What do you feel when looking at your childhood photos? Paging through old albums, what do you remember? I would like to share some of my childhood photos with you and tell you what I feel and remember. My dad was a hobbyist photographer and loved taking portrait type photos (those we all do, stand there honey and smile) as well as more documentary style photos and there is such a huge difference.
This is me. I remember those curtains. Nothing else, I have no idea what we did that day, it tells me nothing of my life at that moment in time.
Loved that pool! I used to step on the red rubber thing in the middle. Our real swimming pool was built on that exact same spot many years later. I remember drinking champagne (juice for me) when we were busy filling up the new pool. In the back, right behind me, I can see the really small yellowwood tree, when we sold the house that tree was huge.
Another portrait, again it tells me nothing, it doesn't bring up any memories, I don't feel anything when looking at this picture. It’s just me, posing with a forced smile.
This is what my mom and I did on Saturdays, I remember us washing our car together until I was a teenager. This is the house I grew up in, I remember that street and gate, I have a lot of stories to tell. I remember that gate was taken down after my mom reversed into it. My dad loved his Ford's. So many memories in one single picture.
I have many more examples like this.
I also have a lot of client portrait photos, they are gorgeous, families standing in a field they never ever go to, a field that has no meaning to them, all looking at me, posing with their forced smiles.
The photos are lovely, there is nothing wrong with them and it’s still great to have, but when you or your children look back in 20 years, what are you going to remember? What are you going to feel?
Documentary photos are taken at places you visit often or your home. I make pictures of you with your family doing activities you love doing together, or just being you, together.
Sure, you can take photos of your children, but are you ever in them? I can capture moments of everyone together, moments you miss because you a part of those moments, your everyday moments.
Consider having some documentary photos taken next time you book your family session. I always include portrait photos of the whole family as well as some individual portraits. The fun moments I capture in between and those are the photos families always tell me they love the most. If you would like to receive a Welcome Guide please click the link at the bottom.
Here are some more great examples of documentary sessions:
Waiting patiently for tea
Family time relaxing on the couch
Cuddles with mom
Who doesn't remember their dad tickling them?
Playing with toys that was his mothers
Men rough housing in their childhood home
Catching tadpoles
Having some ice cream at Cramer's in town