How to Choose the Perfect Photography Style for Your Family | SW London baby photographer

Have you ever heard photographers use terms like “Fine Art” & “Lifestyle” and “Day-in-The-Life?” Maybe you’re vaguely familiar, but also not too sure what exactly these terms mean?Allow me to clear things up! By the end of this blog, you’ll be able to identify each photography style and select the one that will best preserve your family’s precious moments!

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. 

Next, we have Candid Photography or some call this Lifestyle Photography. | SW London baby photographer

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 a 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 funny, but that’s the point of candid photography! It’s less about perfection and more about authenticity and capturing fun times with your loved ones!

One you might not hear too often is Fine art photography.

This is a style that emphasises 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. If you’re looking for a unique image to display, this style is perfect for you! While it may not capture the spontaneous moments of candid photography,

Finally, for those who love activities, your perfect match.

“Day-in-the-life” Photography could be. This style aims to capture real-life events, milestones or activities in a storytelling manner, often set in personal and outdoor spaces. So if your family loves to hike, camp or picnic, lifestyle shots will catch those special moments. With day-in-the-life photography, there is generally no posing or prompting at all. The photographer really is a fly on the wall while your family participates in an activity you all love doing together. 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). 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.

As a SW London baby photographer, for example, I generally include both “classic” and “candid” in my portrait sessions (because my clients like a mix of both) Newborn, maternity and milestone photo sessions require some guidance and posing and really, that is what a photographer should be doing – however capturing gueniune and loving moments acn only happen at that time and always ‘in the moments shots’. As you think 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 | South West London photographer has given you some solid ideas! If you’re still looking for a SW London newborn photographer, click here to see my portfolio of newborn images.