Are you an amateur photographer and parent who wants to improve your family portraits? Maybe you’re baffled by what lens is best for family portraits? I totally get you! As a mum to four kids and keen amateur photographer, I’m always looking for new ways to upgrade my kit bag for the perfect shots, not to mention improve my portrait photography skills.
But with a huge range of cameras, and an even huger range of lenses, how can we choose the best lens for family portraits? The good news is that with a little research, the best lens, or indeed, lenses, are well within your grasp.
This article will help you understand the best lenses to choose for capturing stunning family photography. We’ll focus on user-friendly, budget-conscious, and high-quality options from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Sigma.
So let me spill the tea on some of the best lenses for family portraits, as used by professional photographers!
Why Family Portraits Matter
Children grow so fast. As a parent, you know well that in a blink of an eye they’ve changed again. One minute you’re nursing a tiny newborn, the next you’re waving them off on their first day of school. Personally, photography is my way of cataloguing time, and capturing every detail of a precious moment.
A photograph keeps a moment from running away
Family portraits capture both milestones and precious family moments. They can be formal, or more casual. The key is that they let you step back in time and remember all those occasions that might otherwise be forgotten. They become a visual legacy to your children and your future grandchildren.
The challenge for parents is finding both time and money for photography when you have a busy and growing household. Photography can have a steep learning curve that requires practice and time you might not have as a parent.
Additionally, capturing sharp and beautiful images is hard when your kids move so fast and you want to capture them in tricky environments. You want the automatic settings of your camera to take care of focus so that you don’t need to worry about changing camera settings constantly. Not to mention that equipment costs can run into the thousands.
How can you make sure you’re getting the best value while investing in quality lenses?
I can help you with the answers to all these questions. This article can make your life easier!
Why Choose The Right Lens For Family Portrait Photography?
Why would you bother with anything but the kit lens that came with your camera?
Well, for starters, the best lens for family portraits gives better backgrounds that make your family the star. The lenses feature faster and sharper autofocus, perhaps with eye and face tracking. Image stabilisation gives you better shots during movement. Using these lenses, you get better quality images that can be printed at a higher resolution.
Additionally, they make your life easier. Lighter lenses help the family photographer by reducing the weight in the camera bag, minimising back and hand strain.
Now let’s examine in more detail what we should be looking for in a lens for family portraits.
What Makes A Great Lens For Family Portraits?
Focal Length
Focal length is measured in mm, and it refers to how zoomed in or out your lens appears to be.
This applies to family portraits in all kinds of ways. The first and most obvious is how much of a scene you can capture. For instance, with a 35mm focal length (wide angle), you’ll fit more into your scene, including background, than you would if focal length were set at 200mm (telephoto).
Less obvious is how certain focal lengths appear more flattering to your child’s features than others. Telephoto lenses appear to compress the features, making them more proportionate and accentuating their button nose, for example – so their cuteness really shines.
Wide or Telephoto Lens?
If you’re taking portraits of your kids indoors a lot, you’ll need to consider wide-angle lenses to get everything in because space is tight.
On the other hand, a telephoto lens is ideal if you’re shooting outdoors where you can get more space between yourself and your child(ren).
This is perfect for beautiful closeups with flattered, compressed features and blurred out backgrounds (bokeh).
Focal Length Ranges And Their Names
| Focal length in mm | Known as |
| 25-35mm | Wide angle |
| 35-70mm | Normal |
| 70-100mm | Medium telephoto |
| 100-300mm | Telephoto |
Some focal lengths are preferred by amateur and professional photographers alike, and they are 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm. Here are the benefits and uses of such lenses:
Focal Lengths, Their Benefits & Uses
| Focal length | Benefits | Uses |
| 35mm | Versatile for indoor shots, includes environment | Indoor portraits where space is tight, like birthday parties, family meals, etc |
| 50mm | Appears natural, includes some background | General portraits, everyday photos, kids playing |
| 85mm | Longer focal lengths are perfect for capturing faces and blurring out backgrounds | Outdoor portraits, formal portraits |
| 135mm | Compresses features for flattering portraits | Outdoor portraits, artistic portraits – you need a lot of space to shoot at this focal length |
Prime or Zoom Lens?
