How to capture fun, lifestyle portraits with friends

Tip 1: Balance preparation and spontaneity

Whether you’re capturing casual candids of your friends or a lifestyle project for a brand, the first step is always to listen. I try to understand what the person wants; what they want to express. My goal is to stay as close as possible to their vision while bringing my own sensitivity into play.

I often ask them to share references, and from there I build a moodboard to define locations, colours, outfits, light and framing. This gives me direction but it never limits me, as I leave room for improvisation on set. A beautiful light, a spontaneous interaction or a laugh can often be stronger than anything planned. So, it is important to adapt to the person, their energy and the environment on the day. 

For me, a successful photo session is one where I arrive with a vision, but I’m allowed to let it evolve. That’s usually when the strongest images happen.

Tip 2: Pick a place where people can relax

A good location is, above all, somewhere people feel free. Open spaces such as beaches, parks, streets or forests work particularly well because they allow for movement, interaction and natural behaviour. The larger and more flexible the environment, the easier it is to create these organic moments.

But in the end, it’s not really about the location itself – it’s about what people do within it. I believe that it’s always people who bring life to a place. A café becomes interesting when friends gather there. A beach becomes more meaningful when moments are shared. It’s not the location that creates the image, but the interaction within it.

Place people at the centre of the story and use the environment to enhance the emotion or atmosphere.

Tip 3: Activities, not poses

Whether I’m working with friends or professional models, I always start by removing pressure. I explain that it’s not about posing perfectly, but simply about enjoying a relaxed moment while I take photos along the way.

From there, I shift the focus to activities rather than poses. I might ask them to walk, talk, laugh, run on the beach or just interact naturally. Often, the best prompt is simply to ignore me.

The key is to create a safe and comfortable environment, as the photographer’s energy strongly influences the atmosphere of the session. I always try to stay positive, encouraging and light, reacting to moments in real time, making people laugh or creating small playful situations. Sometimes I’ll ask them to exaggerate a movement or repeat a gesture in a fun way.

Once people are immersed in the moment, they begin to forget the camera, and that’s when the most authentic images happen. From that point on, I observe more than I direct, because natural movement and unexpected expressions often create the strongest results. The goal is for the session to feel like a shared moment rather than a structured task.

Tip 4: Use lenses that foster creativity

When I want to capture spontaneous interactions, it does not make sense to interrupt the flow by constantly changing lenses. So, I like to use the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S with my Nikon Z6II, because it is extremely versatile. It allows me to quickly move from wide group scenes to tighter portraits without breaking the moment. Use between 35mm and 50mm for environmental groups, and around 70mm for tighter portraits. 

I also use the NIKKOR Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S for more intimate details such as smiles, expressions and subtle moments. Use focal length to step back and capture natural moments, as people forget about the camera. Also, you’ll find that if you can’t change focal lengths, you’ll learn to move more: step closer, step back, change angle, change height. You become more creative by necessity.

Tip 5: Focus on authentic emotions

First and foremost an image should convey emotion. Whether it’s a portrait or a group photo, if you feel something when you look at it, then it has succeeded. 

In a portrait, I look for personality, expression and character, while in a group scene, I focus more on energy, connection and the relationships between people. Either way, I always ask myself, “If this person saw this image, would they want to share it?” If the answer is yes, then it usually means the image authentically reflects who they are.

My main advice would be don’t wait for the ‘perfect moment’. Take your camera whenever you’re out with friends and practise. The more you practise, the more your eye evolves. The first session might not be perfect, but the tenth will be better, and the hundredth even more so. You may think that you need professional models or perfect locations to create beautiful images but, in reality, you just need a few friends, an hour of free time and a simple location such as a park, a beach or a café.

Tip 6: Embrace imperfect compositions

Always centring the subject, waiting for a perfect pose or making everyone freeze completely removes spontaneity from a scene. Another common mistake is over-cropping or not leaving enough space around the subject, which can make the image feel constrained. Instead, for relaxed lifestyle images, create compositions that feel open and natural, that let the scene breathe. Do this by allowing the environment and the way people interact to guide your composition, rather than following strict rules. I actually prefer slightly imperfect framing because it creates a sense of reality rather than something overly constructed. 

Also, pay attention to the environment and how people interact with the space, making sure the background supports the story rather than distracts from it. And create variety by constantly changing framing. Use wide images to set the scene, then tighter frames for emotions, expressions and details. This creates a visual rhythm that tells a full story of the moment. 

Tip 7: Start with some staple settings 

While the settings I use depend on the scene, my approach stays fairly consistent. For example, as I often photograph people moving around, I rarely drop below 1/250 sec, as this ensures sharpness. Photographing wide open between f/2.8 and f/4 keeps a nice depth of field while maintaining enough sharpness for group photos. And I mostly use Auto White Balance, but if you capture in RAW, you will have the flexibility to adjust things later in post-production.

Tip 8: Light isn’t something to fix – it’s something to use

Work with the light, not against it. If you have to photograph in harsh sunlight, try not to see it as a limitation, but as something to use creatively. Shadows, contrast and strong shapes can create more graphic images, while shade from trees, walls or buildings can help soften the light. My favourite light is soft, diffused natural light. Look for these moments early morning or late afternoon, just before sunset, when the light is warmer, more flattering and creates a gentler atmosphere without harsh shadows.

Indoors, use natural light sources such as windows or open doors, as these often define the mood of the image. Low light can also create a very intimate, emotional atmosphere. In these situations, I simplify my approach by opening the aperture, increasing ISO when needed and keeping my shutter speed fast enough to freeze movement. I also try to stay close to available light sources rather than fighting the darkness.

One of the most common mistakes is trying to make the light perfectly even at all costs. Front-facing light can flatten faces and remove depth, while poorly managed light can create harsh shadows. Taking a moment to observe how the light falls on your subject can completely change the outcome of an image.

Tip 9: Keep sharpness simple

When photographing a group of friends, everything happens very quickly: expressions change in a split second and often the best moments are extremely brief.

The autofocus system on the Z6II, especially its eye detection, is incredibly helpful in this regard. I rely on AF-C with eye detection, as people are rarely still during this type of photo session. Use it so you can focus on composition and emotion without constantly worrying about sharpness. 

Also, the in-body stabilisation is very useful for this, especially when the light starts to drop at the end of the day, helping you to keep images sharp without needing a tripod or an excessively high ISO.

Tip 10: Polish, then post

Fun, lifestyle portraits often have a bright, colourful and slightly contrasted look but still feel natural, joyful and a little nostalgic. Typically, I avoid overly saturated colours, but I like using a subtle grain and a light vignette to create the feeling of images you might look back on over time.

When editing, I always start from the original light and colours, making small adjustments to contrast, White Balance, exposure and tone. My goal is never to transform an image, but to enhance it subtly. If the edit becomes too visible, it has probably gone too far.

When sharing online, it helps to understand social media formats, but they should never dictate the image. A good photo should work on its own first. For carousels, I like to create rhythm by mixing wide scenes, portraits, details and spontaneous moments, with captions helping to extend the story beyond the images.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your camera, call a few friends and go make some memories worth capturing!