Family
6 reasons to hire a documentary family photographer this summer
The cold winter days are finally behind us. Who would have thought we’d get snow in the middle of May this year in Edmonton? Craziness! Nonetheless, spring had sprung, the kids have changed, and the idea of hiring a family photographer has crossed your mind. Do you know what kind of photos you want? Do you know what’s available to you? Let me make it easier for you with 6 reasons to hire a documentary family photographer this summer:
1. Summer is the best time to create memorable family experiences
Summer is wonderful! You get to spend lots of time outside, go on fun excursions, discover new places, explore, play, get wet, sandy, dirty… Kids try new things, they smear their face with ice cream, run in the sprinkler, jump on the trampoline… It’s the perfect time to relax, go camping, travel, visit with family and friends, have picnics and barbecues… The list goes on and on!
I see you hiding behind your phone or camera trying to document it all. How about you give yourself some time to completely enjoy your experiences and forget about the camera for a few hours? A documentary family photographer can document the fun and cute stuff for you while you play with your kids, teach them how to ride a bike, kiss their boo-boos, jump in the lake and create the most meaningful memories together.
2. You need to be in your photos too
I’ve covered part of that in #1. Other than being the photographer in your family, are you hiding behind the camera for another reason? Could it be that you hate being in photos or you’re waiting to lose a few extra pounds? Read this if that sounds like you. And think about it this way: when your kids look at your family photos 15 years from now, do you think they’ll say “Mom looks terrible in these photos, she should have stayed behind the camera…” or “Wow! I didn’t remember mom showed us how to skateboard!”?
3. Documentary family photography is stress free
What do you do in real life when you want to enjoy a hot summer day in your backyard with your family?
You put on your most comfortable clothes, cream up the kids, get the kiddie pool out, grab a cold drink, and sit on the stairs to watch them play! Or something like that, right?
Well, a documentary family photography session is as stress free as that because it’s all about real life. It’s a normal day in your life or a fun few hours of you doing something you enjoy. Whether you decide to go on an adventure or stay at home during your session is completely up to you.
4. It gives you a new perspective on your life
There are many things in life you take for granted or don’t pay attention to. Documentary family photographers have a trained eye and are professional storytellers. They look for details and wait for specific moments to happen. They also use the elements of visual language to create their images in artful ways. That being said, something you’d never consider photographing can become a stylish piece of wall art you’ll cherish forever. It’s all about perspective and the way the photo’s created!
The days go by with so many little things that don’t seem to matter until they’re no longer there & suddenly, they’re all that ever mattered.
Brian Andreas
5. You want to document a special event
Maybe you’re expecting a baby and want to remember what the first few days feel like. Or you’re organizing a cool birthday party for your daughter and wish to be a part of the celebration (similar to #1 above). It could also be that you just moved into a house, want to create new memories, and decorate the walls with meaningful art…
What about celebrating the day you give COVID-19 the finger because restrictions no longer prevent you from hugging and kissing the people you love?!
6. Your photos will be seen and enjoyed the way they should
That is, they’ll get printed! You might not think printing your photos is important, but it is. Technology fails and changes all the time. Phones and memory cards get lost or broken. The cloud requires an internet connection…
Printed photos can be seen and enjoyed everyday. In the blink of an eye. Without having to turn on a device.
A wall gallery of joyful images can cheer you up on a cold winter day when you long for the bright summer days. A beautiful photo book of your favourite memories sparks conversations. Your printed photos strengthen your bond and boost your kids’ self-esteem.
I know you can print your photos yourself, but do you? How many photos are up on your walls? How many books lay on your coffee table and on shelves in your house? My wedding photos are still on DVDs. (Yep, USB sticks were not a thing back then!) I thought I only needed the digital files because I could make my own book. Well guess what? I procrastinated, had kids, and started taking thousands of photos of them and making books about them instead…
Were these 6 reasons to hire a documentary family photographer this summer convincing?
If you need one more reason, do it for your kids and for your future self. You’ll feel nostalgic when you realize how fast they grow and you’ll love seeing yourself with your kids in photos of your everyday life. And they’ll love it too!
Are you up for it?
If you’re not ready to hire a documentary family photographer and would like to know more about the styles of photography you can choose for your family, check out this article: Lifestyle or documentary family photography—how to choose the right style for your family?
I'm Marie-Pierre, an easygoing mother of two and a documentary family photographer. I believe we can all learn and grow from other people's experiences. Real life stories help us relate to each other, open our minds and feel better about ourselves.
this blog is a collection of featured client stories, tips, and articles on various family related topics. I hope you will find some inspiration!