Prime lenses have what is called a fixed focal length. For instance, the 50mm lens. Zoom lenses work between a range of focal lengths, for instance 70-200mm.
As your confidence as a photographer grows, you’ll get a feel for what focal lengths you like to work with and what works best for your family and portrait style.
It’s worth renting a lens to get a feel for focal lengths, wide or telephoto, prime or zoom. Once you’ve added one lens to your collection, you might like to add others to complete your collection.
Aperture and Depth of Field
When selecting a lens for family portraits, you’ll often see or hear mention of aperture. When you see numbers like “f/1.8” or “f/2.8,” you might wonder what this refers to, and why it matters. This number refers to the maximum aperture capability of the lens.
What is aperture? It’s a measurement of how far a lens can open to let light in. It is measured in “f-stops”.
When we look at portrait lenses, we’re looking for a wider aperture that will let a lot of light in. This alters what is called “depth of field” aka DOF. Understand that DOF can be shallow (a small amount in focus, and lots of lovely background bokeh), or deep (almost everything appears as if in focus).
Shallow depth of field is one way we achieve a professional-looking blurred out background, and this can be achieved with lower aperture numbers. On the other hand, deep DOF allows more of the entire scene to be in focus.
F-Numbers And Their Properties
| Small f-number (e.g. f/1.8, f/2.8) | Wide aperture, more background blur (bokeh), lets in more light, shallow DOF |
| Large f-number (e.g. f/8, f/11, f/16) | Narrow aperture, more of the scene in focus, lets in less light, deep DOF |
So when choosing a lens, ensure it can reach a low f-stop at its maximum aperture.
And aperture can also help with low-light performance when you’re shooting indoors or in the evening. The wider open the lens, the more light it will let in for brighter, clearer shots.
Autofocus
Autofocus is a function of both your camera and your lens, and it’s worth taking into consideration when choosing a lens.
Nobody needs quick and precise autofocus (AF) more than parents of kids who move a lot – and quickly!
As the name suggests, autofocus allows the lens to automatically adjust the focus point to keep your kids in focus. Get it right, and it can quite literally transform your photos. Get it wrong, and your photo is a blurry mess.
Eye autofocus is a feature of many mirrorless cameras, and is a big plus for family portraiture since it locks onto your children’s eyes even when they’re running around. With some setups, you can even choose whose eyes to lock on to – a huge plus when trying to focus on a particular child.
Settings to look out for: Continuous Autofocus (AF-C or AI-Servo AF) attempts to track a moving subject. If the AF keeps picking up the background, select Single-Point AF to focus on faces more accurately.
Image Stabilisation
Another feature to watch out for when choosing a lens for family portraits is image stabilisation. This handy feature prevents blurry shots in less than favourable conditions or when kids won’t stay still. Use it for low-light family portraits where a slower shutter speed can cause blur, zoomed in shots, and handheld video recording. It works especially well with zoom lenses.
Investing Wisely – Why You Don’t Need The Most Expensive Lens
When it comes to the best camera equipment, you don’t always need to spend a lot of money to get great results.
While high-end professional lenses certainly have their advantages, make your purchasing decision based on the features of the lens that work best for you.
Look for:
- Focal Length (for flattering portraits)
- Aperture (for soft backgrounds and low light)
- Autofocus (to track your kids and keep them in focus)
- Image Stabilisation (to fix blur in low-light family portraits and zoomed in shots)
If you’re new to portrait photography, it’s always best to start small with less expensive lenses until you get a feel for everything.
Prime Lenses Will Save You Money
Prime lenses with a fixed focal length, like 50mm f/1.8 are smaller, sharper, and more affordable than high-end zoom lenses. Take full advantage of prime lenses – starting at under £200, they’re one of the best budget-friendly options available.
Zoom Lenses Are Versatile But Can Cost More
Professional zoom lenses are often expensive. Instead, look for f/2.8 or f/4 zooms that offer better quality than a kit lens but aren’t too expensive.
Consider Third Party Lenses To Save Money
Did you know that third party brands like Sigma, Tamron, and Viltrox offer high quality lenses for Canon, Nikon, and Sony, at a greatly reduced price? Often these third party lenses rival their big name counterparts in specifications and user reviews.
