If you’ve been thinking about updating your family portraits, 2026 is a pretty fun year to do it. Why? Because family photography is getting a whole lot less “Everyone stand perfectly still, tilt your head slightly and SMILE!” and a whole lot more you. This year’s family portrait trends are artistic, relaxed, emotional, a little nostalgic and my personal favorite, full of personality. So, what’s happening in family photography right now? Let’s get into it.
1. Candid Is Having a BIG Moment
One of the biggest family photography trends in 2026 is capturing moments instead of manufacturing them. That means laughing. Walking. Snuggling. Kids being ridiculous. Parents looking at their kids instead of the camera. Someone inevitably wandering away from where I put them. And yes, we’ll still get that beautiful portrait where everyone is looking at the camera. Grandma needs one, and honestly, so do I. But the photographs that often become favorites are the ones that happen in between. The little look. The giant belly laugh. The kid who suddenly launches themselves onto Dad. Those photographs actually feel like your family, and that is exactly what people are looking for right now.
2. Artistic Portraits Are Back
Family portraits don't have to look like traditional family portraits. One of the trends I’m loving is seeing photography become more artistic and intentional. Interesting lighting, dramatic compositions, creative angles, movement and images that feel almost cinematic are becoming part of the family portrait experience. Think less school-picture-day-with-the-whole-family and more, Could I hang this enormous photograph over my couch and call it art? Yes. Yes, you can. Because your family is the artwork.
3. Movement, Movement, Movement
Standing perfectly still isn't required anymore. Families are walking, running, dancing, swinging kids, cuddling, playing and interacting during their sessions. Movement does something wonderful, it gives you something to do besides wondering, “What am I supposed to do with my hands?” It also creates photographs with personality. If your kids have energy, fantastic. We can use it. If your toddler has absolutely no intention of following our carefully constructed plan...also fantastic. Sometimes chaos photographs beautifully.
4. The Editorial Look
Another trend showing up in 2026 is a slightly more editorial approach to family portraits. These images feel polished and thoughtfully created, almost like something you'd see in a magazine, but they still feel warm and personal. This is where lighting, location, composition and wardrobe can really come together. And you don't need to be a model to pull it off.
That's my job. Your job is mostly to show up, love your people and occasionally listen when I say, “Okay, everybody look over here!”
5. Coordinating Instead of Matching
Remember when everybody wore the same white shirt and jeans? We survived. We're moving on. Family wardrobe trends continue to lean toward coordinating rather than matching. Think colors and textures that work beautifully together without everyone looking like they were issued a family uniform. Layers, interesting textures, complementary colors and outfits that actually feel like the person wearing them can add so much depth to a photograph. Most importantly, you should still look like you.
6. A Little Bit of Nostalgia
There's also something wonderfully nostalgic happening in photography right now. People are drawn to photographs that feel like memories, not necessarily perfectly crisp, perfectly posed, perfectly polished images. Black and white photography, grain, movement, slightly imperfect moments and film-inspired looks are all helping create that feeling. It's funny: our cameras and technology are better than they've ever been, and we're using them to create photographs that feel a little more like the ones we grew up looking through in old family albums. I kind of love that.
7. Meaningful Locations Are Winning
A gorgeous location is wonderful, but a meaningful location can be even better. Maybe it's your family property. Your favorite park. Your backyard. A trail you walk together. Downtown where your kids grew up. Or simply somewhere that feels like your family. The location doesn't always have to be epic. Sometimes the story attached to the place is what makes the photograph important.
8. Photos Are Getting Off the Phone Again
This might be my favorite trend of all! Families are thinking beyond digital galleries and social media and considering how their portraits will actually live in their homes. Albums. Framed photographs. Wall collections. Canvases. Metal prints. Beautiful statement pieces. Because while having 37,000 photos on your phone is technically a photo collection, it's not quite the same as walking past a photograph of your family every morning. I'm a huge believer that photographs deserve to be seen. Your kids should see themselves on your walls. Your family history should exist somewhere other than a camera roll. And someday, those printed photographs become the things your children and grandchildren hold in their hands.
So, What's the Biggest Family Photography Trend of 2026?
Being yourself. Seriously. The biggest shift I'm seeing isn't really one specific pose, editing style, outfit or location. It's families wanting photographs that feel genuine. Beautiful, yes. Artistic, absolutely. But also real. I want the photograph where everyone looks amazing and the photograph where your child is laughing so hard they can't keep their eyes open. I want the beautiful wall portrait and the ridiculous little moment that instantly reminds you exactly what this stage of life felt like. Trends will come and go. But connection never really goes out of style. And if we can create something beautiful enough to hang on your wall while we're capturing it? Even better.
