Family Picture Style Trends From the 1980s to Now
What makes a family picture feel like it was taken 30 years ago? Or 10 years ago? Is it just the clothing and the hairstyles that make it seem to fit in a certain era? Or is it something more?
Just as with clothing and hair styles, family pictures themselves - the way they are taken, posed, and processed - have changed throughout the years. Here's a look at some of the major trends from the past several decades in the US. Of course there are always going to be examples of families and photographers out there that were behind or ahead of their time, but when you group family portraits by date and look at how they change through the years it is fascinating to see how they evolve. Take a look and see if pictures of your own family would fit in with the trends. Two of the pictures are of my family - see if you can find me!
All images (except my own) are courtesy of the creative commons license or stock photos; hover over the images (or tap if you are on a mobile device) to see their sources and attribution.
The 1980s
Ah, the 80s. Like the decades before it, a common place for family portraits in the 80s was in a photographer's studio with controlled lighting and formal posing. Studio backdrops were popular, especially patterned designs and matching clothing was as cool as Cabbage Patch Kids. The late 70s and early 80s also brought us the much-parodied "floating head" pictures where an additional family member's head is superimposed onto an image of the remaining family members.
The 1990s
In the 90s, family trips to Sears (or another photo studio) to get a formal portrait were still a popular option for family pictures. We do see the beginning of a trend toward more casual photos in the 90s though, with outdoor settings becoming more popular - especially the beach or other scenic locations. Clothing was often still matching, but the clothing choices were less formal than the 80s. Denim was a very popular choice. The posing in family pictures was still highly directed by the photographer but was also slightly more relaxed than in the 1980s.
The 2000s
With the rise of digital cameras, photography started to become even more accessible in this decade and there was a more DIY approach to family pictures. Studios shots were still common but many families opted for more candid, outdoor pictures or pictures in their own homes. The trend toward less formal portraits that had begun in the 90s continued to grow in the following decade. Clothing continued on a casual trend and was often coordinated by color instead of everyone wearing the exact same outfits. Neutral colors were especially popular. The beginnings of lifestyle photography can be seen, with families adding props to try to tell more about themselves in their pictures. Families also often oped for more casual poses, like human pyramids or piled on top of each other, to show more character than formal seated poses. Black and white also started to come back in favor. With digital photos comes digital editing and Photoshop effects, such as borders, text and selective color (where an image is black and white with just a selective part in color.) became very popular.
The 2010s
By the end of the 2010s there were many, many options for family pictures. Outdoor settings with natural light (especially golden hour) at places such as parks or beaches were very popular. Studio photos still remained a strong option for many photographers and families. Urban areas became a more common destination for family pictures and minimal backgrounds, such as a plain wall, gained popularity. With the rise of Pinterest boards, coordinated outfits and color combinations became a focus of many family pictures. Creative and artistic shots, such as unique angles and silhouettes, also started to appear more in family pictures in this time. The use of extremely wide aperture settings to create out of focus (or obliterated) backgrounds grew in popularity and use.
Lifestyle photography was a popular option, with families opting for posed candid shots that showed more of their personalities and interests. Documentary family photography also started to become increasingly common as photographers begin to specialize in a photojournalistic approach to family pictures to capture authentic moments.
The continual growth and expansion of digital pictures meant more and more emphasis on the editing process after a shoot as well. Light and airy editing, where the photographer makes use of flat light and edits with desaturated colors, low contrast and bright exposure, became very popular. Earthy brown tones also become a popular editing technique, as well as post production sun flares and other effects to add more drama to images.
2020 - Today
2020s
Today family picture styles are a continuation of the style explosion of the 2010s. Outdoor settings and natural light remain the most popular options for family pictures, with locations getting more and more extreme as people look for something to stand out on social media. Non-natural image post-processing remains popular, with colors often being manipulated to convey a certain mood or to give a feel of professionalism. However there is also a movement towards more natural editing. Lifestyle and documentary images are increasingly popular as families try to showcase their personalities in their family pictures. With so many options for locations, editing styles and approaches to a family portrait session, there has never been an easier time to find exactly the style of family pictures that is right for your family.
If you are interested in a no-pose, natural approach to family pictures that can preserve memories and has an authenticity that lifestyle photos lack, click here to learn more about why documentary family photography is for you.
Cover Image: The kids never understand it's not actually a race! by Ryan G. Smith is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
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