It’s true that most people place themselves firmly in the camp of the camera brand they use and won’t budge! That being said, the brand of your camera body and the type of camera you use may well dictate your choice of camera lens. This is especially true for DSLR cameras vs mirrorless cameras. However, some lenses are interchangeable with the appropriate adapter.
Consider Used & Refurbished Lenses
Buy professional quality lenses for a fraction of the cost when you buy used or refurbished. You can buy directly from the manufacturer or try a third party outlet such as MPB, or backmarket.co.uk.
How Your Camera’s Sensor Size Affects Your Choice Of Lens
Before you choose a lens for family portraits, consider the sensor size of your camera. Is it a full frame camera, or APS-C camera?
Why is this important? It’s because APS-C cameras have a smaller sensor size than full-frame cameras. Because of this they’re often known as “cropped” sensors with a “crop factor”. On Canon APS-C cameras, this crop factor is 1.6x. On most other brands, it is 1.5x.
What does this mean for lenses? A lens intended for a full frame camera will look more zoomed in used on a APS-C camera. To put it another way, lenses intended for full frame cameras will work on an APS-C crop sensor camera, but the focal length is affected by the size difference.
To work out the apparent focal length, multiply the focal length by the crop factor. For instance if you want to use a 50mm lens on your Canon APS-C camera, calculate 50 x 1.6 = 75mm, the apparent focal length.
Let’s look at the best lenses for family portraits.
1. Best Canon Lenses for Family Portraits
A popular choice for photographers thanks to their high quality and user friendly equipment. Canon lenses are praised for their sharpness alongside accurate reproduction of skin tones – perfect for capturing your family’s portrait.
Canon’s autofocus systems are excellent. This makes their lenses a great choice for low light photography of kids – for example, at birthday parties without bright lighting, and on gloomy days out at the park. Canon have worked tirelessly to refine their image stabilisation over the years, and it’s built into many lenses.
These lenses produce wonderful blur (bokeh), so that your kids really stand out. You’ll be spoilt for lens choice too – Canon sports a huge lens range. If you’re looking for quality, choice, and resale value – Canon won’t disappoint you.
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Known as the “nifty fifty”, this go-to lens is a must have for Canon camera users. It’s super affordable, light as a feather, and creates beautiful portraits of your children. Thanks to its 50mm focal length it works equally well outdoors as well as indoors where there’s less space, for instance at birthday parties.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (with a crop factor of 1.6x, so this lens would have an apparent focal length of 80mm on your APS-C camera), some mirrorless cameras with an adapter.
View lens at Canon.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
This mid-range lens works perfectly for outdoor family photos and candid moments. It boasts smooth background blur and fast autofocus to keep your kids in focus.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (appears like 127.5mm), some mirrorless cameras with an adapter.
View lens at Canon.
Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM
This premium lens for mirrorless systems is ideal for action shots such as the playground or sporting events. Since it’s a zoom lens, it offers flexibility for close-up portraits and shooting from a distance.
Compatibility: Full frame mirrorless, APS-C mirrorless (appears like 112-320mm).
View lens at Canon.
2. Best Nikon Lenses for Family Portraits
Favoured by professional photographers, and known for their high quality lenses that produce equally high quality images. Nikon lenses are praised for their ability to faithfully reproduce colour – perfect for capturing the colourful and messy life of your little ones.
Nikon lenses also give fast and accurate autofocus, a must for parents of kids who don’t sit still for long!
Being a top end brand, Nikon lenses are known for their durability. Some are weather sealed making them the perfect choice for outdoor portraits.
Busy family times create less than perfect photography conditions, and that’s where Nikon’s image stabilisation, known as Vibration Reduction (VR) can help. The result? Sharper family portraits await!
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G
Just like the Canon 50mm, the Nikon 50mm prime lens is good value for money, lightweight, and great for beginners. It helps you take gorgeous natural-looking shots of your kids both indoors and outdoors.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (with a crop factor of 1.5x, so this lens would have an apparent focal length of 75mm on your APS-C camera), mirrorless with an adapter.
View lens at Nikon.
Nikon 85mm f/1.8G
The perfect Nikon prime lens for tight headshots of your child and small group portraits. This lens offers sharp photos with beautiful background blur.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (appears like 127.5mm), mirrorless with an adapter.
