When it comes to family and child photography, selecting the right lens plays a crucial role in the overall outcome of your shots. Whether you're capturing the raw beauty of everyday family life or crafting intimate, perfectly posed portraits, the lens you choose directly influences the mood, depth, and clarity of your images. In this post, I’ll walk you through the three lenses I rely on most for both documentary and portrait photography. These lenses allow me to document special moments and create timeless portraits while offering the flexibility to explore different types of photography as well.
Family and child photography typically falls into two distinct styles: documentary photography and portrait photography. Documentary photography focuses on capturing the essence of everyday life, highlighting small moments that reflect the unique, dynamic nature of a family. It could include everyday activities, from playing with your child to celebrating holidays or even just hanging out at home. On the other hand, portrait photography focuses on more posed or structured shots, whether of an individual child or a family group.
I personally find joy in both styles. I love taking portraits that capture a child's personality and the essence of a family, but I equally enjoy documenting spontaneous moments that tell a more natural and raw story. The three lenses I’m going to discuss below have allowed me to master both styles of photography, providing the versatility to adapt to various settings and capture all sorts of moments. While these lenses are perfect for child and family photography, they also work wonderfully for other genres, so they’re great investments for expanding your skills in other areas of photography.
Let’s dive in and explore my top three favorite lenses.
(1) Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art Lens: A Photographer's Essential Tool
As a photographer, finding the right lens for your needs can often be the difference between capturing a good shot and capturing a great shot. Among the numerous lenses I have in my collection, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens is undoubtedly my most used and cherished. It’s a lens that offers exceptional value for its price, especially when compared to more expensive counterparts like those from Canon. While priced at around $800, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens stands as a far more affordable option than its competitors, which can easily exceed $2,000. Despite its cost, this lens has proven itself to be worth every penny, delivering outstanding performance in various situations.
Impressive Optical Quality
One of the most significant factors that make the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens so highly regarded is its exceptional optical quality. Many lenses, particularly those with a wide aperture like f/1.4, tend to lose sharpness when opened up to their widest setting. However, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 defies this common issue by maintaining sharpness and clarity across its entire aperture range, even at f/1.4. Whether you're shooting wide open in low light conditions or stopped down for greater depth of field, the lens delivers stunningly crisp images with excellent contrast and detail.
The Perfect Focal Length for Versatility
The 35mm focal length is widely considered one of the most versatile options for a variety of photography styles, making it a staple for both beginners and professional photographers alike. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or everyday moments, the 35mm focal length strikes a perfect balance between wide-angle and standard perspectives. For those focusing on family and child photography, the 35mm focal length is an excellent choice due to its ability to capture both the subject and the surrounding environment in a single shot.
In documentary-style photography, where context and storytelling are key, the 35mm lens allows you to include more of the environment without compromising the clarity or detail of the subject. Whether photographing a child playing indoors or capturing a family gathering at a celebration, this lens ensures that the narrative of the scene comes to life by incorporating the surroundings.
Wide Aperture for Low-Light Performance
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens stands out due to its impressive wide aperture of f/1.4, which is crucial for shooting in low-light environments. When shooting indoors, particularly in spaces with less-than-ideal lighting—such as living rooms, kitchens, or children's play areas—the f/1.4 aperture allows for more light to enter the lens. This results in brighter images and enables you to shoot at faster shutter speeds without introducing too much noise or grain.
The ability to shoot in low light without sacrificing image quality is a game-changer for family and child photography. Many times, these moments unfold in indoor settings where lighting can be challenging. Whether you’re photographing your children playing during a family gathering or capturing a candid moment in your living room, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 ensures that you don’t have to rely on flash or overly high ISO settings. The lens excels in these situations, offering a natural, soft bokeh background while keeping the subject in sharp focus.
Environmental Portraits and Lifestyle Photography
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens is not just for capturing stills of your subjects; it is also an ideal choice for environmental portraits and lifestyle photography. Environmental portraits aim to capture the subject in their natural surroundings, giving a sense of their personality and life. The 35mm focal length is perfect for this type of photography because it allows you to incorporate both the subject and their environment into the frame. This makes the lens especially effective for documenting everyday moments, whether it’s a family member cooking dinner in the kitchen or a child playing in the park.
Additionally, when it comes to lifestyle photography—where you often aim to capture candid, authentic moments—the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 is a go-to choice. Its wide aperture and versatile focal length make it easy to compose natural-looking images that feel both intimate and expansive, showcasing not only the subject but also the surrounding space that tells the story of the moment.
