The Best Lens For Family Portraits

The best Lens for family portraits will typically have a focal length of around 50mm to 85mm. This range of focal length is considered a “normal” range and is effective for capturing a natural-looking field of view that’s similar to what the human eye can see.

This range of focal lengths will allow you to capture full body shots while also providing some compression to flatter facial features.

Additionally, a lens with a wide aperture, such as f/1.8 or f/2.8, can help to produce a shallow depth of field which can be used to separate the subjects from the background and draw attention to the faces.

So now you know what the typical Family portrait lens is, I’m going to recommend a lens that deviates from the advice I have just given! 

My choice Of Lens for Family Portraits

My choice for the ultimate lens for family portraiture is a 70-200 zoom lens.

The camera I am currently using, a Canon R5, means the Canon RF 70-200 2.8 lens is my go to choice for family portraits.

My Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L
My go-to lens for all my family portrait sessions, a Canon RF 70-200 F/2.8 Lens

So why am I recommending a 70 to 200 zoom lens instead of an 85mm prime lens for example?

Versatility. 

This lens gives me many more options for creating different shots in one photo session without needing to use multiple lenses.

One of the biggest benefits of having access to a longer focal length is a more pronounced increase in separation of the subjects from the background. 

portrait of a boy, taken with a canon 70-200 lens
Taken with my Canon RF 70-200 2.8 lens

This happens because a longer focal length lens has a narrower field of view and a greater magnification, which makes the foreground subjects appear larger and more prominent in the frame, while the background appears more compressed. 

Additionally, the longer focal length lens generally means the background is rendered more out of focus, which further increases the separation of the subject from the background, with this the effect is enhanced as the aperture gets wider.

This is why I like to have available a longer focal length lens for my Family Portrait images. 

However, the downside is that longer lenses are also heavier, more expensive and harder to keep steady. The choice is yours!

Alternatively, there are a multitude of good quality alternative lenses for family portraiture and I have listed my recommendations below. 

Table Of Contents

Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS

Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R

Tips on how to take great family photos

5 Best Lenses For Family Portraits

Each review includes a TL;DR list of pros and cons to give you a quick to read overview of each Lens.

The Canon RF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

The Canon RF 70-200mm F/2.8L is a high-quality lens that is well-suited for family portraiture as well as other types of photography.

As a professional photographer, I immediately switched to the Canon mirrorless system upon its release and have since bought every RF L lens that I needed.

After I bought my mirrorless camera I tried my adapted EF lens on the RF mount which gave me an idea of what to expect from the new RF 2.8 70-200mm lens, and I must say that it dominates the EF lens counterparts by miles.

The bokeh is stunning, whether shooting in day or night, landscape or portrait. It’s well-balanced and about half the size of the older EF 2.8, making it a massive time and space saver. I could go on and on about the colors, clarity, and quality of the photos it produces, but I’ll simply say that it’s worth every penny.

portrait of a couple, taken with a canon 70-200 len
Taken with my RF Canon 70-200 Lens

I’ve used the previous (SLR) 70-200 EF mount lens for a few years and I must say that the RF lenses are much faster with focusing. Once you start converting everything over to mirrorless, you won’t want to go back.

The build quality of the lens is top class, and it feels good and not too heavy in hand. Performance-wise, it’s superb, producing sharp, vibrant, and contrasty photos. The IS feature is also fantastic when needed. Overall, one cannot ask for more in a lens that Canon has already packed in.

As far as criticisms go, the throw from 70 to 200 is a bit long and stiffer than the EF version, and I don’t prefer the telescoping zoom, although it does make the lens a little smaller which is a help. 

I do wish the throw of the zoom adjustment wasn’t so large, but it’s not a deal breaker..

This is my go-to lens for family portraits, the lighter weight of this lens alone is worth it.

  • Pros:
    • Light weight of the lens allows for longer periods of shooting without rest
    • Bokeh is stunning in all shooting conditions
    • Well-balanced and about half the size of older EF 2.8, saving space and time
    • Faster focusing than EF counterparts
    • Top-class build quality, feels good and not too heavy in hand
    • Sharp, vibrant, and contrasty photos with IS feature
    • Much sharper and better contrast than EF lens at 200mm
  • Cons:
    • Long and stiff telescoping throw from 70 to 200mm
    • Some reviewers saw no noticeable difference in image quality compared to EF lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 is a great budget-friendly option that provides a natural-looking field of view and a wide aperture of f/1.8, which can produce a shallow depth of field, perfect for family portraits.

