with color like trees or light such as string lights to really make the blur pop.
These simple steps will elevate your family portraits and separate them from ordinary snapshots.
TIP 2: How to Capture Authentic Family Portraits with Engagement and Connection
Keep poses natural and interactive. Families love traditional family portraits where everyone is looking at the camera and smiling, but they like fun candid shots, too.
The flexibility of the Tamron 18-300mm makes it easy to quickly adjust as the family moves and interacts. You can zoom in to capture spontaneous close ups or pull back to show the whole scene unfolding.
Creative Tip: Replace Stiff Poses with Playful Moments in Family Portraits
Skip the boring poses and encourage play. With the 18-300mm, you can zoom wide to capture the whole game or close in on laughter and expressions in family portraits, all without missing a beat.
TIP 3: Posing Ideas Every Family Photographer Should Try
The key is connection! Get families talking, moving, and laughing together.
- Start with everyone looking and smiling at the camera.
- Then give them prompts like “look at someone in your family and laugh,” “snuggle in close,” or “tell Mom your favorite joke.”
Creative Tip: Capture Real Emotions for Relaxed and Intimate Family Photography
Set the family up and make sure everyone is connected somehow such as holding hands, moving closer to each other to close gaps, or just touching heads and looking at each other.
Create real connection by asking families to move, play, and interact. Here, I captured the pure joy of a family together, an authentic moment every family portrait photographer loves to deliver.
TIP 4: Telling a Family Photography Story Using the Full Zoom Range
Use the full zoom range to tell the story.
- Start wide to show the setting such as a family walking through a field or children playing.
- Then zoom in for those close up hugs, tiny hands, and expressive faces.
With the Tamron 18-300mm, you can easily pull back for environmental family portraits that show the home setting or zoom in tight to capture small details like hands intertwined or a child’s expression. By varying your focal length, you capture not just family portraits but the full story of the family’s time together.
Tip 5: Capturing Indoor Family Portraits with Window Light
Window light is one of the most flattering and accessible tools for indoor family photography.
As a family portrait photographer, I often ask families to sit on the couch or gather near a window seat so that the light falls gently across their faces. This setup creates authentic family photos that feel warm and intimate.
- Position your subjects close to a window.
- Use sheer curtains if the light is too harsh and let the soft glow wrap around their features for a timeless look.
Creative Tip: Turn Off Overhead Lights and Let Window Light Do the Work
For indoor sessions, turn off overhead lights and rely solely on natural window light to avoid color casts. This ensures your family portraits maintain soft, true-to-life tones and flattering shadows.
TIP 6: Using Backlighting for Pro-Level Family Portraits
Backlighting creates beautiful glow and depth. The versatility of the 18-300mm lets you quickly adjust framing until you find that magical angle where light skims hair and shoulders, adding warmth and atmosphere.
- Place the sun behind your subjects, then set your exposure for their faces.
- Find the perfect angle by making even the tiniest adjustments to where you’re standing or the height of your camera angle.
- Move around until you see exactly what you’re looking for.
TIP 7: Best Time of Day for Natural Light Family Photography
Golden hour, shortly after sunrise or before sunset, is the ideal time for outdoor portraits. The light is soft, warm, and flattering.
If your families have small children, sunset might be too late for them. In that case, sunrise sessions offer the same beautiful light with happier and more energetic kids. The 18-300mm handles both wide landscapes and intimate family portraits beautifully in this light!
TIP 8: Midday Challenges in Family Portrait Photography (and How to Solve Them)
We do not always get perfect conditions for family photos. At midday, look for open shade under trees or beside a building if you’re in an urban setting.
Creative Tips: Solutions for Harsh Lighting Conditions
- If shade is not available, position your subjects with the sun behind them and zoom in to minimize harsh backgrounds.
- Slightly overexpose to keep faces soft and even.
- Check your subject’s eyes for catchlights — those small reflections of light.
- If their eyes look bright (often from the sky in front of them), it means the light is flattering and the background isn’t overpowering them.
- Sit your subjects on the ground with some trees behind them to help avoid a very bright white sky behind them.
This family gathering image above was shot in bright midday light. I positioned the subjects in partial shade and used the 18-300mm to frame the shot. And we kept the focus on connection and joy!
Why the Tamron 18-300mm Is Perfect for Family Portraits
The Tamron 18-300mm isn’t just versatile—it’s built with features that make it a dream lens for family photographers:
- Lightweight and Compact: Pairs perfectly with the small profile of APS-C mirrorless cameras, making it easier to stay mobile during busy family sessions.
- All-in-One Design: Seamlessly switch from wide family group portraits to close-up storytelling details without changing lenses.
- 6x Zoom Range: Go from sweeping family group shots to tight close-ups without switching lenses.
- 1:2 Macro Capability: Capture storytelling details, like children’s hands, birthday candles, or tiny flowers during outdoor family portraits.
- Moisture-Resistant Construction: Confidently shoot outdoor family sessions in unpredictable weather, from misty mornings to humid afternoons.
- VC (Vibration Compensation): Keeps handheld shots sharp, even when zoomed in for candid family moments or photographing kids in motion.
- VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive): Provides fast, quiet, and precise autofocus, essential for capturing action, and fleeting expressions and laughter.
These features support every scenario covered in the tips above—whether you’re working with natural window light, chasing golden hour glow, or capturing action mid-play.
Final Thoughts: Why the Tamron 18-300mm is Ideal for Family Photography
The Tamron 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Model B061) gives you the freedom to move quickly, adapt to changing conditions, and focus on the most important part of the session—helping families feel comfortable and connected. When they do, the family portraits you create will naturally tell their story beautifully and authentically.
As a professional family portrait photographer, I love that this lens allows me to capture everything from wide family photography scenes to heartfelt close-ups in one session.
I used the lens in the Canon RF mount for my APS-C Canon camera for the images in this article. The lens is also available for Sony E, Fujifilm X, and Nikon Z APS-C mirrorless cameras.
Ready to photograph your family like a pro? Learn more about the Tamron 18-300mm All-In-One zoom lens at an authorized Tamron dealer near you or shop directly at the official TAMRON Store.
About Marcie Reif
Marcie Reif is an in-demand kids, family, commercial photographer, and photography educator in the Atlanta, GA area. Marcie is a Tamron Image Master and travels around the country each year speaking at conferences and leading other photographers. Marcie is also founder of The Roadtrippers Retreat, an educational experience for female photographers.
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