Perfect for Outdoor Photography
While the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens excels in indoor settings, it is just as capable outdoors. The lens truly shines when capturing outdoor scenes, whether it’s at a park, beach, or family picnic. The 35mm focal length allows you to take in more of the environment, adding depth and context to the images. Whether you’re capturing wide, sweeping landscapes or intimate family moments, the lens ensures that your subject remains the focus while still showcasing the environment around them.
This makes the lens an excellent tool for creating a dynamic connection between the subject and their surroundings. For example, in family group portraits, the lens allows you to get everyone in the frame without stepping too far back, making it easier to work in smaller or more confined spaces. The ability to capture both wide-angle and close-up shots without the need to change lenses makes this a versatile addition to any photographer's kit.
Not Ideal for Tight Headshots but Excellent for Lifestyle Shots
While the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens is an incredibly versatile lens, it does have its limitations. For tight headshots or individual child portraits where you want to isolate the subject against a creamy background, the 35mm focal length may not be the best option. In these cases, a longer focal length—such as a 50mm or 85mm lens—would be more appropriate as it allows for a more flattering perspective and better subject isolation.
However, for lifestyle, family, and documentary-style photography, the 35mm lens excels. It is the ideal choice for capturing candid moments, environmental portraits, and group shots, both indoors and outdoors. The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens excels in giving photographers the flexibility to capture the energy and essence of a scene without needing to switch lenses constantly.
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art Lens: A Must-Have for Photographers
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens has proven itself to be one of the most reliable, versatile, and high-performing lenses in my kit. With its exceptional sharpness, wide aperture, and excellent low-light performance, it remains my go-to lens for family, child, and lifestyle photography. While it may not be the best for tight headshots or highly specialized portrait photography, it more than makes up for it with its versatility in documentary, environmental, and lifestyle photography.
Whether shooting indoors in challenging lighting conditions or capturing the beauty of outdoor scenes, this lens never fails to deliver stunning, sharp, and vibrant images. The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens is an essential tool for any photographer who wants to capture life as it happens, making it a worthy investment for anyone serious about their craft.
(2) Canon 85mm f/1.8 Lens: A Budget-Friendly Portrait Photography Powerhouse
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is a standout option in my collection of portrait lenses, offering an exceptional balance of affordability and performance. Known for its stunning image quality, this lens provides photographers with the tools they need to create professional-grade portraits without the high price tag associated with other premium portrait lenses. With its relatively modest cost, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 has earned its place as one of the best value-for-money lenses in the world of portrait photography, particularly for those just starting or those who need a reliable workhorse for everyday use.
The Ideal Focal Length for Portraits
The 85mm focal length is often considered the gold standard for portrait photography, and for good reason. This lens offers an ideal working distance, especially when photographing children and families. Unlike wide-angle lenses, which can distort faces when used up close, the 85mm lens provides a natural perspective that flatters the subject’s features. It allows the photographer to maintain a comfortable distance from the subject while still capturing tight, intimate portraits.
The 85mm focal length also helps with compositional flexibility. Whether you’re shooting headshots, half-body portraits, or full-body shots, this lens provides the necessary space to capture your subject in a flattering, non-distorted way. For family portraits, it is versatile enough to provide the perfect framing without making the subject feel boxed in or pressured. For photographers working with children, the distance and perspective make the 85mm f/1.8 a particularly ideal choice, as it allows them to interact with their young subjects without causing discomfort.
Beautiful Background Blur: The Power of Bokeh
One of the standout features of the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is its ability to produce a stunning bokeh, or background blur. The f/1.8 aperture creates a soft, creamy background that isolates the subject from its surroundings, adding a sense of depth to the image. This characteristic is especially useful in portrait photography, where the goal is often to focus the viewer’s attention solely on the subject’s expression, emotions, and details, while minimizing distractions in the background.
The smooth bokeh produced by this lens ensures that the subject, whether it be a child’s smiling face or a family member, stands out in the frame with a natural, effortless emphasis. The blurred background helps direct the viewer’s gaze to the subject, making every portrait feel more intimate and focused. This ability to isolate the subject through the use of background blur is crucial when photographing children, as it draws attention to their playful expressions, vivid eyes, and unique personalities.
