Documentary family photography is a subject especially close to my heart. This genre is about making photographs that go far beyond the snapshots that you could take yourself and putting you in the frame instead of behind the camera, so that you can get on with being in the moment with your family. Documentary family photography is still fairly new but is seeing huge growth in popularity, so there are some things that you should know about working with a documentary photographer.
What Is Documentary Family Photography All About?
It’s the job of a documentary family photographer to:
Abide by Ethics
There’s a code of ethics that documentary family photographers adhere to. When you’re in a documentary family session, there will be zero interference in your family’s activity from your photographer. When I’m with a family, I happily interact and chat throughout the session, but I don’t turn on (or off) lights, move things, direct people or edit things out of photos. If you meet a “storytelling” photographer, it’s likely that they aren’t following that same code and will include some direction in your session. That’s neither a good thing nor a bad thing, but it’s a difference between which it’s important to distinguish because it may affect how you prepare for or move through your session.
This topic is perhaps the most disputed and discussed amongst photographers. “Lifestyle” is another type of storytelling photography and sometimes the two genres get mixed up, mixed together, or generally cause confusion. If you want some clarification, hit up this post that explains the difference so that you can decide what’s right for you. If you hire a documentary photographer but actually want a lifestyle session, no one is going to walk away feeling happy about how the session went, so it’s best to understand what you’re getting into.
Tell Families’ Stories
Documentary family photography is going to tell your family’s story in a way that a portrait session will never be able to. That’s what makes these sessions so meaningful. These sessions are all about keeping it real, letting your family do their own thing, and showing what that looks like. Documentary photographers are constantly striving to tell an entire story – action and reaction – in a single frame. It’s specifically that tiny little detail that makes documentary family photography a highly technical genre. We focus on the trinity of light, moment and composition and use those elements to highlight different aspects of your family’s everyday activities in ways that will help you remember your family’s story for decades. We want you to know what was happening when you look through your photographs, without the need for a lengthy series or a caption.
Reveal Relationships
First and foremost, documentary family sessions are about getting at the core of what makes your family tick (that’s why those ethics matter; you need to be confident that your photographer is going to represent you honestly). The results from these sessions are honest, touching, and often emotional. That’s because documentary family photography is about showing the truth – and the beauty – behind your family’s personalities and relationships. Who kisses the wounds better? Who causes mischief? Who is the playful one? Who’s the daredevil or the cuddler? Which siblings have a magical connection? Who has the temper? Who cleans up the messes or keeps everyday life moving? Those roles will change as your children age, which is why no two documentary sessions with the same family will ever look even remotely the same.
Make You Feel
Ultimately, documentary family photography should connect you to the heart of your family. The photographs should make you feel the way you did in the moment that you were captured on camera. They should make you laugh or cry or feel nostalgic because of what the photographer has captured that is unique about you.
Deliver
Documentary family photographers spend more time with you than a portrait photographer because they need to get to know you. They need time to watch those relationships and moments reveal themselves or develop. They also need to develop trust so that you can let down your barriers and really let that person see who you are. All of that happens so that we, as your photographer, can deliver a gut punch in your gallery.
When you look through your gallery, you can expect to want an album. You’re going to see all kinds of photographs that capture details about the way your family is right now that you’ll always want to remember. Albums are the perfect format to display your images. Stories about your day can unfold as you turn each page. Individual page layouts can help to emphasise importance or highlight key moments.
Wall art from these sessions are often beautiful, poignant, and deeply personal depictions of your family. Because of the technical aspects of documentary shooting, consider floatmounts and uncropped 8x12s, 16x24s, or 24x36s instead of canvases, 8x10s, or 11x14s, since the latter formats involve cropping and you may lose emotional impact or important elements in your print. Floatmounts come ready to hang and are a BEAUTIFUL way of displaying your photographs. Your photographer will be able to advise you on the best option for particular images.
Does it sound like documentary family photography might be perfect for you and your family? Get more info about the details of Moment.us Photography’s services and pricing here or contact me to ask any specific questions you might have! I would love to hear about your family and tell your story. Really want to book, but feeling a little afraid? Hit up this post to see just how easy it is to get ready for your session. (Hint: Wardrobe choices? What wardrobe choices?!)
