How to Choose the Perfect Photography Style for Your Family

If you’re anything like me, I bet you’ve got a wall in your house dedicated to family photos, right?

The smiling faces on the wall serve as a constant reminder of what truly matters in life and work.

But have you ever wondered how to choose the right photographer and the right style to capture your family’s unique spirit even better? 

Although photographers frequently use jargon like “Lifestyle” and “Portrait,” it can be hard to truly understand what types of images these terms will produce. 

So, what does it all actually mean?

Just like you wouldn’t wear a tuxedo to a beach party, some styles just work better with certain moods and moments.

First up, let’s talk about the Classic Style also known as Portrait Photography.

Classic Photography is timeless, a little more formal and almost always heavily posed. This style usually has a lot of emphasis on the pose, so you would expect to see more rules than creativity. 

Picture your grandma’s vintage photo hanging on the wall – that’s a perfect example of traditional portrait photography.

Generally this is the “holiday card photo.” You can clearly see everyone’s face and everyone is looking at the camera and smiling.

Below is a great example of one of my classic portraits.

Next, we have Candid Photography or some call this Lifestyle Photography.

It’s all about capturing spontaneous moments – the giggles, the funny faces, the sudden burst of dancing in the living room. 

Usually this is done on-location or in studio, but your photographer might use more casual prompts and poses in order to get laughs and reactions from those being photographed.

This style is perfect if your family loves a more casual look to their photos. You might not be able to see everyone’s faces and some people’s faces might look goofy, but that’s the point of candid photography! 

It’s less about perfection and more about authenticity.

Below is an example of one of my lifestyle portraits during an extended family session. Here at Kara Powell Photography my sessions are typically a combination of classic portraits and lifestyle fun.

One you might not hear too often is Fine art photography. This is a style that emphasizes beauty, creativity, and artistic expression. 

It’s a genre of photography that’s often compared to a fine painting or sculpture, with each image carefully composed and thoughtfully designed. 

The photographer may use lighting techniques to create a certain mood or emotion, and the subjects may be posed in a way that highlights their form and beauty. 

The goal of fine art photography is to create a work of art.

I like doing fun portraits like this every once in a while. But not many clients request them.

If you’re looking for a unique image to display, this style is perfect for you! 


Now, here’s the fun part: deciding on the best style for your family!

This isn’t about choosing ‘the best’ style out there, but rather what’s best for your family (and this might change depending on the season of life your family is in). And please – when deciding this. Talk to your husband about it. I have had sessions before that everyone was there for a lifestyle session but no one told dad. And he was NOT into it. Let’s just say that it didn’t go well.

If your family is a lively bunch that’s constantly on the move, candid or lifestyle photography might work best. For families that love tradition and formality, portrait photography could be the way to go.

But hey, who says you have to stick to one style? Now that you know the terms photographers use for these types of sessions, feel free to ask your photographer if they do these types of photography and if they’re willing to mix and match.

For example, I generally include both “classic” and “candid” in my portrait sessions because my clients like a mix of both. And again – Kara Powell Photography has 90% of the sessions going this way. We always get those images for grandma.

As you ponder over your next family photo session, let these styles play in your mind. 

I can’t wait to see you and your family in front of my lens, capturing those moments that will become treasured memories! 

I hope reading How to Choose the Perfect Photography Style for Your Family has given you some solid ideas! If you’re still looking for The Woodlands TX Family Photographer, click here to see my portfolio of FAMILY images.