Documenting Your Family with Photography
Let's chat about something near and dear to my heart: documenting the magic of family life through photography. 📸💕
My journey into photography is deeply rooted in love. My camera lens has always been focused on what brings me the most joy, and that's absolutely my family. Sometimes I feel like in today's world, it might seem like a weakness to admit just how much I love being a mom, but let me tell you, it fills me with an immense fulfillment. I have my own identity outside of motherhood (photographer, artist), but nothing compares to the joy I feel spending time with my kiddos.
When I first delved into the world of photography, it was perfectly timed with my journey into motherhood. My first camera coincided with the arrival of my first baby, and naturally, she became the star of all my photographs. Over the next 20 years, as both a photographer and a mom, I've amassed thousands of images documenting our adventures, and I couldn't be more grateful for deciding to embark on this journey of capturing our family's story.
Now, I'm guessing you're a lot like me. You adore your little ones and want to capture every precious moment, but having a professional photographer follow you around every day isn't exactly feasible (who can afford that?!). Like me you will have to learn how to document the wonderful world of family photography!
Tip Number One: Let go of perfection.
I cannot stress this one enough! We have all had imposter syndrome - we see someone’s beautiful work and we want that! Trust me, I've been there. I'll never forget the day I lost my cool trying to orchestrate the perfect picture of my kiddos. My girls were 3 and 1. I had a little studio set up in my living room and an idea of the perfect image I was going for - then I felt frustrated - cause kid’s do not care about that perfect image! It was a wake-up call for me to embrace the imperfections and let the moments unfold naturally. The reality is… I wanted pictures of our everyday life - not a studio set up. Always keep in mind the purpose is to capture adventures and precious fleeting moments AND to be present mama first! The day I let go of perfection was when documenting family took off. I found my own artistic voice and felt enjoyment instead of stress when taking photographs.
Tip Number Two: Embrace documentary-style & lifestyle photography.
Sometimes, the best moments happen when you least expect them. Instead of trying to direct the perfect shot, let life unfold and capture the beauty in the everyday chaos. Check out this blog to understand more about lifestyle and documentary photography. You can create beautiful images of them that do not require them to look at the camera or acknowledge the camera - and then you get photographs that tell a authentic story!
I won’t lie - it is a lot of having your camera on you for walks, family dinners, outings and be ready to snap a picture quickly. Remember Tip 1 - you might miss photographs and that’s okay!
Tip Number Three: Make a list of what you want to capture and set it up.
Family traditions come in all shapes and sizes, from holiday celebrations to everyday routines. Some of my most favorite moments have been bath time and bedtime routines. Bath time tends to be more active and messy (remember tip 1!) and bedtimes sweeter and more tender moments. What moments do you want to remember?
After you have that list - think about how you could achieve getting an image and set it up. This is more like lifestyle photography. You are guiding a moment or setting up a moment to unfold. For instance if you want to get a photograph of you kiddo making cupcakes, clean the room of clutter, set the ingredients and prep area in from of a light source - essentailly stack the deck.
My son, my puppy and I, liked to have coffee on our front stoop one summer. Before we went out I set up my tripod, I guided us onto a step with a good lighting and then let events unfold naturally. I lucked out! I even got a picture of my new puppy drinking my coffee - which was something she had been doing that week. It does not always work out this well - but that morning the prepping allowed us to enjoy authentic moments and still capture them forever.
Tip Number Four: Be ready for the unexpected.
Some of the best memories are made in the most ordinary moments. Embrace the chaos and capture the laughter and love that fill your life. I always have my camera on me - because you cannot predict kiddos.
My family and I love to camp - we have been going for years. One year the adults were taking dance lessons and showing off around the fire their new moves. Well, the next day the little ones - who had been listening in - ran up a hill away from us and practiced the dance moves we had been showing off and talking about. Luckily I saw them and had my camera. I snuck up and grabbed a quick picture - this now hangs in my son’s room!
Tip Number Five: Invest in the right equipment.
While fancy gear isn't necessary, having the right tools can make all the difference in capturing those precious moments. The equipment you need will depend a lot on your budget and family. I have always used my canon 5D mark IV, canon L series 50mm, canon L series 24-70mm and canon L series 35mm for most pictures (however, I also use this equipement for professional shoots). All these lens are good for tighter areas with less room to manever.
However, my family is filled with water babies. We love summer and we love water. As a result I invested in the heros and a dome for underwater and on water activities. I do not use any of this equipement for professional use - but I can say I use it almost primarilyt all summer. Heros are easy to fit in a bag, can shoot RAW, plus grab video.
Again - think about tip three - what is on your list of images you would like to capture. Will this require wide lens, high ISOs, is skiing or swimming something you want to capture.
Tip Number Six: Join a community of like-minded moms.
Surrounding yourself with other mamas who share your passion for photography can be incredibly inspiring and motivating. When I wanted to take my photography to the next level and get inspiureI joined the Click Community. An online group of moms that support and learn from each other. I have since joined several 365 and 52 groups on facebook. These groups either shoot daily or weekly and share work with each other for critics. This community of photographers have inspired me and I have learned tremendous amounts from being part of the community.
And finally, tip Number Seven: Have fun!
At the end of the day, photography is all about capturing the love and laughter that fill your life. So grab your camera, embrace the chaos, and enjoy every moment with your beautiful family.
Sending love and light your way, 💖
