Over the years I’ve heard a lot of excuses about why people choose not to book a documentary family session. If you’re someone who keeps putting off a shoot, or you feel like you’re on the fence about a session, this post is for you.
What Is Family Documentary Photography and What Makes It Different Than Lifestyle Photography?
Lifestyle photography often gets confused with documentary photography, and vice versa, and it is easy to understand why. Both focus on photographing individuals and families to capture real-life events or milestones artistically.
Even though lifestyle photographers say they are capturing real life and creating memories, they are still directing you to make those memories happen. They are making suggestions on what you should do and what to wear and where the shoot should take place, and at what time.
Documentary family photography focuses more on storytelling and telling your family’s individual life story. The photographer will not choose the location or move things around. There will be no posing, no direction. There will be no one telling you to smile and look at the camera and to stand together and look at each other!
As a result, the final images depict families in an intimate setting that is only for you.
Family Photography Shouldn’t be Stressful
A lifestyle photography session in a sunlit field is beautiful and will produce some pretty amazing images. However, they have so many moving parts that play into their success. Everything from selecting the right outfits to the lighting, the weather, to how well the kids behave have to work together to make that final image happen.
Family documentary sessions eliminate all of that because they throw all that stress out the window. Documentary family photography can take place anywhere, at any time of day, and in any light. If it is raining outside there is no need to reschedule. Let’s grab the umbrellas and jump in some puddles. Need to do a Target run or take the kids to soccer practice? No worries, I will tag along and document everything!
Documentary family sessions are about letting go of the perfect and letting kids be kids, letting dad relax and do his thing, and letting mom just sit back and enjoy the experience.
Get Mom in the Picture
For me, getting mom in front of the camera is one of the most important parts of documentary family photography. It doesn’t matter if you think you’re too boring, too fat, too skinny, too old, too busy, too tired, too short, too angry, too depressed, too frustrated, too overwhelmed, too insecure, too WHATEVER to be in any pictures. These photographs are not just for you, but for your kids to be able to look back years down the road and not only see themselves they want to see YOU and the connection that shared.
Think of Your Home as a Supporting Character
Your home is part of your story and deserves to share some of the spotlights. It doesn't matter if you think your house is too small, or too big, or too dark. You’ve made it your own over the years, and everything inside helps tell the story of where your family is at this point.
Your home is where your children took their first steps, where the notches in the wood paneling show just how much they have grown. It’s the cookies backing in your oven that were grandmas favorite recipe.
Your home is fine the way it is, and it’s where your family is most comfortable. Leave the mess.
If there is another location that is equally meaningful to you - a local playground, a park, your favorite restaurant - we can go there, too!
The Real You
Documentary family photographs tell a story about who you are in this moment and show you not just what you looked like, but also just how much you loved and were loved. They show the places you went and the joy you shared on this journey of everyday life.
Documentary family photographers spend more time with you than lifestyle photographers because they need to get to know you and develop trust so that you can let down your barriers and let that person see who you are.
Because I have the opportunity to spend a whole day with the families I photograph, everyone is comfortable being themselves. It is during these everyday moments that your personalities truly appear and is possible to capture unique expressions. It is also when the most genuine gestures of affection happen.
Every Family Has a Different Story
Don’t get me wrong, lifestyle photography is stunning and everyone looks gorgeous with the flowing dresses, stunning locations, and beautiful golden hour lighting flooding over them - but every image looks the same. It doesn’t matter who the photographer is or who the family is, they all capture the same look and feel in each image.
There are different ways to tell your story. Whether you are welcoming a new member to the family, about to move into a new home, and want to capture some memories in your current one. The grandparents are visiting for the first time in two years! Your family has a story to tell, and it can be preserved through a documentary session.
If you want to give a family documentary session a try, or if you have any questions about these types of sessions, please drop me a line - I'd love to continue the conversation.