My Unpopular Opinion: Beautiful Photos Aren’t Enough. Here’s What You’re Missing
Ever wondered why some family photos feel alive
—while others look like stiff, awkward poses with forced grins?
Why some images pull you in, make you feel something, and tell a deeper story—while others, even perfectly composed, just don’t hit the same way?
Here’s the truth: Most photographers think they’re telling a family’s story, but they’re really just taking pictures of people standing together.
And that’s why their work doesn’t stand out.
But what if I told you there’s a simple, repeatable formula that instantly adds depth, emotion, and narrative to your family sessions—so you can create photos that parents actually cherish, kids love looking back on, and that feel like a slice of their real, beautiful, messy life?
A method so powerful that Hollywood directors use it in almost every scene of every movie… yet most family photographers have no idea it exists?
Let me introduce you to:
The Wide-Medium-Close Framework (Your New Secret Weapon for Family Sessions)
This is the key to creating family images that go beyond “look at the camera and smile.”
Instead of relying on posed moments or hoping for something magical to happen, this method gives you a structured way to guarantee every session captures connection, movement, and the emotions that make families unique.
STEP 1: The Wide Shot – Set the Scene
Before a family photo makes you feel something, it has to make sense. That’s what your wide shot does.
It’s the establishing scene. The big picture. The environment that sets the tone.
Think: the kids running ahead on a trail while mom and dad walk hand-in-hand behind them. A wide-open field where everyone is playing together. A quiet moment on the couch, the living room full of tiny toys and toddler chaos.
It’s the shot that says: “Here’s where this family’s story is happening.”
STEP 2: The Medium Shot – Connection and Interaction
Now that we know where we are, it’s time to show who this story is about.
Your medium shot brings attention to the way a family interacts—not just what they look like, but how they move together.
Mom brushing the hair from her daughter’s face. A dad tossing his son in the air. Siblings whispering secrets, followed by an explosion of giggles.
It’s the bridge between setting the scene and feeling the relationships.
STEP 3: The Close Shot – The Emotion
Here’s where the magic happens.
The tiny fingers wrapped around dad’s thumb. The curl of a baby’s toes. The messy-haired, freckle-faced grin of a child mid-laughter.
Your close shot isn’t just about getting physically closer—it’s about pulling the viewer into the emotion, making them feel the warmth, the love, the connection.
When you stack these three types of shots together, you’re not just capturing a family—you’re preserving the story of who they are.
This Works for Every Family Session
Want proof? Turn on your favorite movie.
Watch how every great director follows this exact framework. Wide. Medium. Close.
Now, imagine if you started applying this to your family photography.
Whether you’re capturing:
✅ In-home newborn sessions
✅ Outdoor golden-hour family shoots
✅ A chaotic, playful session with four kids under six
✅ A quiet, intimate afternoon in the family’s backyard
This method instantly elevates your work and makes your images feel like real life—because you’re guiding the viewer through a story instead of just documenting a moment.
Why Most Family Photographers Get This Wrong (And How You Can Stand Out)
Most photographers get stuck in one of two traps:
🚨 They only take one type of shot. (Everything is close-up, or everything is wide, leaving no depth.)
🚨 They shoot randomly, hoping it all “comes together.”
And because of that, their galleries feel flat.
But when you master Wide-Medium-Close, you’re no longer just hoping for good storytelling in your images—you’re creating it with every session.
This is the difference between a $300 mini-session photographer and a $2,500+ custom family photographer.
Because when your work feels different, families want to invest in it.
BONUS: Add Depth to Your Shots Instantly
Want to take it even further? Start layering your frames:
🔥 Shoot through doorways for natural framing during in-home sessions.
🔥 Capture over a parent’s shoulder as they watch their child take their first steps.
🔥 Use foreground elements—wildflowers in front of a playing child, a blurred cozy blanket framing a newborn.
These small tweaks instantly create richer, more dynamic images that feel less like “posed portraits” and more like real life, frozen in time.
(Pro tip: A 35mm lens is perfect for layering while keeping intimacy in the frame.)
But What If Your Photography Business Still Feels Like a Mess?
Here’s the real talk:
You can master storytelling.
You can create stunning, heartfelt images.
You can have families raving about your work.
But if your business structure is all over the place—if you’re constantly chasing bookings, feeling overwhelmed, and unsure how to actually make this sustainable—it’s only a matter of time before you burn out.
Maybe you’re nodding along because you’ve felt it before:
❌ Hustling for clients but not making the money you need.
❌ Feeling lost when it comes to pricing, workflow, and marketing.
❌ Juggling everything alone, with no clear strategy to grow.
And that’s where so many talented photographers hit a wall.
Because it’s not just about taking great photos—it’s about building a business that works for you.
That’s why I created Hustle to Flow, my online masterclass that helps photographers go from chaos to clarity—so you can stop feeling like you’re drowning in your business and start running it with confidence.
No fluff. No overwhelming info dumps. Just the exact steps to create a business that supports your life, not consumes it.
Because photography is more than a passion—it’s a career, and you deserve to have both the creative freedom and the financial stability to do what you love without the stress.
If that sounds like what you need, I’d love to help. But for now?
Next time you pick up your camera, don’t just take random shots.
📸 Think Wide. Medium. Close.
📸 Layer your frames for depth.
📸 Be in the right place at the right time.
Master this framework, and watch how quickly your work—and your business—transforms.
