12 Grandparent-and-Grandchild Photo Poses You’ll Want to Recreate

Looking for natural, meaningful grandparent-and-grandchild photo poses? These ideas are easy to recreate and work for all ages.

Photographing grandparents with their grandchildren is a wonderful way to capture that unique, special, and deeply loving bond that exists between them. However, if you want to get the best results, you need to use the right poses.

Fortunately, when it comes to grandparent-grandkid poses, there are lots of options to choose from and plenty of ways to get creative. From simple seated positions to more out-of-the-box ideas involving props and accessories, the options go on and on.

In this guide, I’ll share a dozen of my favorite poses when working with grandpas, grandmas, and grandchildren of all ages.

I’ll also provide some tips, tricks, and insights I’ve learned over many years of photographing families that should help you have more pleasant and positive photoshoots in the future.

The 12 Best Grandparent-Grandchild Photo Poses to Try

When it comes to grandparent-grandkid photo poses, photographers usually have two main goals. First, to capture the love that exists between these family members, and second, to convey the unique ways in which grandmas and grandpas guide and inspire their descendants, often through stories and play.

Many of the poses below have been specially selected to achieve both of those aims.

Some of them involve props, and some are a little physical, which may make them unsuitable for older grandparents who might not be quite as agile as they once were.

Most of these poses, however, are incredibly simple, relaxed, and beginner-friendly. They’re suitable for all grandparents, from those who are still relatively young and spry to those who are on the older side and a little less mobile.

All of them are special in their own ways, and all can help you capture beautiful photographs that families will be proud to hang in their homes and admire joyfully for years to come.

Without any further ado, let’s get into the list.

1. Reading a Story

So many kids – and plenty of adults, too – have precious memories of their grandma or grandpa reading them a bedtime story or sharing their favorite fairy tales.

This grandparent-grandchild photo pose aims to capture those magical moments when kids are utterly enraptured by their elderly relatives.

You will need a prop (a book) for this particular pose, but that shouldn’t be too difficult to acquire.

Once you have it, simply seat your subjects side-by-side on a comfy sofa, or even have them resting in a bed, with grandma/grandpa holding the book while the little one looks on with a smile.

Using one of the family’s real-life favorite books can add an extra dash of fun and authenticity to the final photos, but any book will do.

You can also experiment with different facial expressions, encouraging the little one to have fun looking shocked, amazed, or astounded by what their grandparent is saying.

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2. Back to Back

For many people, grandma and grandpa are the people they can always count on – the ones who will always have their backs and be ready to help them, no matter what.

That’s what these fun back-to-back grandparent-grandkid photo poses represent.

It’s so simple to organize, but it works best with just two subjects. So, if you’re dealing with a larger group involving grandma, grandpa, and two or more grandchildren, you may want to opt for an alternative pose.

If, however, you have one grandparent and one grandchild, simply ask them to sit together, with their backs flat against each other, on the floor or a comfortable seat.

You can have them turning slightly to smile at one another. I also sometimes like to have the grandchild looking into the camera, while the grandparent turns to admire them, symbolizing their commitment to protect and look out for the little one, no matter what path they follow in life.

3. Over-the-Shoulder Embrace

Here’s another charming grandparent-grandchild photo pose that never fails to produce warming, happy photographs: the over-the-shoulder embrace, in which the child hugs their grandparent from behind, wrapping their arms over their shoulders for a loving and tender moment.

This is a terrific pose to choose with grandparents of any age, as all they have to do is take a comfortable seat while the grandchild takes up a place behind them.

There’s no lifting or other form of physical exertion required; it’s a simple, accessible pose that anyone can do.

As for facial expressions, you can feel free to play around with different options. Again, I like asking one of the subjects to smile into the camera while the other looks at them, but it also works well with both grandparent and grandchild smiling into the lens together, especially if they have similar facial features.

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4. Learning on the Lap

Next, another grandparent-grandchild photo pose that works best with one or more props, such as pens, pencils, and paper.

Here, the idea is to show the grandparent guiding, inspiring, or assisting the child with some homework, study, or creative exercise.

Position the grandchild on their grandparent’s lap, with both facing forward and focusing on the same book or piece of paper, placed on a table or desk in front of them. You could have both subjects drawing a picture together, for example, or working on the same activity sheet.

If you get the angle and pose just right, the results should be wonderful, perfectly capturing that amazing way in which grandmas and grandpas love to pass on the benefits of their wisdom and experience to their youngest relatives.

5. The Carry

This next pose demands a certain level of physical effort, so it works best with the youngest (and lightest) children and grandparents who are comfortable carrying them.

All you have to do is have the grandma/grandpa lift their little one up into their arms, holding them close in a cozy and loving hug.

Once they’re in that position, there are many ways you can push this pose further.

You could have the two subjects smiling or laughing together, for example, or gazing thoughtfully into the lens. They could also look at one or more props together, or you could ask one of them to point at something off in the distance, out of view of the camera.

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6. Holding Hands

Here’s a great pose you can always use, no matter how big a group you’re working with, whether it’s a single grandparent and grandchild duo or a larger group involving multiple grandparents and children.

