What is Documentary Photography?
Almost every session that I do, I find myself mentioning to people that my heart is in Documentary photography. I like Portrait photography, it has it's place {on my walls!} I love Lifestyle photography and the natural look that it brings. I love Stylized photography for a fun and creative change. But the majority of my photographic heart belongs to Documentary photography. What is the difference and how do I choose to define each? I'm glad you asked! I will break these down in a little more detail in the future and what each may look like for you.
A brief description in my own words-
Portrait Photography- Shooting in a pretty place you don't normally go, in things you don't normally wear, and posing in ways you don't normally stand {We all know this one well!}
Stylized Photography- Highly planned session. The options are endless here. They generally require a planning session to discuss wardrobe, setting, props, etc. Every last detail is thought through and planned out to reach an end result. {Creative and something I love to do on occasion!}
Lifestyle Photography- This varies based on which photographer you are using. I view it as a combination of posed photos and natural photos and aims to capture both the perfect pose as well natural expressions and interactions. This is a more comfortable, relaxed session and generally includes a variety of shots that include lots of personality. {This is where I fall the majority of the time with Clients.}
Documentary Photography- THIS. This is where you capture emotion; connection. This is where you use small details to tell a story. It is completely unstaged, unfiltered, raw. It captures you, in your environment, doing something that you normally do. It can make the mundane beautiful. It can capture REAL smiles, real connection. The photographer is a fly on the wall capturing and putting together the photos so that when you look back you can remember and relive the memories from the moment. Bedtime, dinnertime, morning pancakes, bubbles outside, doing dishes with a baby attached to your leg {Yes, this is my reality} and it is all worth capturing and remembering.