Flattering Perspective for Portraits
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is known for its flattering perspective, which is one of the primary reasons it’s so widely used for portraiture. The lens slightly smooths the subject’s features and can create a slimming effect, making it particularly beneficial for adult portraits. For family shots, this characteristic is a huge plus, as it helps create a polished, refined look without the distortion that can sometimes occur with wider focal lengths.
This feature also makes the Canon 85mm f/1.8 a fantastic lens for capturing natural-looking images without being too aggressive in altering the subject’s appearance. The lens captures facial details with softness and nuance, helping create realistic yet flattering representations of people in the frame. When photographing children, the lens gives a gentle, smooth look that enhances their youthful features while avoiding harshness or sharpness in the skin.
Versatility Beyond Portraits: Lifestyle Photography
While the Canon 85mm f/1.8 is undoubtedly a portrait powerhouse, its versatility extends far beyond just posing subjects in a studio or controlled environment. This lens also excels in outdoor lifestyle photography, where you can capture more natural, candid moments. Whether it’s a child playing at the park, a family laughing on the beach, or a couple walking through a vibrant urban scene, the 85mm f/1.8 lens is incredibly capable of capturing the essence of these moments.
The lens works beautifully for environmental portraits—shots where the subject is placed in their surroundings but remains the focal point of the image. The bokeh effect, which blurs the background, ensures that the environment doesn’t compete with the subject but complements it. For instance, when photographing a family enjoying a sunny afternoon in a park, the background of trees and sunlight can softly melt away, allowing the family’s joy and connection to take center stage.
Canon 85mm f/1.8: Affordable Excellence in Portrait Photography
One of the most appealing aspects of the Canon 85mm f/1.8 is its affordability. Despite its professional-grade performance, this lens comes at a fraction of the cost of other high-end portrait lenses, such as the Canon 85mm f/1.2L or some of the more premium lenses from third-party manufacturers. This makes it an excellent investment for photographers who want to elevate their portrait photography without breaking the bank.
The affordable price point makes this lens accessible to both aspiring photographers and seasoned professionals looking for a reliable lens that delivers high-quality results without the steep cost. It’s a lens that can handle various shooting scenarios, from formal studio portraits to more relaxed, lifestyle-style photography, making it an essential piece of gear for photographers of all levels. The build quality, performance, and image quality are exceptional for the price, proving that you don’t always need to spend a fortune to capture beautiful, professional-looking portraits.
Consistently High-Quality Results
What truly makes the Canon 85mm f/1.8 such a standout lens is its ability to deliver consistent, high-quality results in various shooting conditions. Whether you’re working indoors in controlled lighting or outdoors in natural light, this lens consistently produces sharp, detailed images with beautiful contrast and color reproduction. The lens's autofocus system is quick and precise, making it easy to capture sharp, crisp portraits, even when your subjects are in motion.
Additionally, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens is known for its ability to work well in both bright and low-light conditions. The wide f/1.8 aperture allows more light to enter the lens, which is particularly useful when shooting in dimly lit environments, such as indoor family gatherings or outdoor sunset portraits. The lens maintains sharpness and clarity even when wide open, producing vibrant and well-exposed images that don’t require excessive post-processing.
A Must-Have Lens for Portrait Photographers
In conclusion, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens has proven itself to be an indispensable tool in my photography kit. Its flattering perspective, gorgeous background blur, and affordable price point make it one of the best portrait lenses available. Whether you’re capturing posed family portraits, candid moments with children, or environmental lifestyle shots, this lens consistently delivers stunning, professional-quality results.
The versatility and quality of the Canon 85mm f/1.8 make it an essential lens for portrait photographers, and it’s a piece of gear that can significantly improve the look and feel of your photos. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly portrait lens that doesn’t compromise on quality, this lens is a must-have in your collection. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a professional, the Canon 85mm f/1.8 is sure to elevate your photography game.
(3) Canon 135mm f/2.0 Lens: A Portrait Photographer's Dream
The Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens stands as the most expensive lens in my collection, but its performance justifies every dollar spent. Known for its ability to create remarkable “buttery bokeh,” the lens excels at producing images with stunning background blur that is a hallmark of high-quality portraiture. The creamy, smooth blur that surrounds the subject adds a sense of softness and ethereality to the photograph, making it an invaluable tool for portrait photographers, especially when it comes to capturing children and family moments. Despite its cost, the Canon 135mm f/2.0 proves to be an essential part of my gear due to its ability to elevate the quality of my photography to a level that few other lenses can match.
