Why Lifestyle Photography Is Better Than Traditional Portraits
If you have looked at my social media or portfolio, you may notice that I rarely take photos of subjects looking at me and smiling. Traditional style portraits can be beautiful, but I personally feel that they lack the magic and authenticity that lifestyle imagery conveys. A typical session with me revolves around honest moments and reactions.
As a photographer, I aim to create lifestyle sessions that tell the stories of the people I am shooting.
No Pressure
I am a mom, so I know that nine times out of ten, I cannot get my two-year-old daughter to look at me and smile for a picture. And as a photographer, I can see so much more joy from an image where your child has a genuine happy reaction as opposed to a forced smile. By request, I will knock out that look at me and smile image in the very beginning of a session, but the remaining time we spend together will be about making moments and memories. I have so many tricks and prompts to help your family engage in ways that evoke true emotion.
During a session, I love to remind parents to relax and enjoy. I know that kids are more likely to be happy and laughing when we are creating a fun environment. Being stressed about smiles or perfectly clean clothes will rub off onto the session and make kids less likely to show off their personalities in the photos.
Authenticity
I want to capture your family. I do not want you guys to show up as cookie-cutter models. I do not expect that from you, so do not expect that from yourselves.
I am here to capture you, authentically, through my images. I want to show you things about your life. There is no pause button on life, so there are many small moments that you might not even fully experience. This can be something as simple as playing in the sand with your toddler or chasing your partner around the shoreline. I am here to be that pause button. You are going to see your family in its truest form, but also in a way that you do not get to experience.
My photos capture the love between a couple and the genuine joy on your child’s face when they look at you.
Documenting Your Child’s Personality
I spend my time during our session together getting to know your children. I want to see what they are really like. I want the wild and crazy. I want the moments when your child is unsure or tired and needs mama’s comfort.
Storytelling sessions rely on your child being exactly who they are. When you look back on these images, you are going to want to remember every part of their personality and not a forced smile I captured for your yearly Christmas cards. I am here to turn your moments into art.
If you want to learn more, let’s talk!
