A friend recently asked me to explain what lifestyle photography is all about, and when I started to explain about the informal aspect she said 'so why is it better then my snaps then'?'
Jolly good question I thought!
This is how I explained my style....
Lifestyle portrait photography is about making images of people that show them as they are in a natural and spontaneous way, but not 'warts and all'. In my pictures I strive to make people look as they really are but better, I use digital editing with care to enhance but not actually alter - I personally hate to see plasticky-smooth skin. On a practical level that means my photographs are all shot on location using natural light and surroundings not in a studio or with studio lights. Also I don't issue jolly instructions to smile at the camera or jump in the air on the count of three, but prefer to let the photosession unfold naturally so that I can record the spontaneous interactions of a family. So to capture my lifestyle images of people I first have to get to know them a bit, by chatting over a mug of tea perhaps, or while walking in their favourite outside place.
After a little while I find that my clients relax and don't react to the camera with the slightly frozen photograph smile that we all tend to produce on demand. Instead I see natural expressions and the real beauty that I firmly believe we all have within us. Incidentally please don't suggest to your child that they say cheese, the cheesy smile is instantly recognisable and doesn't have the emotional connection that I seek in my images. An open look of warmth or a shy half smile is better than any number of fixed grins in my view.
Images from a lifestyle portrait photosession will be varied and include some of the little details like hands or feet, they will be about relationships as much as faces. Often I hope to show some artistry that comes about in response to the location of the photoshoot, as well as the people in them.
For example this portrait of a little girl was taken along with many more in this clients home and garden. I noticed that the garden fence was practically the same colour as the girls eyes and provided a great contrast to the bright pinks of her clothes. Also the lines in the fence echoed the lines of her dress. My task then was to befriend this five year old so that she would look at me with warmth and also to position myself so that the light was flattering and the fence was in the right place. It all came together nicely and Mum and Dad loved the results.
Hopefully this article has helped to show that good quality lifestyle portraits are not casual candid snaps but are the culmination of long experience and a collection of different skills:
- The photojournalists skill in story-telling and capturing the 'decisive moment' as described by Henri-Cartier Bresson
- The artists skill in composition and making the most of the available light
- The technicians skill in using the camera equipment effectively
- The psychologists skill in understanding people and relationships
This is my take on what lifestyle portrait photography means to me, it is not intended as a definitive description.
So how would you go about choosing a photographer to take your family photographs?
It's all about personal preferences really.
If you like my style of photography then maybe I am the right photographer to be entrusted with capturing images of your family too.
You can contact me via my website - www.portraitsbymerille.co.uk
I'd love to hear from you
Merille x
