Why Lifestyle Photography Is No Fad

 

You would probably get a smiley portrait like this in the studio. It is, after all, important to capture the baby’s look at around 8 months old. And it isn’t all that difficult for Lucybug’s mom to coo and giggle at her to get her to laugh.

 

But it will also be important to you to capture Lucybug’s favorite toy at this age.

 

A professional documentary photographer has the tools to get great shots in Lucybug’s own play area.

 

And we’ll also be looking for specific things about Lucybug that go deeper into defining who she is at this age. Lucybug is all about teething. See her teeth just below the surface? I’m looking forward to the next shoot in her “Year in the Life” series. I’m sure by then she’ll have beautiful pearly whites to show us!

 

Lucybug loves to read with mom and dad. “Hooray for Fish” is her favorite book.

 

Lucybug loves to play on mom and dad’s bed.

 

She also loves her classical crib music.

 

Don’t you crawl up to the baby’s crib now and then and peer in through the slats to watch her play?

 

And no lifestyle documentation of an 8-month-old would be complete without some clever shots on the changing table. Fortunately, the professional photographer will shoot this without using a flash for that natural light look. (High ISO, slow shutter speed, wide aperture, that’s the ideal combination.) We lucked out with some awesome window light giving a healthy sparkle to Lucybug’s eyes.

 

Why do we care about natural light and avoiding on-camera flash photography? Because this is how Lucybug’s room actually looks to us. This is how we want to remember it because her family will be moving to a new home soon. These pictures, combined with the others in her “Year in the Life” series, are going to make an awesome First Year book. And it will give Lucybug something tangible about her family’s time staying in this home.

 

You’re not going to get that shot at the mall!

 

Lucybug’s mom loves black and white photographs. Don’t her eyes pop out of the shot? They are so sharp!

 

Before you know it, Lucybug will be driving. Better make sure to capture how she got around as a baby.

 

Lucybug’s mom will be graduating from Princeton grad school this year. They’ll be moving to a new town soon. We wanted to document some of their favorite Princeton hangouts, like this shot of Lucybug’s family walking in downtown Princeton. This is another advantage of lifestyle photography. Even if you’re a bit of a mamarazzi yourself, taking lots of pictures of your kids, please make sure somebody gets a picture of YOU once in a while!

 

Lucybug enjoyed a meal at one of her favorite Princeton restaurants, or rather, Lucybug’s mom and dad enjoyed the restaurant meal and Lucybug enjoyed squashed something that mom brought for her.

 

After lunch, we all walked around campus for a while, celebrating Lucybug’s mom’s accomplishments. Congratulations, Sharon!

 

I wanted to capture the essence of Princeton life in the background of their family portrait. We took this shot underneath one of those awesome Princeton archways. What beautiful light we had for a perfect combination of light on their faces, and light in the background.

 

Lucybug’s mom loves blurry backgrounds and playful pictures almost as much as her photographer does.

 

Princeton University actually does have an awesome playground or two. Lucybug LOVES to swing.

 

She also loves to be cuddled by her dad, Mike. Mike will be starting a new educational adventure soon too. We wish you the best, Mike!

 

Do you think we wore Lucybug out? (Your lifestyle photographer is not above laying on the floor pretending to be a toy to get the shot.)

 

Lucybug is learning to crawl.

 

Mom and dad are so proud. Yay Lucybug!

 

She’s not walking yet, and requires assistance to stand up. Get ready because any second now she’s going to fall down on her bottom.

 

Mike loves to play piano with his daughter. Your lifestyle photographer hopes to show the scale of dad’s hands to child’s hands. The overhead angle is the perfect opportunity.

 

The windows in Lucybug’s room make perfect lightboxes for a soft light shining in her eyes. The sparkle of light makes her eyes look shiny and healthy! Not that Lucybug needs any help looking healthy. Look at how her beautiful skin glows!

 

Lucybug will be out of the bouncer as soon as she figures out that walking is so much more fun. Best to capture those feet dancing in the bouncer before it’s too late.

 

Mike sure does love to cuddle with his daughter. I love winter photo sessions. People cuddle more in winter shoots. And THAT’S why lifestyle photography is no fad. When Mike and Sharon look at these pictures, they see more than just their baby at 8 months old, they remember specific things about their life during Lucybug’s first year. They remember things of scale, things of relationship, things that represent an emotional connection, and specific locations and events that represent the historical record of the beginning of their family.

As the lucky photographer chosen to document a year in the life of this family, it is my goal that when they look at these pictures years from now, they will still FEEL their baby in their arms. That’s my lifestyle art — to get you to feel something when you see pictures of your family. More than just remembering the details of a face, I want to create a presentation of the details of your LIFE.

 

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