Understanding Camera Lenses: Which One Is Best for Your Family & Newborn Photography Session?

By Elizabeth Lang Photography | Serving Surrey & Vancouver Families

As a family and newborn photographer based in Surrey, near Vancouver, I know that selecting the right lens for your photography session can make all the difference in capturing the perfect moments. Whether it's those adorable newborn yawns or candid family laughs, your lens plays a significant role in the clarity, feel, and emotion of the images. In this post, I’m going to break down the different types of camera lenses and how each one is best suited for your family and newborn photography sessions.

1. Standard Prime Lens (50mm f/1.8 or f/1.2)

Best For: Portraits, Close-Up Shots, and Environmental Family Photos

The 50mm f/1.8 lens is often called the “nifty fifty,” and for good reason. This lens is incredibly versatile, ideal for portrait photography, and great for capturing clear, intimate details in family and newborn sessions. This is my favourite go to lens for everything! I own the cheap Canon prime and the 1.2 and both are great!

Why it’s great:

  • Sharpness & Clarity: Known for its sharp focus, this lens helps capture crisp, beautiful details of both newborns and family members.
  • Low Light Performance: With its wide aperture (f/1.8), it allows more light into the camera, making it perfect for shooting in natural light without the need for a flash.
  • Background Blur (Bokeh): The wide aperture also produces a beautiful blurred background, making your subject (especially babies or children) stand out sharply against a soft, dreamy backdrop.

When to use:

  • Close-up shots of newborns sleeping in baskets or blankets
  • Portraits of families or individual children, especially in natural light settings
  • Candid moments during family sessions
  • For newborn photos you need to back away further than you can reach so you need a spotter!

2. Zoom Lens (24-70mm f/2.8)

Best For: Versatile, On-the-Go Family Sessions and Group Photos

The 24-70mm lens is a workhorse in professional photography. As a zoom lens, it gives you the flexibility to change focal lengths without needing to switch lenses. It’s perfect for a variety of family settings and newborn sessions, where you want both wide shots and close-ups without interrupting the flow of the session. This was my wedding favourite and is wonderful in studio too.

Why it’s great:

  • Versatility: From wide-angle shots (24mm) to tighter portraits (70mm), this lens covers it all, making it ideal for family photo shoots where you need flexibility.
  • Great for Group Photos: Whether you’re photographing just the parents and their baby or the entire extended family, this lens can adapt to capture everyone in frame with beautiful clarity.
  • Low Light Capability: Like the 50mm, it has a wide aperture (f/2.8), making it perfect for indoor sessions without flash.

When to use:

  • Capturing family portraits with multiple people, especially in smaller spaces
  • Group shots during family events or celebrations
  • Wide-angle shots of your family at a park or in a home setting

3. Wide-Angle Lens (35mm f/1.8)

Best For: Environmental Portraits, Creative Framing, and Room Shots

If you’re looking to capture environmental portraits or want to photograph your newborn in a larger setting, a wide-angle lens like the 35mm f/1.8 is a fantastic option. This lens allows you to capture more of the scene around your subject, creating beautiful compositions in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Why it’s great:

  • Larger Scene: Perfect for family photos in wide-open spaces, such as capturing your entire family in a natural, outdoor setting like a park near Vancouver.
  • Creative Framing: Great for adding context to your portraits by incorporating surroundings into your shots—think of those gorgeous shots of your newborn in a cozy nursery or the family enjoying time in a park.
  • Professional Look: A wide aperture creates beautiful depth of field, making your subjects pop even in busy environments.
  • Small Rooms: This lens is great for lifestyle shots and working in small studio spaces.
  • Close focusing distance: because you can shoot close to your subject this lens is idea for newborn photographers who are working without an assistant. You can keep one hand on baby and hold the camera at the same time.

When to use:

  • Full family photos in a scenic location or room, like a nursery or living room
  • Environmental portraits of newborns surrounded by their home or family
  • Shots that incorporate scenery, such as family walks in the park

4. Macro Lens (100mm f/2.8)

Best For: Capturing Fine Details in Newborn Photography

The macro lens is all about capturing close-up details with incredible clarity and precision. In newborn photography, it’s invaluable for taking close-up shots of tiny features, like a newborn’s hands, feet, or eyelashes. For parents, these tiny details often hold so much meaning, and the macro lens helps bring them into sharp focus. This was also a staple lens for wedding to photograph the rings.

Why it’s great:

  • Super Sharp Details: Macro lenses are known for their ability to capture the tiniest details in extreme close-up shots.
  • Non-Distracting Bokeh: The blurred background makes your baby’s features the main focus without distractions.
  • Perfect for Baby Details: Ideal for those precious moments, like tiny fingers grasping a parent’s hand or the soft curls of a newborn’s head.

When to use:

  • Close-up shots of newborn features (hands, feet, eyes, eyelashes)
  • Capturing family heirlooms or newborn props in intricate detail
  • Detailed shots of family jewelry, such as wedding rings or necklaces worn by parents

5. Telephoto Lens (85mm f/1.4)

Best For: Outdoor Family Portraits, Candid Shots, and Soft, Dreamy Backgrounds

An 85mm f/1.4 telephoto lens is an excellent choice for portraits, particularly when you want a flattering, compression effect. It allows you to maintain distance from your subject while still producing beautiful close-up portraits, which is ideal for capturing genuine, unposed family moments or newborn portraits.

Why it’s great:

  • Flattering Portraits: The 85mm lens is fantastic for creating soft, flattering portraits, especially for newborns and children.
  • Incredible Background Blur: The wide f/1.4 aperture creates a stunning background blur, ensuring the subject stands out in a dreamy, soft-focus environment.
  • Compression for Natural Poses: The longer focal length allows you to step back and capture your family in a more relaxed, candid way without intruding.

When to use:

  • Capturing intimate family moments, like a mother holding her newborn or a playful family embrace
  • Outdoor portraits, particularly with beautiful blurred backgrounds in parks or gardens
  • Relaxed, unposed family shots that highlight genuine emotion
  • When you have space to back up far from your subject.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right lens is essential to ensuring your family and newborn photography session goes smoothly and results in beautiful, timeless images. Whether you’re in Surrey, Vancouver, or anywhere nearby, I’m here to guide you through every step of the process. At Elizabeth Lang Photography, I work with a variety of lenses to ensure each session is tailored to your vision and needs—whether you want soft and intimate portraits, wide environmental shots, or close-up details of your newborn’s tiny features.

I’d love to capture your family’s special moments and create memories you can cherish forever. Reach out to schedule your session today!


YOUR NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION WITH ELIZABETH LANG PHOTOGRAPHY