How to Capture Perfect Family Photos in The Sims 4 (No Mods!)

Want to decorate your Sims’ homes with beautiful family portraits but prefer to play without mods? You’re in the right place! With the Growing Together expansion and a couple of base game items, creating stunning family photos in The Sims 4 is easier than you might think. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to capture and display cherished memories of your Sims families, all within the game’s features.

First things first, let’s gather what you’ll need to make this happen. You won’t need to download any custom content or delve into game modifications. The beauty of this method is its simplicity and accessibility for all players.

What You’ll Need for In-Game Family Portraits

To create your Sims 4 family portraits, you will need two key items readily available in the game:

• The Family Portrait: This special frame was a free gift released alongside The Sims Mobile promotion. If you don’t have it in your game, you can easily download it from Sims 4 Studio’s website. This frame is essential as it automatically displays the current household members.

  Sims 4 Family Portrait Item

  alt text: Sims 4 Family Portrait item in build mode, a decorative frame for displaying household members

• The Crystal Clear Digital Camera: This is a base game item, meaning it’s available to everyone, regardless of which expansion packs you own. You can purchase this camera in Build Mode under the Decorations > Wall Decorations category. Make sure to buy it and place it in your Sim’s inventory so they can use it to take photos.

  Sims 4 Crystal Clear Digital Camera in inventory

  alt text: Sims 4 Crystal Clear Digital Camera in Sim inventory, a tool for taking in-game photos

Once you have these items, you’re ready to start creating your family portraits! Follow these easy steps to capture those perfect family moments.

Step-by-Step Guide to Taking Family Photos in Sims 4

Now, let’s break down the process of taking those memorable family photos step-by-step:

1. Place and Customize the Family Portrait: Begin by placing the Family Portrait frame on any wall in your Sim’s home. As soon as you place it, the portrait will automatically display the Sims currently living in the household. You can interact with the portrait to “Change Outfit” and “Randomize Poses” until you achieve the look you desire for your family photo. Experiment with different poses and outfits to find the perfect combination that reflects your Sims’ personalities.

   Sims 4 Family Portrait customization options

   alt text: Sims 4 Family Portrait interaction options, showing options to change outfit and randomize poses

   Sims 4 Family Portrait with different poses

   alt text: Sims 4 Family Portrait displaying various family poses and arrangements

   Sims 4 Family Portrait outfit options

   alt text: Sims 4 Family Portrait showing different outfit options for family members in the portrait

2. Position Your Sim and Take the Photo: Once you’re happy with the portrait displayed in the frame, it’s time to have your Sim take a photo of it. Select the Sim who will be the photographer and make sure the Crystal Clear Digital Camera is in their inventory. Position your Sim so they are facing the Family Portrait. It can be helpful to have your Sim walk slightly past the portrait and then turn around to face it, ensuring they are in the right position.

   Sims 4 Sim positioning to take photo of portrait

   alt text: Sims 4 Sim standing in front of Family Portrait, ready to take a photo with digital camera

   With your Sim correctly positioned, click on the Crystal Clear Digital Camera in their inventory and select “Take Photo”. You’ll be given options for photo sizes; for a wall portrait, “Large” size is usually a good choice.

   Sims 4 Photo size selection for digital camera

   alt text: Sims 4 Photo size selection menu when taking a photo with the digital camera, options for small, medium, and large sizes

3. Decorate with Your Family Photos: After taking the photos, they will appear in your Sim’s inventory. Now for the fun part – decorating! Drag the photos from the inventory directly onto the walls of your Sim’s home.

   Sims 4 Dragging photo from inventory to wall

   alt text: Sims 4 player dragging a newly taken photo from Sim inventory to decorate a wall

   You can further customize your displayed photos by adding frames. Click on a placed photo on the wall and select “Add Frame”. You can then choose from various frame styles and colors to match your home decor and personal taste.

   Sims 4 Adding frame to photo on wall

   alt text: Sims 4 interaction option to add a frame to a photo displayed on the wall

   Sims 4 Framed family photo on wall

   alt text: Sims 4 framed family photo hanging on a wall, showcasing customization with frames

And there you have it! A beautiful, framed family portrait created entirely within The Sims 4 game, without any need for mods.

Sims 4 Finished framed family portrait on wall

*alt text: Sims 4 completed family portrait in a frame, decorating a Sim's home interior*

You can also get creative and use different frames from packs like the Moschino Stuff Pack or the Growing Together Expansion Pack to further enhance your in-game photography and home décor.

So, go ahead and start capturing those precious family moments in The Sims 4. Happy Simming and happy decorating!