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

Richmond-Virginia-family-photographer, large family laughing in a candid moment sitting on the rocks by a lake

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.

Richmond-Virginia-family-photographer family photos of mom and sisters on house wall

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.

Midlothian-Virginia-photographer family of four with mom, dad, big sister and little brother smiling at the camera in front of pretty flowering bushesRichmond-Virginia-newborn photographer with dad holding one big brother, mom holding newborn baby girl and older brother hugging momRichmond-Virginia-maternity-photographers, pregnant mama in red suit from AR Backdrops sitting on stoolRichmond-family-photographer mom and kids all dressed in white standing in front of light brown studio backdrop Oklahoma City-family-photographer four sisters sitting on studio backdrop all dressed in white looking at the camera with serious expressions

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.

OKC-family-photographer with large family looking at each other and smiling in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife RefugeOklahoma City-family-photographer extended family laughing at each other with moms, dads, grandparents and kids in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife RefugeRichmond-Virginia-newborn-photographer black family sitting on their couch relaxed and smiling while holding their newborn babyLawton-family-photographer, family sitting on branch on Mount Scott laughing

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.

Midlothian-Virginia-family photographer, how to take better photos of your kidsMidlothian-Virginia-newborn-photographer, smiling newborn girl in knit outfit posed on floral background in Moseley-Virginia-photography-studioOklahoma City-family-photographer three siblings posed in the greenhouse at the Sekrit Theater AustinRichmond maternity photographer, pregnant mama with bright orange sunset behind her in white dress cradling her bump in Charlottesville, Virginia maternity photographermaternity photographers Richmond-virginia, blonde haired pregnant white mama sitting on black metal stool wearing black blazer and pink stiletto boots and holding her blazer with one hand and her pregnant belly with the other hand

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.

Mother holding newborn son in his Colonial Heights, Virginia home nursery rocking chair while dad looks on petting dog Mom holding baby boy while his brothers run around in the snow in Midlothian-Virginia-family-photographer Richmond-family-photographer, mom wiping a tear as her Soldier husband is reunited with her and their son in a redeployment ceremony Richmond-family-photographer young girl painting on a canvas outside in the golden sun
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.

Richmond-Virginia-birth-photographer, mom holding her freshly born newborn son and smiling in relief Richmond-birth-photographer, mom holding newborn son in herbal bath after birth Richmond Birth Photographer, best birth photographers, Manassas birth photographer, Norfolk birth photographer, birth photographer, labor pics, labor and delivery photos, delivery photos, newborn photos, water birth Richmond, Richmond birth photographer, black and white mother in tub holding her freshly born baby and smiling Richmond-Virginia-birth-photographer, mom crying in pain while on hands and knees during labor Midlothian-Virginia-birth photographer, mom in front of blue drape in C-section holding newborn baby with dad looking on Birth-photography-Midlothian-Virginia, dad holding freshly birthed newborn baby girl on his chest while blue birth pool for home birth is in background Newborn getting her foot print done in the operating room after C-section in Richmond-Virginia-birth-photography

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Williamsburg-Virginia-photographer with extended family laughing and smiling at one another in Colonial Williamsburg Williamsburg-Virginia-family-photographer, grandparents snuggling and laughing with their grandsons on Colonial Williamsburg lawn Midlothian-Virginia-family-photographer, Asian family in front of water at Pump House Park looking at camera and smiling Lawton-Oklahoma-family-photographer, parents holding hands in front of kids smiling in background in Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Richmond-family-photographer, mom, dad and three kiddos laughing and smiling while dad holds youngest baby upside down Mom holding baby boy upside down and smiling at him while blond-haired blue eyed baby smiles

As you ponder over your next Richmond, Virginia 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! Your treasured memories are important and valuable.

I hope reading Decoding Photography Styles: Which is Right for Your Next Richmond, Virginia Family Session  has given you some solid ideas! If you’re still looking for a Richmond, Virginia family photographer, click here to see my portfolio of lifestyle and candid family images.

Share This Post