If you’re a beginner photographer looking for a versatile and affordable lens to always have in your kit, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens might be the perfect option for you.

One thing that stands out about this lens is its portability. It’s incredibly light and easy to carry around, making it a great option for outdoor or any situation where you don’t want to lug around heavier gear. But don’t let its small size fool you – the sharpness and clarity of the images produced by this lens is great, even in low light situations.

Another thing that you will appreciate about this lens is its ability to produce beautiful bokeh, or the soft and blurred background that can help your subject stand out. This is thanks to the fast aperture of f/1.8, which also allows for more light to enter the lens and therefore better performance in low light situations.

The lens can be a bit noisy when focusing, which might not be ideal for videographers.

However, overall the lens is excellent value for money and gives great results at an affordable price point.

In summary, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens is a great option for anyone looking for a versatile and affordable lens that can produce sharp, clear images with beautiful bokeh. It’s especially ideal for beginners who want a reliable lens that won’t break the bank. Highly recommended!

A 50mm prime lens is also suitable for newborn photography, making this lens quite versatile.

This lens fits all Canon EOS cameras.

  • Pros:
    • Budget-friendly
    • Wide aperture of f/1.8 produces shallow depth of field
    • Smooth autofocus
    • Lightweight and compact
    • Good for low light situations
    • Suitable for full-body and head-and-shoulder portraits
  • Cons:
    • Not a zoom lens
    • Not weather sealed

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

If you’re looking for a high-quality, affordable lens for family portraiture work, look no further than the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G lens. This lens is lightweight and compact, making it easy to take with you wherever you go, and it boasts gorgeous image quality with sharpness that extends all the way out to the corners of the frame.

The contrast and color depth are excellent, and the autofocus is snappy and accurate. You can use this lens for portraiture and landscape work, and the bokeh it produces at f2.8 is beautifully smooth and creamy. At wide open, the contrast is average, but the sharpness is good, and stopping down the lens improves the image quality greatly.

In terms of contrast and saturation, you might need to apply a bit more post-processing to the images from this lens compared to other f/1.8 primes, but the results are well worth the effort.
The focus is accurate, although it can be a little slow to move from minimum to maximum. However, in smaller increments, it shows little to no issue. And if you value a good price over ultimate performance, you’ll be pleased with this lens.

For family portrait photography, this lens is unbeatable for the price. It produces beautiful background bokeh and razor-sharp eyes and facial features with smooth skin complexion. It’s also an excellent short telephoto lens for general photography. The image quality of this 1.8 lens nearly matches the f1.4 version.

Overall, I’m sure you will be happy with this lens and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a professional-quality portrait lens that won’t break the bank. With this lens in your camera bag, you’ll be able to capture stunning portraits with razor-sharp focus and gorgeous background bokeh.

  • Pros:
    • Wide aperture of f/1.8 produces shallow depth of field
    • Good for low light situations
    • Suitable for full-body and head-and-shoulder portraits
    • Silent Wave Motor (SWM) for fast and quiet autofocus
  • Cons:
    • Not a zoom lens
    • Not weather sealed
    • Slightly more expensive than the 50mm lens

Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS is a lens that has received a lot of positive feedback from photographers who have used it. This lens is lightweight and has a strong build, making it easy to carry around all day.

The Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS is a lens that has received a lot of positive feedback from photographers who have used it. This lens is lightweight and has a strong build, making it easy to carry around all day.

The focus and zoom rings feel smooth and glide effortlessly, making it easy to use.
One of the standout features of this lens is its excellent image quality. The images taken with this lens are sharp, and the resolution is impressive, with good contrast and colors. Even at f/4, the lens has good bokeh and is perfect for family portraiture shots.

The internal zoom mechanism is another impressive feature of this lens, which keeps the barrel length the same at all focal lengths, making it easy to carry and handle. The stabilizing system is also great, and it allows for sharp images even when hand holding the lens.

