If you’ve been thinking about candid photography and you’ve been doing a little searching for a Cincinnati lifestyle photographer, you’ve probably seen a lot of different words thrown around to describe family photography. Lifestyle. Documentary. Storytelling. Candid. Natural. Authentic.

It can all get a little confusing depending on who you’re talking to.

There is some overlap between these different styles and sometimes photographers use the same words to describe their very different approaches. So I wanted to break down what they mean to me and what you can expect when you book a family session with me.

I would describe my work as lifestyle photography with a storytelling focus. I’m not a completely handsoff, let you completely do your own thing documentary photographer but I also don’t want your entire session to just be lining everyone up, fixing everyone’s hands, and asking your kids to smile at my camera. Neither one of those is me at all.

I’m somewhere in the middle. I like to guide you into scenarios using prompts but I also give you the freedom to make the moments your own.

What is lifestyle photography?

Lifestyle photography is probably what you hear most often when looking for a family photographer. Lifestyle photography is about photographing people in a way that feels natural and genuine and not reliant on posing.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to show up, whip out my camera and tell you to just pretend I’m not there.

I’m still going to guide you.

I’ll suggest things for you to do together, move you into the best light, help you find a comfortable position, and give you direction when you need it. But I never want to control every little thing that happens during your session.

If your toddler wants to run, we run. If your kids want to climb all over you, I’m definitely going to let them. If your baby needs to eat, we take a break. If your child isn’t interested in looking at me, that’s completely fine (and preferred).

Your kids don’t have to perform for me.

That’s a really important part of my approach as a Cincinnati lifestyle photographer. I want your photos to reflect your family as you actually are, not some fake perfectly behaved version of your family that only exists for five minutes in front of a camera.

What about documentary photography?

Documentary photography takes that idea of observing real life to another level. A documentary photographer is really trying to photograph things as they naturally unfold without any direction or interference. Or at least very little interference.

Think about someone photographing your family on a completely normal Saturday morning. You’re making breakfast, the kids are playing, someone spills their cereal, your husband is trying to drink his coffee while holding the baby. Nothing is staged or directed. The photographer is simply there to document exactly what happened without any direction.

I LOVE those kind of photographs. I tend to take documentary style photos of my own kids as often as I can. Just them in their element without me saying a word.

But that’s not quite how I approach an entire family session. I don’t expect you to spend an hour pretending I’m not there. I also don’t want you wondering what you’re supposed to do while I stand across the room with my camera.

I want to give you a little direction while still leaving plenty of room for the real stuff to happen. That’s usually when my favorite photographs and moments happen anyways.

So what does storytelling photography mean?

Storytelling is probably the word that best explains why I photograph the way I do.

For me, storytelling isn’t necessarily about a specific pose or photography technique. It’s about looking at your photographs as a whole and asking, does this gallery tell me something about this family? Is this gallery representing their story?

I want you to remember the way your toddler always wanted to be held. The way your baby grabbed onto your shirt. The way your kids laughed when you chased them around the backyard. The way your partner looked at you while you held your newborn.

The little details that you might not think much about right now but will probably miss so, so much some day.

That’s storytelling – to me at least.

I’m not just trying to make a pretty photograph. I’m trying to make photographs that bring you back to a particular season of your life.

Where they all come together

This is why I don’t think you necessarily have to choose between lifestyle, documentary, and storytelling photography. They can all exist in the same session.

I might give your family something to do and then step back and let things unfold. I might ask you to snuggle your baby a certain way because I know the light is beautiful and then capture what happens naturally from there. I might ask your kids to run toward you, but I have no idea exactly what they’re going to do when they get there.

That’s the part I love.

There’s just enough direction that you don’t feel awkward standing in front of my camera wondering what you’re supposed to do, but there’s enough freedom for your family’s actual personalities and genuine moments to come through.

And your kids don’t have to smile at me the entire time. They don’t even have to look at my camera.

Some kids are immediately my best friends. Some kids need a little more time. Some would rather pretend I don’t exist. I’ve photographed all of them and I’m completely comfortable with all of it.

What you can expect from a session with me

If you book a family session with me, we’re probably going to move around quite a bit. We’ll play, snuggle, walk, talk, tickle, chase, or just hang out together. Yes I will likely have you on the ground as long as you can physically and safely get down and back up (I know husbands hate this part so much). I’ll give you prompts when I need to, but I’m also going to pay attention to what’s happening naturally in front of me.

I’m looking for all the little things.

The hand holding. The quick kiss. The look between siblings. The way your child leans into you. The moment everyone finally stops moving…even if it’s only like three seconds.

Years and years from now, I don’t think you’re going to look back and wish your children had smiled more perfectly looking straight into the camera. I think you’re going to want to remember them. The sweet, the crazy, the frustrating, the expressions, the personality, the connection, the beautiful chaos. All of it.

That’s what I mean when I say I photograph your family with a lifestyle and storytelling approach. I’m not looking for perfection – I’m just looking for you.

If you’re looking for a Cincinnati family photographer who takes a relaxed, child-led approach to family photography, I’d love to photograph your family exactly as you are. Fill out an inquiry HERE and let’s talk about it.