Decoding Photography Styles: Which is Right for Your Next Richmond, Virginia Family Session?

Have you ever wondered how to choose the right Richmond, Virginia family photographer? How about the right style to capture your family’s unique spirit?

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.

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.

Classic Style/Portrait Photography

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. I take this photo at the beginning of the Richmond, Virginia family photo session. I do this because it’s usually when everyone is most nervous and most formal. Then, we get to the FUN of it.

Candid/Lifestyle

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

It’s all about capturing spontaneous moments. These include 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.

This style is perfect if your family loves a more casual look. 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.

Fine Art Photography

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. Each image is 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, it offers a different kind of beauty and depth.

Day-in-the-life

Finally, for those who love activities, “Day-in-the-life” Photography could be your perfect match.

This style aims to capture real-life events or 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.

I particularly love day-in-the-life photography for families with toddlers because it’s so much more fun to do an activity they love. It’s way easier than trying to ask them to sit still and smile.

Birth photography definitely falls into Day-in-the-life photography! It’s capturing one of the biggest days of your life, right? The day you meet your baby! As a Richmond. Virginia birth photographer, I can never get enough of these. They are absolutely my favorite. I would photograph births for the rest of my life if I could.

How do you choose?

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. This might change depending on the season of life your family is in).

If your Richmond, Virginia 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 which styles they use. They may be 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.