Why is Documentary Family Photography so awesome?
Well, to start with, because perfection is boring. When you have kids it`s rather busy, messy often hilarious and unpredictable. Let’s be honest, real life isn’t meant to be perfect and “chaos” can be beautiful and worth to remember.
I’m sure you are familiar with traditional family photography where often everyone is wearing matching clothes. They are posed by the photographer and asked to look at the camera while smiling, even if they don’t want to. Don’t get me wrong, posed family portraits are wonderful and important. I believe, that documentary family photography which capture real moments and emotions can be something more than a pretty picture.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” — Theodor Seuss Geisel
You can’t capture real life in posed photographs.
What I love about documentary family photography is that they allow you and your family to simply be yourself. Your session will be about photographing your family just as they are. Real moments, the true stories that make up your life. How everyone looks like right now, who you are, what you do, how you connect, and the way life feels with all the beautiful chaos, joy and tears.
A picture says a thousand words.
I completely understand that having professional family photos taken is a big investment and it’s a luxury. It’s about spending time, money and energy. I invite you to look at it from another perspective. Think about it like about an investment, which will have a positive impact on the life of you and yours for years to come. You will want to explain your grown kids one day how beautiful and messy your family life was when they were little. Words and memories can never fully convey those feelings like photographs can. Now imagine that conversation while looking through an album full of beautiful photographs. I’m sure you know that powerful, old saying “a picture says a thousand words”.
Slow down and connect with the family.
Our life as parents is busy. Working, shopping, cooking, planning, driving, meeting, cleaning, educating, multitasking…the list goes on. The session itself will give you a reason to slow down, to have fun, be a kid with your kids and to disconnect from the world to fully connect with your family. Be present, mindful and focused on simple moments.
“We love you and care about you. You are important”.
One of the hidden but most important aspects of documentary family photography, rarely considered by other photographers and parents, is how it can help your kids, with stronger confidence in their own worth and abilities.
There is a well-known study called “Phototherapy in Mental Health” authored by an American psychologist David Krauss. “I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of that family unit. A photographer’s job is to create and make the image look like safe holding space for kids where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level.” It’s such a powerful statement.
Hanging beautiful family photographs around your home sends the message to the kids that our family and those in it are important to one another, that we are proud of them the way they are and we honour the memories we have experienced together.
It´s not about the “instagrammable” pictures.
Tired of reading? I´m almost done:). When I do Day In Life documentary sessions, I want to help families to slow down and to find the beauty in every stage. Help them to stop and to look at the details of love that shine every day in their homes. It’s really fantastic, something you do not want to miss.
As I´ve mentioned above, “a picture says a thousand words” so I would like you to look at the Day In Life session I did in 2017 for my dear 4 friends Sarah, Michele, Rachel and Leo. Since then children have grown a lot. The family have moved to a new home. How amazing it to see all those memories with details?
So, what you think?
If you, like me, think “there is nothing more beautiful than reality”, if you see value in taking the time to have memories made for yourself, your kids, and even your kids’ kids, we definitely should connect and talk about a session together. Let’s plan a playful day. Be open, be yourself, just be with your loved ones … and the magic will happen. I will capture it in my photographs for you and your family to remember for years to come
Are you ready for your Documentary Family Photography ? A Day in the Life session can be a few hours, or it can be a full day starting with wake up and ending at bedtime. Just contact me and we will schedule free consultation. We’ll talk about your photography needs and what you have in mind.