The fact that this lens is lighter and smaller than the f/2.8 model makes it easy to use and carry around all day. The aperture at f/4 is more than adequate for daylight work, and the price point is more accessible than the f/2.8 model. The autofocus is fast and spot-on, and the photos taken with this lens are beautiful and of high quality.

Overall, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS is an excellent lens, and the feedback from photographers who have used it is overwhelmingly positive. The combination of its light weight, image quality, and ease of use make it a great choice for photographers looking for a reliable, high-quality lens.

  • Pros:
    • Versatile zoom lens with 70-200mm focal range
    • Wide aperture of f/4 suitable for producing a shallow depth of field
    • Image stabilization (OSS)
    • Dust and moisture-resistant design
    • Fluorine coating on the front element to protect from smudges and scratches
  • Cons:
    • Not as fast as f/2.8 zoom lens, this might be an issue in low light
    • Slightly more expensive than the 85mm lens

Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R

The Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is a game-changer for family portrait photographers using Fujifilm camera systems. It is a versatile lens that can produce high-quality images in various settings. The bokeh produced by this lens is nothing short of gorgeous. The lens is very sharp even when stopped down one stop.

One of the downsides of the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is that it is not weather-resistant. This is a significant drawback, especially for photographers who work in urban and lifestyle photography. It means the lens cannot function on a rainy or snowy day, which could limit the photographer’s options.

Despite this shortcoming, the lens still has several upsides that make it worth considering. The resolution and detail of the images produced by the lens are amazing. The lens is also quite versatile, making it suitable for both portrait and landscape/urban photography. Its aperture range is impressive, making it functional in low-light conditions.

There have been some concerns about the autofocus system of this lens, but they should not discourage anyone from getting it. The sharpness of the images produced by the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is simply amazing. It is a lens that has real character and produces dreamy, high-quality images.

The lens is well-built and has a rock-solid feel to it. It is not too heavy, and the aperture focus ring is a nice feature that sets it apart. The lens produces outstanding color rendition and, last but not least, stunning bokeh. It is a staple lens that every FujiFilm X System owner should consider having in their kit.

Overall, the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is an excellent lens that produces banger portraits. Despite its lack of weather resistance, it is a lens that is worth having in your kit. The sharpness, bokeh, and versatility of the lens make it an essential tool for any portrait photographer. If you’re looking for a lens that produces high-quality images with real character, the Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R lens is a lens worth considering.

Be sure to check the compatibility of the lens with your camera, and if you have any doubts you can always check the lens specifications before purchasing.

  • Pros:
    • Wide aperture of f/1.2 produces very shallow depth of field and great bokeh
    • Fast and accurate autofocus
    • Dust and moisture-resistant design
  • Cons:
    • Not a zoom lens
    • Not weather sealed
    • Expensive compared to the other lenses

Tips on how to take great family photos:

1, Plan ahead: Before the photoshoot, think about the location, the time of day, and the clothing that the family members will wear. This will help you to be prepared and make the most of the time you have.

2, Use natural light: When possible, use natural light instead of flash. Natural light will provide a more natural-looking image and will help to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

3, Choose the right lens: For family portraits, a lens with a focal length of around 50mm to 85mm is typically a good choice, as it provides a natural-looking field of view and allows you to capture full body shots while also providing some compression to flatter facial features.

4, Pose your subjects: To create a balanced composition, you can try to arrange your subjects in a triangle formation. This means positioning the tallest person on one side, the shortest person on the other, and then placing the others in between.

5, Give directions: Give your subjects clear instructions on where to stand and how to pose. For example, you can ask them to look at the camera, to put their arm around a family member, or to look at each other.

6, Get at their level: Instead of shooting down on your subjects, try to get at their level. This can be achieved by crouching down or using a low camera angle.

7, Capture candid moments: While it’s important to have formal poses, it’s also a good idea to capture candid moments as well. These spontaneous shots can be a great way to capture the family’s personalities and emotions.

8, Take multiple shots: When photographing family members, it’s important to take multiple shots. This is because children and adults may move or blink, so it’s important to have a few options to choose from.

9, Don’t forget to have fun: Remember to enjoy the process and keep things light. Make the experience fun for everyone involved, and the results will show in the final photographs.

Lastly, always make sure you adjust your settings accordingly to the light and surroundings and take a test shot before you start the real shoot. It’s also a good idea to bring a tripod or a camera stabilizer to have a steady shot.