I’ve run a short survey on the reasons for not liking photo sessions, among my Facebook friends and in one of my favorite groups for ‘Mompreneurs’. Finding professional photographs too artificial proved to be the greatest concern. ‘Artificial’ can mean different things for different people, but as it goes hand in hand with the distaste for posing and studio scenery, I believe it’s worth dealing with the subject of family photography styles.
Family photography is not a single genre in itself, as many approaches exist among photographers. In this post, I’ll try to categorize distinctive family photography styles and characteristics. Of course it can’t be complete and overlaps might occur, as applied photographers and artists obviously don’t work according to my categories, and as far as I know there aren’t any officially or at least widely accepted definitions for these categories. I hope this will help you find the most suitable style for your next photo session.
Let’s start with the easiest part: the location of the photo shoot. It can be indoors or outdoors – in a traditional studio or a natural light studio, your home, or any other interior; or any location from your garden, to natural sights such as fields, forests, lakes, or more urban areas like squares, roads or historical sights. Studios are not the same either, as there are more traditional ones with seamless paper backdrops or built accessories and props, as well as natural light studios that look more like beautiful well-lit apartments with endless interior design options (I prefer the latter, but outdoors is my real favorite). Some photographers have their own studio, while others rent spaces for their sessions (or both). I think everybody can find an environment that is suitable for them that they don’t find artificial (with the help of the photographer, of course). The prices vary though – a simpler or lower budget studio space is probably more available to a wider audience, but might not meet your taste. I should also stress that studios can also be natural, even when flash or other artificial lighting is used. It depends on the knowledge and shooting style of the photographer. It’s always worth checking the photographer’s portfolio to see if they are a good fit for you, and if their style is something you’re after.
Another aspect of potential artificiality is posing. Some people like posing as it comes naturally to them; some feel security in being told what to do and where to look – or they just like the perfectly and beautifully polished look. It’s not at all simple – there are hundreds of books and educational materials on posing, and it can be mastered by photographers with a lot of practice. On the other hand, some people immediately become tense when posing comes to mind; they feel uncomfortable and just can’t do anything naturally. Or they are little kids who don’t know how to pose yet, facing growing pains or just having a bad day. For them, posing does more harm than good, and giving prompts (quick exercises and games) can be a better approach. Going even further, some families might even want to be captured in their natural environment without any kind of direction. For those people who find posed images too artificial, these two approaches fit best. The methods can also be combined – I focus on prompts and observation (it also depends on the family I work with) but most of the time I also take some traditionally posed photos for those family members who prefer that. Again, have a look at the photographer’s portfolio to see how they work.
Besides the environment and posing, the post-processing (editing) style is another factor in finding an image too artificial – and it depends again on personal taste. Somebody might prefer completely ‘natural’ looks with only slight adjustments, while others want a moderately or even heavily enhanced version of themselves. I don’t want to go into further details in this post, but if a photographer has their own distinctive style you can decide based on their portfolio if their post-processing works for you or not. It’s important to know that according to copyright law, you aren’t allowed to modify the images received from the photographer by adding filters or effects.
Let’s see the various genres and styles of family photography. For illustration purposes, I have used only my own images. It’s not because I’m the best example for everything, but for the simple fact that I personally own the right to publish them (with the consent of the subjects or their parents, of course).
1. Traditional portrait photography
- Location: studio (outdoors)
- Direction: posing
- Editing: moderate/heavy
When somebody starts thinking about a photo session, this one probably comes to mind first. Classic family portraits with fully controlled lighting, with everybody posed properly and looking at the camera. The location is typically a studio (or a studio setup in the family’s home), with backdrops and props, but the approach can be applied to an outdoor scene as well. The editing style is also classic, moderate or heavy, sometimes black and white. This genre can be cultivated at a very high level but unfortunately disappointing botchery can also be seen very often. I believe those bad examples make people think that family photos are too artificial.
It’s worth mentioning that ‘fine art’ as an independent category within portrait photography is heard more and more often. Originally fine art is based on an idea, message or emotion that the artist wants to convey. The term has also been used recently as a style reference for photographs that look like traditional children’s portraits from the late 19th and early 20th century (see the images above I shot at Paulina Duczman’s workshop). Vintage clothing, sad eyes, polished poses, perfect lighting, heavy editing. While I like these images very much, I don’t find the term ‘fine art’ accurate in this case. In my opinion, those images simply belong to this first category – and they are of great value when done right. But for me, art must have a deeper meaning, and it’s typically a bit more than an applied photographer (including myself, of course) delivers to their clients.
2. Lifestyle photography
- Location: outdoor, at home (studio)
- Direction: prompts, observation
- Editing: light/moderate
Lifestyle photography adds a candid feel to traditional portraits. The focus is on emotions, relationships, and interactions, and the subjects in the photos seem very natural and relaxed. These images don’t ‘happen’ naturally though; the photographer offers styling advice, sets the scene, gives prompts to the family, and is also always prepared to capture the moment. The situation is controlled (as far as possible), but it results in natural and honest images. Although the photographer strives for perfection, the nature and spontaneity of these images are completely different from those of traditional portraits (‘irregular’ crops, imperfect sharpness may occur with dynamic images, or a bit more noise in darker environments). The editing style is typically light or moderate, sometimes black and white, but never heavy. I take this approach in my work. The mood of the images can be very different though, based on the photographer’s perspective, equipment and editing style.
3. Documentary photography
- Location: at home
- Direction: none (observation)
- Editing: light
Documentary family photography is rooted in photojournalism, so the photographer is an observer who documents the life of the family at their homes or in another meaningful place. The family members live their regular lives naturally and spontaneously, while the photographer captures their precious moments and interactions. As opposed to lifestyle photography, there are no prompts, props or any changes in the environment. The photographer works only with what she has there, using the light and background as it is, while trying to find the best angles. These images tell an authentic story of the family, and as not directed it’s more like a long, unseen observation by the photographer than a ‘regular’ photo session. The editing is light, and often black and white.
4. Fantasy photography
- Location: outdoors, studio
- Direction: posing, prompts
- Editing: moderate/heavy
Fantasy photography blurs the line between fantasy and reality. It creates dream worlds where anything is possible (levitating objects, theatrical scenes etc.), and the subjects can be anything they want to be: fairies, warriors, action heroes, to name just a few. Costumes and props can be used heavily (cosplay photography, staged images etc.), combined with unique poses, but sometimes the magic is added only in post-processing. The mood and feel of the images vary heavily, based on the idea and artistic approach of the photographer. Compositing requires a strong knowledge of lighting, color theory and perspective as well as decent skills in Photoshop to create realistic images when blending different elements together. I love this type of imagery and also offer it as a service (DreamWorld Sessions).
I hope this post was useful to get to know more about family photography genres and styles, and that you now have a better idea of what to look for your next photo session. If you prefer a lifestyle or fantasy photo shoot and you like my work, please feel free to contact me. If you favor other genres and need recommendations, you can also reach out – I’m happy to recommend a colleague to you. Most important is that you have the pictures as memories that your family will treasure forever.
