Yes, obviously kids are a hoot and that’s typically why people hire me, to capture the beautiful crazy that is their life with littles. BUT, much like LEGO, there’s no age limit to documentary family photography. I’d argue it’s equally important to preserve the love and beauty of ALL our relationships, especially as we age. Not just us and our children, but our spouses, our parents, our siblings, our pets.
I remember this day like it were yesterday, but it was SIX years ago!! This was my very first full day-in-the-life session. I remember being incredulous the whole day at what a powerful thing it was to bear witness to the beauty and intricacies of a family from sunup to sundown. And every single time, it’s the same feeling. I feel so privileged to be invited into a family’s life to document it all — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Worried about scheduling your very first full day-in-the-life? Don’t be! You will get so many photos that celebrate your life. The best part? It will be the easiest and most fun photo session ever. I swear!! The photos will be so REAL; they will transport you back in time over and over again and make you feel all the feels. Spoiler alert: they will definitely make you laugh and quite possibly make you cry. Still hesitant? Following are my top three tips for the BEST documentary family photos EVER.
It’s almost Valentine’s Day and in the spirit of the day, I wanted to share some of my all-time favorite photos I’ve taken of my clients – those that show their affection toward their loved ones. These also happen to be some of the photos I most wish I had of me and my parents.
It may surprise some, but when asked, 80% of kids (including teenagers) would rather eat with their parents than with their friends or in front of a screen by themselves. Our lives are so busy, having at least one time a day where you’re all together and not distracted by other things is so beneficial. And it doesn’t need to be dinner, do what works for your family.
At the start of last year, I decided to double down and commit to a personal project that I’ve been working up to for years now. My new year’s resolution was to make one self-portrait a week with my family. Then, a global pandemic broke out. As such, with the exception of a wee bit of outdoor client work, making self-portraits is what I did in 2020. I seldom picked up my camera otherwise.
I’m not talking about those in-your-face-selfies we all have with our favorite humans, you know, many of which were taken with those crazy snapchat filters. Nor am I talking about your yearly 15 minute pilgrimage to a gorgeous location to take perfectly coiffed, posed, family portraiture in your Sunday best. No, I’m talking about those day-to-day photos where someone else recognizes the sweetness of a candid moment and takes a photo of you, a true superwoman, in action.
It’s official! The holiday season is upon us! And from the looks of it, it’s going to be another sad and lonely holiday, with many traditions and celebrations we know and love unable to go on as before. So why not start some new traditions? Need some ideas? Look no further!
In a nice diversion from the seemingly endless stream of car parades since the start of social isolation, this family rented an ice cream truck and enjoyed socially distant ice cream for their son’s birthday. Indicative of the times, there was a table with plenty of hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and handmade masks for guests to take as pandemic party favors.
Back in May, I created a photo challenge in order to give back to my community. On one hand, it was to provide an escape and inspiration for others to be creative, on the other, it was to raise money for charity (I pledged to donate $$ for every complete entry). It was super difficult to pick a winner from all the entries I received. Art is so subjective and everyone did such an amazing job, so it was no easy task. I truly enjoyed looking through all the submissions. However, I had to choose a winner, so choose a winner I did.