What IS Lifestyle Photography, anyway?
What IS Lifestyle Photography, anyway?
Should families be posed in their pictures?
And the case for Documentary Photography.
All this and more in
Family Photography Demystified.
Look on, Gentle Reader. . .
POV: You want professional family photos. You ready your Googling fingers and are quickly bombarded with an onslaught of shiny happy people holding hands.
How on earth do you choose the photographer best suited for your family?
One factor to consider - which genre of family photos works best with your intention for your pictures, your family dynamic and logistic capability?
At risk of being reductive, there are generally three approaches to family photography: Posed, Lifestyle and Documentary.
These genres can bleed into one another and include aesthetics that draw from other types of photography, such as commercial, fashion, fine art, and so on.
No one type of photography is better than another. They are just different.
All three can be gorgeous and rewarding. (Likewise, all three can be crappy, depending on your photographer, but that’s a whole other post.)
Posed Photography - “I’m not a control freak. But you’re doing it wrong.”
Posed portraiture is the most traditional approach to family photography. Here the photographer has control over the environment and placement of her subjects.
It can happen in a studio or not. It can happen with elaborate lighting set-ups or natural light. The subjects may be prepped in particular outfits, hair styles, make-up, etc. Or not.
The photographer thoughtfully places her subjects in relation to the environment and light and offers either gentle prompts (e.g. whisper in mom’s ear) or explicit instructions (e.g. move your hand to your hip and bring the chin down a bit) to elicit the expression she wants. Of course, there’s tons of variety, but usually this results in photos of happy face where most or all subjects are looking directly at the camera.
This is the Tell Me What To Do session.
2. Lifestyle Photography - "Gentle persuasion succeeds where force fails.”
These are the catalog photos. If your family were in the latest issue of Pottery Barn, REI, or even a Whirlpool catalog, they would be in a lifestyle photo. This type of photography is the one most often used for marketing purposes in western culture. And why wouldn’t it be?
Sessions are scheduled during times of day which will take advantage of stunning light. Generally, the setting is someplace beautiful outdoors, though there are plenty of in-home lifestyle sessions, with distractions moved out the frame when necessary.
As with posed photography, often families plan their outfits and hairstyles, etc. With both portrait and lifestyle photography a styled shoot might include a professional hairstylist and/or make-up artist.
In lifestyle sessions, the photographer prompts and guides the subjects to generate smiles and laughs, but the guidance is more relaxed and fluid. This results in (sometimes) authentic interactions between family members, who are mostly looking happy with beautiful, often golden, light.
This is the Tell Me What to Do Without Telling Me What To Do session.
3. Documentary Photography - “Embrace the madness.”
This is photojournalism (sort of) of your family. Families do what it is that they do and the photographer tags along documenting what’s in front of her. These sessions can happen at any time of day in any location or a variety of locations depending on the family’s schedule.
There is no preparation needed, though many families might still choose their favorite clothes to wear or give an extra something to their hair on the day of the session.
Unlike the other two genres of photography, most of the time during the session photos are NOT actively being taken. The photographer is interacting with the family, observing dynamics, assessing lighting and composition, so when an interesting moment presents itself she is ready to snag it. When it’s all said and done the pictures from the session represent memories of real-life moments. Which is the number one reason I prefer to use this approach when photographing.
There is no posing, scripting, prompting, bribing or nudging. Photographers who are following the rules of photojournalism (which isn’t necessary for family photos, but some enjoy the challenge) will not ask their subjects to move or repeat an action, nor will they alter anything in the environment. The goal of the pictures is not to produce evenly lit, smiling faces. It’s to show what life is like for that family at that time - including struggles and messes, along with kisses and belly laughs.
This is the You’re Not the Boss of Me session.
One added note. . .
A “portrait” is merely a picture of a person. Photographers who call themselves portrait photographers or who specialize in portraiture generally fall into the Posed and Lifestyle categories. However, documentary photographers make portraits too. Some are found portraits which are made within the course of documenting the family. Some are environmental portraits in which the environment is meant to add information about the subject.
And some environmental portraits are even, yes, dare I say, directed in that the photographer might ask directly or lead the subject to look at the camera.
“But, Christine, you just said no directing!” I know. This is an exception. It’s like the English language. You have to know the rules, follow the rules, and then you break the rules. A little bit.
There you have it. Family photography. Clear as mud now, right?!
Feel free to ask my any question about family photography (or any photography) any time. I LOVE talking about it. Just ask my kids (who will promptly roll their eyes).