Exceptional Background Blur (Buttery Bokeh)
When it comes to portrait photography, one of the most sought-after features is a beautifully blurred background, which isolates the subject and emphasizes their features. The Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens delivers this effect with unparalleled finesse. The bokeh produced by this lens is soft, smooth, and utterly mesmerizing, earning its reputation for being “buttery.” This beautiful background blur makes it an ideal lens for portrait photographers looking to achieve a dreamy, ethereal look.
The 135mm focal length combined with the f/2.0 aperture creates an incredibly shallow depth of field, which allows you to blur out the background to a degree that adds an enchanting softness to the image. This effect is especially valuable when photographing children or families, as it draws all attention to the subject’s face, expressions, and emotions, while eliminating distractions from the background. The result is a portrait that looks timeless, polished, and elegant.
Perfect for Outdoor Portraiture
While the Canon 135mm f/2.0 is a fantastic lens for portraiture, it truly shines when used in outdoor environments. Due to its longer focal length, the lens requires more space to work with, making it ideal for outdoor shoots where you have the freedom to step back and compose your image from a distance. The 135mm focal length allows you to capture close-up, intimate portraits without physically intruding on the subject’s space, which is especially useful when photographing children.
Children often feel more comfortable when the photographer isn’t too close, and the Canon 135mm f/2.0 enables you to maintain a respectful distance while still capturing sharp, high-quality images. Whether you’re photographing a child playing in a park or a family gathering in a natural setting, this lens allows you to create beautiful portraits without making the subject feel constrained or uncomfortable. The lens lets you capture genuine, candid moments from afar, making the experience feel natural and unobtrusive.
Creating Shallow Depth of Field for Dramatic Effect
One of the key attributes of the Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens is its ability to create a very shallow depth of field, which adds a professional touch to the images. The shallow depth of field isolates the subject from the background, making them stand out with incredible clarity and sharpness. This dramatic separation creates a stunning visual effect that is perfect for high-end portraiture, as the background is reduced to a beautifully blurred wash of color and light.
The lens’s wide f/2.0 aperture allows a significant amount of light to enter the lens, further enhancing its ability to produce a shallow depth of field. This characteristic is especially useful when shooting in outdoor environments, where you want to create a clean, distraction-free background that complements the subject rather than competing with them. The combination of a long focal length and wide aperture ensures that every portrait shot with the Canon 135mm f/2.0 is of the highest quality, with crisp detail on the subject and a dreamlike blur in the background.
Ideal for Lifestyle and Documentary Photography
In addition to its prowess in portrait photography, the Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens excels in lifestyle and documentary photography, where capturing a subject's natural expressions and actions is essential. The ability to maintain a respectful distance from the subject while still getting close-up, detailed shots makes it an excellent choice for these genres of photography.
When documenting a child's candid moments—whether they are laughing, playing, or interacting with others—the lens allows you to focus on the subject while keeping their surroundings beautifully blurred. This creates a storytelling effect, where the subject remains the focal point while the background offers just enough context to complete the narrative. The Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens is perfect for capturing those fleeting, raw moments that make lifestyle and documentary photography so powerful, all while preserving the intimacy and emotion of the scene.
Not Ideal for Indoor Photography
While the Canon 135mm f/2.0 excels in many areas, it’s important to acknowledge that it has its limitations. One of the main drawbacks of this lens is that it’s not well-suited for indoor photography, particularly in small spaces. Due to its longer focal length, it requires a considerable amount of room to maneuver, making it challenging to use in tight indoor environments. In confined spaces, you may find it difficult to achieve the composition and framing you desire.
For indoor portrait sessions or shoots in smaller areas, a shorter focal length lens, such as a 50mm or 85mm, would be more appropriate. These lenses allow for better flexibility and easier handling in tighter spaces. However, when used in the right context—such as outdoor portraiture or wide-open landscapes—the Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens truly excels and shines as one of the best portrait lenses on the market.
A Lens for the Serious Photographer
The Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens is not for everyone due to its price point, but for serious photographers who value high-quality portraiture, it is an invaluable investment. This lens delivers exceptional sharpness, stunning bokeh, and a shallow depth of field that will elevate your photography to the next level. Whether you’re photographing children, families, or outdoor portraits, the Canon 135mm f/2.0 lens is a tool that can help you create portraits that stand out and leave a lasting impression.
