Family Photo Shoots

Kids have always been one of my favorite subjects to photograph - they are so often uninhibited and content to be who they are, without reservation. Even the kids who are quiet and shy by nature show up and present themselves as they are. They photograph in an authentic way. I can often get great photos of the quiet, shy kids since they are just being themselves. I can encourage certain movements to draw something out of them but I don’t want them doing things that don’t feel natural (or look natural) to them. Generally, kids and adults alike photograph the best when they are authentic and being themselves. 

Traditionally, most of my family portraits have been taken outside and on location. It can be at the beach or another location in the Lower Mainland. I really enjoy photographing outdoors. For kids, it can be helpful for them to have this sense of space and freedom around them. It's nice to be able to walk around a relatively short distance and have different options for backgrounds. While a location like the beach might offer a similar setting all around, I can generate different looks quite easily. Some photos can be on the grass with a big open space around; other photos can be taken in and around the trees; another set on the beach; close to the water; sitting on logs etc. There are quite a few options for different looks by simply moving around in a relatively small area. These are some of the major benefits of shooting outdoors.

There are some drawbacks to the outdoors and I have also been exploring family portraits in the studio setting. There are some real benefits to shooting in the studio as well. For one, the lighting can be controlled and is therefore predictable. One of the big challenges of shooting outdoors is the ever-changing weather conditions. It's beautiful and sunny one moment and then clouds over the next moment. Suddenly, the wind picks up and is blowing across your face. While this wind can be a great addition to the photos and make them look and feel natural, it can also work against you with hair flying in unwanted directions! In a studio setting, these external conditions are controlled. I also really appreciate the look of a clean background, particularly for black and white photos. A clean white background offers a wonderful modern yet classic look. I really like this look in modern homes that have a clean and minimalist aesthetic. This clean backdrop can work equally well for color photos, for those who prefer some color. 

As a family photographer, I have also started working with some graphic design elements that are added to the photos. This artistic flair works well on a clean backdrop -  it's almost like a blank canvas that can be painted on. Adding some graphic design elements to the individual and family portraits is something I am exploring and I'm quite excited about. I like the creativity of using graphic design elements and the ability to customize each portrait to suit the style and aesthetic of the family. Each of the family portraits can have their own design elements and this design element can act as a common thread that links the different portraits together. The graphic design is also done with the unique style and aesthetic of the family home. These portraits truly end up being art pieces to be displayed proudly in the home.

In recent years I have been shifting more and more towards creating these art pieces to display in the home. This has become the end-goal of the family portrait sessions. Everyone has countless photos on their phones, tablets and computers. The purpose of getting professional family photos is to create art that can be displayed in your home. Ideally, I visit the family home before the portrait session and do a walk-through to see potential locations where prints could be hung. I can also get a sense of the style of the home, in order to tailor the session and potentially the graphic design to the style of the family home. Having this sense of direction and clarity as to what we are aiming for is really helpful going into the portrait session. 

When I'm taking family photos, whether individual portraits of family members or of the family as a whole, I have a few technical guidelines that I like to follow. I tend to photograph with a relatively low aperture in order to have a good depth of field. This results in images where the subject is clear and in focus. This tends to make the subject “pop” and really come to the foreground of the photo. This technical guideline is particularly effective with close-up photos that are really focused on the subject. At other times I will use a wider focal length lens to capture more of the surroundings in the photo. In this case, I can have more of the image in focus, since the focal point isn't just on the family members but also the surrounding setting. This is really effective in a beautiful, natural setting like the beach or an urban setting like downtown or Granville Island. This wide angle look is great for family portraits and for some people, offers the type of photos they might hang in the house. The image isn’t solely focused on the family members but is more of a landscape photo, which also features the family as part of the setting. At times I might even blur images intentionally to offer a more artistic feeling. Some families prefer this type of look - even less focused on the family, and more emphasizing an artistic look. All of these options are things I discuss with the family ahead of time! 

While almost everyone has access to a phone with a very capable camera built-in, it seems more important than ever to get professional photos done. Cell phones do a great job documenting little moments in daily life that would otherwise be missed but these photos have limitations.

Professional photos can really document who the family is at a particular time, in a way that a cell phone can't capture. Professional photos also have the ability to make big enlargements that are art pieces to be displayed in the family home. More and more families are choosing art pieces of their family to display around the home. I think this is a wonderful trend and a great way to display art in the home.