Documentary photography is a wide-ranging form of fine art photography that can probably be defined in many different ways. The goal of the documentary photographer is to create an accurate representation of the subject. Here’s another useful resource to read for tips on documentary photography.
What is documentary family photography?
Storytelling is the main focus of this kind of session and as a documentary family photographer, I love documenting a family’s story.
What is storytelling? I really love the definition of story.org : “Storytelling involves a two-way interaction between a storyteller and one or more listeners. The responses of the listeners influence the telling of the story. In fact, storytelling emerges from the interaction and cooperative, coordinated efforts of teller and audience.”
This is not just me taking pictures. You need to trust me, to know me. And I’m just the same, I need to know you to be able to photograph who you are on an ordinary day.
Why should you choose documentary family photography?
Kids will be kids, right? And that’s what I love about them. Once they are familiar with a camera around, they just live their life.
They stop being self-aware of the camera and they stay themselves. Trying to pose a 2-year-old could be just torture for them, the parents, and the photographer. So going with documentary photography will make strong and candid photographs of you and your family.
How does documentary family photography differ from lifestyle?
Lifestyle is one moment, a short and a flying moment. We choose a background, your clothes, and maybe even directing a little. Documenting has barely any directing. For a one-hour session, maybe I will provide some direction while still leaving your family to play and be themselves in your house, or in a place that means something to your family. For a Day in the Life session, there is no posing, no direction. Just me and my camera, capturing candid moments that would still happen if I wasn’t here.
You can contact your documentary family photographer in Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland here.
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