Should I Wear My Glasses in Holiday Photos? A Pro Photographer's Advice
If you wear glasses every day, they are part of your story—and your family portraits should reflect that. This portrait was carefully lit to minimize reflections while keeping both parents' eyes bright and clearly visible. Small adjustments to the lighting and posing make it possible to create natural-looking portraits without distracting glare, allowing you to look like yourself while preserving every genuine smile.
One of the questions I hear before family portrait sessions in Glendale is surprisingly simple:
"Should I wear my glasses?"
The answer is almost always:
If your glasses are part of who you are, wear them.
Your family knows you with your glasses.
Your children know you with your glasses.
If someone drew a picture of you, they would probably include them.
Your family portraits should reflect the real you.
That said, glasses do create a few technical challenges, which is why it's helpful to discuss them before your session.
The Biggest Challenge Is Glare
Modern eyeglasses often include anti-reflective coatings, but they can still catch reflections from:
studio lights
windows
the sun
overhead lighting
bright backgrounds
Those reflections sometimes hide your eyes completely.
Since our eyes are usually the first thing people look at in a portrait, avoiding glare becomes one of my highest priorities.
Fortunately, professional photographers have several techniques to minimize it.
Why Studio Photography Gives Us More Control
One advantage of a studio session is that the lighting is completely controlled.
Instead of waiting for the sun to move or hoping clouds cooperate, I can adjust:
the position of the lights
the height of the lights
the angle of the lights
your pose
the camera angle
Sometimes moving a light just a few inches removes glare entirely.
Other times, asking you to lower your chin slightly or turn your head a few degrees solves the problem.
Most clients never even notice these small adjustments.
Getting it right in camera almost always produces the best result.
Many of the same techniques that reduce glare also help people look their best in portraits
Can AI or Photoshop Remove Glasses Glare?
Artificial intelligence has made remarkable improvements in photo editing over the last few years. In some cases, it can successfully reduce or even remove minor reflections from eyeglass lenses.
But AI still has limits.
If glare completely covers part of an eye, the camera never recorded those details in the first place. AI has to guess what should be there. Sometimes it gets it right. Other times it creates eyes that look slightly different from one another, changes the shape of an eyelid, or subtly alters a person's natural appearance. The result may seem acceptable at first glance, but it often doesn't quite look like you.
Even traditional Photoshop retouching has the same limitation. If your eye is hidden behind a bright reflection, there simply isn't any real information to recover.
That's why I spend extra time during your session adjusting the lighting, your pose, and even the angle of your glasses before I press the shutter. Capturing your eyes clearly in-camera will almost always produce a more natural portrait than relying on software to recreate details that were never recorded.
As photographers, we're often taught that every minute spent adjusting the lighting before taking the picture can save ten minutes of editing later. More importantly, it preserves authenticity. My goal isn't simply to deliver a beautiful portrait—it's to deliver one that truly looks like you.
I Usually Recommend Taking a Few Without Glasses
Even if you wear your glasses every day, I usually suggest taking one or two portraits without them.
Why?
It gives you options.
Some families prefer the version with glasses.
Others discover they love having one portrait where everyone's eyes are completely unobstructed.
There's no downside to creating both while you're already in front of the camera.
From a technical standpoint, it provides me with a reference photo if what your eyes look like. Then, if glasses glare becomes an issue, I have what I need to remove the glare in post production.
What About Sunglasses or Transition Lenses?
Transition lenses can sometimes darken outdoors even when it doesn't feel especially sunny.
Sunglasses, on the other hand, hide your eyes completely.
For formal family portraits, I generally recommend removing both.
Your eyes tell so much of your story, and they create the emotional connection that makes portraits feel alive.
Of course, I understand that some people want to wear sunglasses. Obviously, you can, but I will advise you to have one or two shots of each pose without them. I do this because over the years, people have come back to me asking if they can remove those sunglasses (what seems cool when you are 15 doesn’t always age well). It is really tough to totally remove sunglasses that yields a believable result.
Should I Buy New Frames Before My Session?
Only if you've already been planning to.
Don't buy new glasses just for family pictures.
The goal isn't to create a different version of yourself.
It's to preserve who you are during this season of life.
If you've worn the same frames for years and everyone recognizes you in them, they're probably exactly the right choice.
Thin Frames or Thick Frames?
Both can photograph beautifully.
Thin metal frames often disappear into the portrait and create a subtle, classic look.
Bold frames become part of your personal style and can add personality and character.
Neither is better.
The most important thing is that they feel authentic to you.
Children and Glasses
Parents often wonder if children should wear their glasses.
My answer is the same.
If your child wears glasses every day at school, while reading, or around friends, I encourage them to wear them during at least part of the session. You will get more natural looking images if kids are themselves.
Years from now, those portraits will remind you exactly who they were at that age.
Many children even feel more confident wearing the glasses they're accustomed to.
Helping children feel comfortable is just as important as getting the technical details right.
Professional Lighting Makes All the Difference
One reason families choose a professional studio is because solving problems like glasses glare is part of the job.
Rather than relying on luck, I carefully adjust the lighting, posing, and camera angle to help every family member look their best.
These small technical decisions often go unnoticed—but they make a tremendous difference in the final portrait.
The Best Advice
Wear your glasses if they represent who you are.
We'll take the time to position the lighting carefully, minimize reflections, and create portraits that feel natural.
Then we'll capture a few images without them as well.
That way you'll have beautiful options—and you'll never wonder whether you made the right choice.
The right clothing and accessories—including your eyewear—help create portraits that feel timeless
Why Families Trust My Glendale Studio
Whether you're wearing glasses or not, every family deserves portraits that feel authentic. During each session, I pay close attention to lighting, posing, and small details like reflections, posture, and expression so you don't have to. Families from Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, La Cañada Flintridge, Montrose, and throughout Los Angeles appreciate knowing they'll receive guidance every step of the way, resulting in portraits that are both flattering and true to who they are.
FAQs
Can photographers remove glasses glare?
Sometimes, but not always. Minor reflections can often be retouched, but if glare completely hides your eyes, those details cannot be recreated. Preventing glare during the session is always the best approach.
Should children wear glasses in family photos?
Yes, if they normally wear them. Your portraits should reflect who your child is at this stage of life.
Are anti-reflective lenses better for portraits?
Yes. Anti-reflective coatings can reduce glare, although careful lighting and posing are still important for the best results.
