No More Miserable Family Photo Sessions!
Did you ever have a rough portrait session with your family? You know the one. The kids are miserable, your husband would rather be cleaning the neglected gutters, and you're not quite sure how this photographer will get a great picture to represent who you are as a family. Somewhere between your toddler screaming for pizza and your oldest pulling his sister's ponytail you wonder how you ever managed to pull together matching outfits.
When the proof gallery shows up on your laptop screen, you rummage through the photos hoping for something usable. You end up choosing one picture – the very first one because as the shots go on you see your smile getting tighter while your youngest gravitates more and more towards a studio-floor tantrum.
Well, documentary family photography is something completely different. It's about spending quality time with your loved ones, without the hassle and the fuss that comes with a traditional portrait session.
Benefits of documentary family photography
1. The pictures will remind you of a slice of your life. Siblings settling down in a corner of the master bed together. You tossing your toddler above your head to make them forget about the toe they hit while passing the coffee table. The encouraging touch you give your pre-schooler when they want to help put together breakfast.
2. Everyone has time to relax and wind down. Just sink into a comfy corner of the couch with your wife, grab your favorite board game to play with your teenagers, or stay in pajamas until noon while making lemon ricotta pancakes.
(Ok, I realize lemon ricotta pancakes can be tricky to have time for when there's kiddos running around. But they can be quite amazing).
3. You can be present with your kids and partner, interacting just like you would normally do. Whether you're an active parent who wants to drive everyone to the beach, or who wants a laid back day serving lemonade out on the patio while the kids finger paint – those little moments with your kiddos are what they will remember looking at the pictures.
4. Documentary family photos are a great way to show your kid that their personality, imagination, and the part they play in the family matters. This is a huge boost for their self-esteem, especially when these types of pictures are printed and showcased in the home.
5. Your son poking around in the pancake batter while you turn your back to get some more flour, your baby licking the family dog's muzzle – what happens behind your back will not be a mystery anymore.
6. Deep belly laughs, earth-shattering tantrums, quiet thoughtful moments, good-for-soul bedtime story snuggles – documentary family photographers capture real moments as they happen without alteration or posing.