For photographers looking to create ethereal, high-end portraits with a professional quality, this lens is a must-have. The ability to isolate the subject with a beautifully blurred background and capture intimate, candid moments from a distance makes it an indispensable tool in any photographer’s kit. Despite its high cost, the results you can achieve with this lens make it worth every penny.
Alternative Zoom Lenses for Flexibility
While prime lenses are fantastic for their sharpness, low-light capabilities, and ability to create beautiful bokeh, not everyone prefers the fixed focal length. For those who prefer a little more flexibility, zoom lenses are a great alternative. The Canon 24-70mm lens is one of the most versatile zoom lenses out there, as it covers a wide range of focal lengths—from wide-angle shots at 24mm to portrait shots at 70mm. This makes it an excellent option for family and child photography, as it allows you to adjust your framing quickly without changing lenses. Whether you’re shooting indoors, capturing environmental portraits, or taking traditional family photos, the 24-70mm lens is a reliable all-rounder.
If you’re on a budget but still want the versatility of a zoom lens, the Tamron 28-75mm is a great alternative. It offers a similar focal range to the 24-70mm lens but at a more affordable price point. The Tamron 28-75mm is ideal for beginners or photographers looking to expand their lens collection without making a huge investment.
Another zoom lens that’s great for outdoor portraiture is the 70-200mm lens. This lens allows you to keep a distance from your subject while still achieving stunning, professional-quality portraits. It’s perfect for lifestyle shoots where you want to capture candid moments without interrupting the scene. However, the 70-200mm lens is quite heavy, making it less suitable for long sessions or indoor shoots.
Final Thoughts:
Selecting the right lens for family and child photography isn’t just about picking a piece of equipment—it’s about choosing the right tool to tell a story. The lenses you choose not only impact the technical quality of your images but also influence the emotional tone, the connection between your subject and the environment, and the moments you capture. A great lens helps you transform fleeting moments into timeless memories. Whether it’s a joyful family gathering, a child’s innocent smile, or the little details that make up daily life, the lens you use plays a key role in preserving those moments.
The Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art lens is a fantastic all-rounder. It offers a perfect balance of sharpness, wide aperture, and versatility. The 35mm focal length is wide enough to capture both the subject and the environment, which is essential for lifestyle and documentary photography. If you love documenting real-life moments—whether indoors or outdoors—this lens should be at the top of your list. Its ability to capture more of the scene around your subject helps you create images that feel both intimate and expansive at the same time. It’s the perfect lens for those who want to showcase the essence of everyday family life while still capturing sharp, high-quality images.
The Canon 85mm f/1.8 is a must-have for portrait photographers. This lens allows you to capture beautiful portraits of children and families with stunning bokeh and flattering perspectives. The 85mm focal length is perfect for working with children, as you can maintain a comfortable distance while still creating intimate, emotional portraits. Whether it’s outdoor family portraits or capturing the quiet moments of a child’s expression, the 85mm lens shines. The background blur it creates elevates the subject, isolating them from the surroundings and making the image feel more focused and professional. The price point of this lens also makes it an excellent value for portrait photographers who want a quality lens without breaking the bank.
The Canon 135mm f/2.0 takes things to another level with its creamy bokeh and ability to isolate subjects from their background. This lens is ideal for outdoor portraiture, particularly if you prefer keeping a respectful distance from the subject. The 135mm lens excels at creating that dreamy, ethereal quality that makes your images stand out. It’s perfect for capturing children’s portraits in natural light, where the focus is on the subject while the background gently fades away. While it’s not as versatile indoors due to its longer focal length, the Canon 135mm shines in outdoor settings, offering that professional look that’s difficult to achieve with other lenses.
For those who are drawn to the flexibility of zoom lenses, options like the Canon 24-70mm or the Tamron 28-75mm provide a wide range of focal lengths in one lens, making them perfect for photographers who want to adapt quickly to different shooting scenarios. These zoom lenses are especially useful for family and child photography when you need to transition from wide environmental shots to tighter, more intimate portraits without swapping lenses. The zoom allows you to quickly adjust to varying distances and scenes, making them an excellent option for photographers who prefer flexibility.
The beauty of these lenses is that they can grow with you as a photographer. They’re not just useful for family and child photography—they are versatile enough for many other types of photography, from portraits to events to travel and beyond. Once you invest in these lenses, they become indispensable tools for various photographic styles and situations.
