Documentary-style family photography: a once in a lifetime experience

Tell me, when was the last time all of your family was together in the same photograph? If you’ve been thinking about it for more than 1 minute, it’s about time you get one done!

And I’m talking about a lifestyle family photo session, either at home or at that other special sentimental place close to the family’s heart. What is lifestyle photography? It’s somewhere between traditional portraiture and documentary-style photography. We are far from the carefully posed, stiff and clinical photoshoot where the children drag their feet on the way to the photographer’s studio. It’s the other way around, the photographer comes to you or that special location. A lifestyle shoot is all about capturing photographs that are as natural and unobstructive as possible, that showcases personalities and that celebrates relationships. I want to show real family life in all its glory – the beautiful, the chaotic and the wonderful. If you’re unsure about whether to book a session, keep on reading and I guarantee you’ll find your reasons why!

1) Family portraits are personal and precious.

As the photographer knocks on the door, you realise the house is not ‘photoshoot-ready’ at all and the kids’ rooms are a mess and, of course, you freak out. However, let me reassure you, a lifestyle photoshoot is all about offering a testimony of a ‘real’ life, raw and natural, that sheds light on moments of interaction and complicity. When I photograph families at home, I play around with the elements of the family’s daily life and document moments that are genuine and intimate, that celebrate who you all are, as well as the different relationships everyone as and the interactions that come out of them.

2) Family portraits celebrate a unique story.

You have built a beautiful relationship with each member of your family, and with the right photographs, you can relive the memories you have shared with one another, time and time again. These photographs stop time, making these moments immortal. When you see that photo of you and your family sharing that special moment in that field on a summer evening in 2020, you will take a step back and realise how beautiful your life is. It is a wonderful and unique adventure that unfolds day by day and should 100% be celebrated!

3) Family photographs become a part of our heritage.

Family photographs are a display of love that is treasured forever. It’s a wonderful legacy and, to me, the most precious one that can be passed down to future generations. They act as a proof of life, and love, and, as the memories fade, they get more and more valuable with time, to the point of being priceless. When you think about it, family photos are the only things that truly connect us to those who came before us, they connected us to our own story. And you’re no exception; your family story deserves to be documented and preserved for future generations to love and appreciate. Family portraits will make your memories alive and immortal.

4) Family portraits help children have a sense of belonging.

Children need to know that they’re important, that they matter. When they feel loved by the most important individuals in their life, their sense of security and confidence skyrockets. If children feel respected and safe within their family unit, it will be easier for them to turn to others and weave relationships built on trust outside their family circle. Family albums, but also photos hanging on the walls, framed and placed on shelves enables the child to feel loved and to position and anchor himself or herself in a group (a family). More than ever, even in an era ruled by the numeric and digital, the simple action of selecting a few photos to print them values memories and the people that they represent. It’s not for nothing that family pictures are used by many psychologists to overcome the lack of confidence – phototherapy does wonders for mental health.

5) A family photo session is a powerful communication tool.

Our photos go beyond the simple recording of an instant. They exude emotions, information, a state of mind; they speak of us, of who we are and what/who we love. Sharing photos that mean something to us is the same as sharing a part of us. Photos are such a substantial communication tool that we use on a daily basis, whether we send photos of our holidays to our family, share a Facebook memory, post on Instagram, etc. Revisiting all these visuals can only bring happiness too, which is good for the mind!