What is Documentary Family Photography?

My grandparents had stacks of family photo albums in every room and hallways filled with memories hanging wall to wall. I believe my love for this art was nurtured by dozens of family photo albums on every end and coffee table, every moment documented and tucked away in stacks for family and guests to explore. 

DOCUMENTARY FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY 

Documentary Family Photography (DFP) is the photojournalistic approach to capturing your family as you truly are and in your own home, whether it's neat or a beautiful mess. The goal is to capture true and authentic moments of your everyday; to freeze moments of genuine connection and emotion between you and your loved ones. No one gives you directions on how to pose. No one suggests coordinating clothes. Anything goes, the photographer lets each moment unfold as it truly would in real life. 

The best part of this session is the story: from the way your toddler takes out storage bins and uses them as a boat, to your teen tucked away in a favorite hiding place, or the way you console your sleepy little one. Morning routines and evening routines. These are the details your family will cherish for years to come; your unique tapestry of moments that make up your every day.

Do you dream of having your favorite moments photographed with all your family in the picture, including you? Do you hope your children can relive the real memories of their childhood through beautifully-told photographs? If you said YES to BOTH, then documentary family photography is for YOU! 

I keep going back to my grandparent's coffee table with the albums. They were real moments, moments I gravitated to as a child and am still drawn to today. The moments that evoke memories and nostalgia.

I want to remember these moments of life,  and I know you do too.  I'm not suggesting to forego  formal or lifestyle portraits.  What I AM suggesting is the documentary photography has just as much of a place next to your beautiful family portraits. There's room for both.