I’ve also had great success in a posed environment where I take the first shot, look at the screen, shake my head and say “Could I get one where you look like you actually LIKE each other?” – again, everyone laughs and relaxes and I’m ready to fire when they do.

Being confident is the most important part. I nearly always use a small stepladder to get a higher perspective. It’s always usually best if everybody’s face is pointed directly at the camera instead of out of the side of their eyes.

As for things to say, some of my colleagues and I have liked to say “fuzzy pickles!” as something for the family to repeat. Otherwise, with the season we’re in, there’s something to be said for “Turkey Day, presents, and Santa Claus.” I tend to pick on dad more than mom in terms of saying things like “dad has stinky feet” or ” dad snores!” When I photograph couples, it’s important for them to be close. Say something like, now we need to get you guys nice and close if we’re going to convince them that you love each other. For older couples, or couples who have been married a while, I like to have them say weekend alone, second honeymoon, or ‘hey baby.’

For younger kids, I find little hand puppets good. If you have an animal puppet you can say that the puppet likes to eat hands and that will get kids laughing. It’s important to laugh while you’re doing this because it doesn’t give children mixed messages.

I saw somebody ask about different poses for different size groups. It’s tough until you have done it a bit. I’d suggest looking around at advertisements for some of the established photo studios, even if it’s a sears, jcpenney, church directory website. I work for a church directory company myself and it’s been one of the best things to help my posed, formal portraiture.