View lens at Nikon.
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8E FL ED VR
This renowned professional zoom lens makes a fantastic choice for parents stepping up their photography game. Its versatility makes it perfect for intimate portraits full of detail, along with action shots of your kids playing and larger group shots.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (appears like 105-300mm), mirrorless with an adapter.
View lens at Nikon.
3. Best Sony Lenses for Family Portraits
Leading the way in mirrorless photography, Sony lenses come with some really useful features for parents. For starters, a mirrorless setup means your gear will be undoubtedly lighter – great when you’re chasing after kids and maybe even carrying a smaller child too!
Clarity, warmth, and colour accuracy are a given. But you’ll also welcome fast autofocus to capture your kids at their active best and with less blurriness – always good when taking portraits of your kids. Additionally, Sony’s Real-Time Eye Autofocus means your kid’s eyes will always be in focus, even during movement.
Throw into the mix Sony’s Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), a perfect solution to low-light situations, slow shutter speeds, and camera shake, and you have yourself the perfect on-the-go photography solution.
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8
Another great little prime lens that’s perfect for beginners taking everyday photos of their kids. Expect soft, dreamy backgrounds and crisp images without breaking the bank. On the downside, the autofocus on this lens can be a little slow.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (with a crop factor of 1.5x, so this lens would have an apparent focal length of 75mm on your APS-C camera), mirrorless.
View lens at Sony.
Sony FE 35mm f/1.8
A fast versatile prime lens that excels at indoor family portraits. This lens allows you to work in environments with not much space while including the rest of the room. Great for videos too thanks to its quiet autofocus and fast autofocus tracking.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (appears like 52.5mm), mirrorless.
View lens at Sony.
Sony FE 85mm f/1.8
A mid-range telephoto prime lens and a great choice for flattering family portraits with soft blurring of backgrounds. Its dust and moisture resistant design makes it a durable and practical choice, too.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (appears like 127.5mm), mirrorless.
View lens at Sony.
Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II
This premium standard zoom lens covers a wide to telephoto range, elevating your photography of your kids and family. Expect beautiful details and soft backgrounds along with excellent autofocus.
Compatibility: Ideally on a full frame DSLR, APS-C DSLR (appears like 36-105mm), mirrorless.
View lens at Sony.
4. Best Sigma Lenses for Family Portraits
If you’re looking for excellent image quality in a lower price range, consider Sigma lenses. This third party company offers lenses to fit Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras.
Some parents worry when they hear mention of third party lenses, but fear not. The quality of Sigma lenses has improved in recent years, and many lenses now challenge the top end brands.
Expect sharp images, soft dreamy backgrounds, and good low-light capabilities. Even your kids’ cluttered playroom will transform into a gorgeous scene through these lenses!
Sigma HSM and STM lenses give fast and quiet autofocus (AF) for a great experience.
Sigma’s image stabilisation is available in some of its newer lenses. Known as Optical Stabilization (OS), it offers some impressive reduction in shake – perfect for the handheld settings that usually accompany family portraiture.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
Consider this high-end prime lens with its large aperture when you want exceptional image quality, sharpness, and rich colours. It’s ideal for candid shots of your kids at both indoors and outdoor photo-shoots.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR.
View lens at Sigma.
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
Your kids will really stand out with this lens! A premium mirrorless portrait lens for professional results. This portable and light lens works well in low-light indoor settings. Taking it on an outdoor session is a breeze, thanks to its dust and splash resistant build.
Compatibility: Full frame mirrorless.
View lens at Sigma.
Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS HSM Art
This is the zoom lens to do it all. Its flexible range covers you for both group shots and individual portraits, and different types of photography too. Fast autofocus makes this lens great for parents with active kids.
Compatibility: Full frame DSLR.
View lens at Sigma.
Final Thoughts
It goes without saying that the right lens can transform your family portrait photography. You don’t always need expensive camera gear, just start small and build your collection as your family and its needs grow.
I hope you’ve found the best lens to use for family portraits in this list. Even if your perfect lens isn’t in this list, there are plenty of pointers to help you choose.
If you have any questions, feel free to connect with me via the comments below, or find me on Facebook. For more like this, please consider subscribing.
Until next time!
Helen
