When I started my photography journey, I think I was doing a reportage style of photography. At least this is what I called it, I didn’t know if there was a special word for this genre, to be honest. Nobody was talking about lifestyle photography back then. These days lifestyle photography is trending. 

Lifestyle photography is all about capturing natural, unposed moments of everyday life. 

From family gatherings, birthdays and daily routines to outdoor adventures and travel. The main focus is on capturing the authenticity of the moment, with the emotions and experiences that make each moment unique.

Documentary-style approach

What I love about lifestyle photography is that it has a documentary-style approach, capturing the action as it unfolds and seeking out interesting moments and details to highlight.

The process is so compelling to me, I feel like I’m on a hunt for the special moments! With the tools of composition and light, I can purposefully create pleasing to the eye engaging photographs. But the most rewarding feeling I get when an interesting shot is captured completely on the spur of the moment. As my model moves around freely, without feeling pressured to pose, expressing the emotions! That’s what I call a successful lifestyle photo session. So abundant and so fun to capture! 

Life is a movement! 

As adults, we tend to forget that Life is a continuous, everchanging movement. We forget to let go and enjoy the here and now, we forget to move and play once in a while and laugh. 

Children remind us what we have forgotten, they act in a way that strips all the way down to the true emotions, it feels raw and real. We experience life when we interact with children. My advice is to just let go of your control for a little bit, and just be…be silly, be funny, be jumpy. 

At these moments we have an ability to instantly make ourselves feel better, by being grateful for what we have and who is next to us.running around full of life. And maybe run together?! 

So when we move, that’s the best time to photograph and capture lifestyle documentary moments.

My approach to Lifestyle photography creation.

I have a little trick to creating lifestyle photographs — I shoot in silent mode! Nobody knows if I’m taking pictures, so I have an opportunity to create candid looking photographs!

Also I don’t want to interrupt, if the kids are busy doing something. I want to capture the action as it happens. It’s so interesting to see how a child can be focused and serious reading a book, playing with toys or just in his/her thoughts, maybe daydreaming, or even upset and pouty. Ah, the emotions children go through in just several minutes is so abundant! 

What else to consider for a Lifestyle photo session?

During the photoshoot it’s important that the kids feel safe and comfortable in the place of a photo session, in the clothes they wear and with the people they are around. If everything feels great to the child, then the process will go smoothly for everybody. 

So to summarize, Lifestyle photography is the unique way to see yourself and to document every period of life that’s important to you. The result of such a photo session is a series of images that tell your story and capture the essence of your family and your home or a special to you outdoor space.

It will be your story of moments and experiences that make life worth living. 

xoxo 

Maria


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