I recently read an article from This Is Reportage where documentary photographers shared their feelings about documentary photos and why they love them. I was so moved by their experiences that I wanted to share some of my takeaways from the article with you.
The documentary photography movement is growing rapidly, and I’m not that surprised. I think many families are searching for authentic ways of capturing their memories. There’s a growing resistance against perfection, which I find so refreshing.
Have you noticed this as well? I think we’re all just getting tired of the endless ads telling us our home is lacking the correct number of throw pillows, or that our wardrobe could be massively improved by a pair of ankle boots. Seriously. I’m not buying it.
“More and more parents are realizing that the images they love most from their lifestyle or styled family sessions are the candid ones, the in-between moments when their children were just being themselves, or when they were interacting with each other naturally.”
– Loren Haar (United States)
If you’re not buying it either or are trying to pull yourself out of that unhealthy thought pattern, here’s your permission to bail. You can change the narrative. We all have a say. Collectively, we get to call the shots and set the ‘trends’– and if you show that you value authenticity, the marketing trends will follow suit.
In this post you’ll find some of my favorite points from the article that stood out most and ring true for me as a documentary photographer. As you read through them, check in with yourself; which ones make you question your current opinions about family photos? Are you wondering how the documentary approach would look for your family? What moments come to mind that you’d like to capture? Which ones really move you?
- Our lives lie in the details.
- Documentary Images make us feel something.
- It’s beyond a pretty picture, it’s storytelling.
- It’s memory insurance.
- They capture the in-between moments that our memory likely will forget.
- It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of the family unit.
- The photos don’t need to be beautiful to everyone else, just you.
- They capture our various relationships and personalities, without posing or directing.
- It tells more about the individual in the frame. You get a sense of who they are in relation to their environment and the people they love.
- Stress free experience.
- All personality types are seen and get a chance to shine.
“Are documentary photographers hired to create an alternate reality, showing an idealized and stylized and dramatized portrait of a family, or are we hired to reflect a family back to them in imagery that is honest and perceptive. I prefer the latter, and hope this style grows in popularity. You don’t have to look like crap, but you do have to be real.”
– David Scholes (UK)
- They debunk the harmful societal belief that perfection is our ultimate goal, and anything else is sort of less than.
- It’s a gift for generations.
- Your photos won’t look like everyone else’s.
- Documentary photographs are never dated, unlike photography trends.
- You get the chance to observe and reflect on what it’s like parenting from the outside looking in.
- It’s like a time capsule.
- No coercion or force involved. In other words, it’s humane and respectful.
- No “beauty” filters or comparisons. Challenges our unforgiving beauty standards and false appearances.
To sum it up, documentary family photographers offer you something completely unique. It gives you the opportunity to capture raw details of your real life and share them with future generations. Your attention and focus are brought back to what matters most.
If you’re still wondering how it’s different from traditional portraits, you can read more about that here. Get in touch below if you’d like to find out more or book your family’s documentary experience. You’ll be so glad you did.
