When a Sydney family portrait session turns into an SNL-inspired photo shoot

Most family photo shoots have a pretty predictable rhythm. We warm up, we grab the classic family portraits, we get a few sibling combos, and then we finish with something a little more relaxed.

This session did start that way. But then Dad hit me with a challenge that made me grin.

He told me he has always loved the Saturday Night Live promo photos. The ones with comedians and celebrities doing funny poses on bold, colourful backgrounds. He pulled up a few examples and asked if we could do something like that for his kids.

Three boys. Big energy. Bright backdrops. Funny poses.

I thought for a second and said, “sure”.

First, the classic studio family portraits (because you will never regret having these)

Before we went full chaos, we did what I always recommend for studio family photography in Sydney: the timeless portraits.

These are the ones that work beautifully as framed wall art. They are also the images grandparents love, the ones you use for Christmas cards, and the ones your kids will roll their eyes at now but secretly love later.

With three boys, the key is simple:
• Keep things moving
• Give them something to do
• Let them be themselves
• Capture the in between moments, not just the posed ones

Then Dad said: “Can we do something different?”

Once we had the classic family portraits locked in, we changed gears.

Dad showed me those Saturday Night Live style promo shots again and basically said, “I want that energy, but for my kids.”

So I accepted the challenge and switched my studio setup. New background. New lighting. New vibe.

And then I let the boys do what boys do best: go all in.

They pulled faces. They went dramatic. They went silly. They went full comedian mode.

And the youngest? He gave me my favourite moment of the whole session. He hung upside down like a trophy fish and looked so proud of himself, like he had just won something.

The finished artwork: three matching frames plus one statement family frame

After the session, we had the design appointment and saw everything on the big screen.

They loved the classic family portraits, and dad absolutely LOST IT over the colourful SNL inspired set.

They decided to create:

• Three matching framed portraits of the boys for their wall
• One large framed family portrait as the hero piece

This is my favourite part of what I do as a studio family photographer. Seeing a family choose the images that feel most like them, and turning those moments into artwork they will actually see every day.