For best results, however, you’ll want to capture this pose in an outdoor setting, ideally somewhere with streams of natural light and a pleasant, picturesque backdrop, like a park, garden, or nature trail.

Have your subjects holding hands and walking together, side by side.

You can ask them to freeze in one spot to allow you to capture the moment from multiple angles, but I often find it’s best to actually have them walk slowly forward, while using a high burst rate to capture multiple shots in a short span of time.

This usually results in the most natural and enjoyable images.

7. The High Five

This next pose is a simple one, but still a timeless classic that is always worth mixing in to your family photoshoots, involving a grandparent and grandchild exchanging a happy high five.

I find this works best if you ask the two to do a regular high five, but freeze at the moment their hands connect. From there, you can position your camera just right, capturing their smiling faces from the side.

Since both subjects are facing different directions, lighting is important here. Ideally, you’ll want a light source overhead to illuminate both faces. Otherwise, you may end up with a situation where one person is well-lit, and the other is covered in shadow.

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8. Crouched Down Together

One of the challenges that sometimes comes when working with subjects at different heights, like grandparents and young grandchildren, is that it can be difficult to fit everyone in the frame in a natural and aesthetically pleasing way.

One simple answer to that issue is to bring everyone to the same level, literally. This pose, therefore, involves grandma and grandpa crouching down to bring them to roughly the same height as their little ones.

Once in position, you can have the subjects play with props, like toys or leaves, or simply put their arms around one another and smile into the camera.

Having all those happy faces in a row can help you more easily frame your photos and often brings out the uncanny similarities in grandparents and grandkids.

9. Cuddling on the Couch

Here’s another natural, straightforward, and pleasant grandparent-grandchild photo pose you can try, which should work regardless of the age or mobility of the people involved. It also works with differently sized groups, from duos to trios, quartets, and beyond.

All you have to do is line your subjects up on the couch, with each person hugging or putting their arm around the next. The closer they all get together, the lovelier and sweeter the final image should be.

The key here is to order your subjects correctly. It often helps to have one grandparent, then one child, then a grandparent, and so on, if possible. This creates a fun dynamic that usually results in very fun and happy photographs for the whole family to enjoy.

10. Lying Down

Next, a relaxing and accessible pose in which your subjects lie down, preferably on something soft and comfortable, like a plush, fluffy rug or a bed.

You can have them side by side or instead have the grandchild(ren) on top of the grandparent(s). Either way, the end result is usually a fun, playful kind of picture that perfectly captures the loving bond these relatives share.

This pose is also a fun way to encourage grandparents to relax into the photoshoot and embrace their inner child, taking on a more casual, laid-back tone if they happen to be feeling a little stressed or anxious.

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11. The Piggyback Ride

It’s a classic sight: a little boy or girl, hoisted up into the air to take a seat on their grandparent’s shoulders, seeing the world from a whole new perspective.

It’s also one of the best grandparent-grandkid photo poses you can try in your next session. The best part is that it’s quite a flexible pose; you can capture your subjects from the front, back, or from the side and get fabulous results every time.

Note, however, that this pose should only be used when the grandparent(s) in question are comfortable with it. Some may struggle to lift or carry their grandkids in this kind of position, in which case you should opt for something a little simpler.

12. The Lift

I’ll finish up with another physical pose that does demand a certain level of exertion. It won’t be for everyone, but it can be wonderful for capturing the beautiful, inimitable sight of grandparents and grandchildren engaged in play together.

For this pose, the grandparent should lift their grandchild up in the air, holding them in place or even spinning them gently around while you capture the scene with your camera.

I recommend a high burst rate and broad aperture for this type of shot to help you capture the most precious moments with just the right lighting.

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Top Tips for Grandparent-Grandchild Photoshoots

With the grandparent-grandkid poses listed above, you should have a much easier and more enjoyable time capturing beautiful family photos of grandmas, grandpas, and their little ones having fun, side by side.

Here are some additional expert tips to master this field of photography:

• Be safe: Remember, grandparents may not necessarily have the physical strength they once did and might struggle with some of the more physically demanding poses that involve lifting or carrying. Give them time, speak with them to understand what they’re comfortable with, and don’t push them too hard.
• Incorporate props: I love bringing props into family photo sessions, and they’re especially good when working with grandparents and grandchildren. You can play around with books, toys, framed photographs, or even old family heirlooms that grandpa/grandma can show off to their grandkids.
• Similar attire: Having your subjects wear similar attire (like clothes of similar shades) is a simple but effective visual trick to make them look closer and more “in sync” with one another. This works great with families, as it provides a visual reminder of the closeness they share, so it’s worth considering for your future shoots.

Final Thoughts

There you have it – a dozen of my favorite grandparent-grandchild photo poses you can work with in the future.

Of course, you may not need to use them all, but mixing at least a few into your future sessions should help to add a little variety and dynamism to the pictures you capture, while also giving your subjects more to do, making the entire experience a happier one for all involved.