Lifestyle Photography is another word for just capturing moments! 

 

The goal is to capture real-life moments and emotion, details and beauty in all forms

It’s capturing real moments that are not posed or staged!  (this does not mean that you can’t help the process along) but that you are not directing a child or people to look directly at the camera or you.

 

 

CAMERA SETTINGS AND GEAR

 

• Make sure your shutter speed is fast enough

• Make sure you depth/aperture is where you want it…if you want to make sure everything is in focus, keep your f/stop higher
  
  
• Use the right lens
• MAKE SURE YOU HAVE YOUR CAMERA

 

CREATING EMOTION

• You don’t always need a face to create emotion

• You can use your environment to create emotion

 

• A connection can create emotion

CREATING CONNECTION

• Move people or encourage them to be in each others space
  
• Learn to communicate with those you are photographing
• Ask them questions 

• Create connection between the eyes of your subject and your lens

 

Documenting life, when you are not posing and you just want great shots there are several things to keep in mind and it all has to do with composition!

COMPOSITION

• Rule of Thirds

• Vantage Points

• Framing

• Negative space

• Triangles

FOR GROUPS:

• Start posed
• Them make a game

 

• Share a secret

 

• Group hug

FOR INDIVIDUALS:

 

TIPS AND TRICKS

• Be patient!  It takes times to find these moments, you can’t force them, you have to let them happen. 

  

• Shoot past when you would normally shoot:  What do I mean by that? I mean, often we capture “the shot” and then we think I’m done…but for these moments, you need to keep shooting…it’s then that you capture the true connections and stories

 

• Vantage points are important:  Often a story is much more powerful if you change your angles and vantage points.  If you are taking a picture of kids playing checkers, then put you camera down on the level of the board (this happened this weekend with a friend of my sons) If you want to get your kids playing, hop up on a ladder and shoot from above, you will see that your story might be much more powerful.

   

• Often you need a series:  There are times when one single image will tell a story (that is every photographer’s dream) but often you need several and that’s okay!  Be willing to take those several and present them as a story! 

• Camera settings:  Make sure your camera settings are where they need to be to capture what you want.  Do you need a fast shutter? Do you need a shallow depth? Do you want shadows? or do you want lots of light? 

• Ask Yourself What story do you want to tell? Before you even click…ask what do I want my story to tell.  It can be as simple as “I just want to capture this moment” or it can be something like “I want to show her dimples”

 

 

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO GET REAL EMOTION FROM PEOPLE

• Be Silly:  Don’t be afraid to be goofy…especially with kids!  Ask crazy questions “are you married” or “Who has the stinkiest farts”  You will get giggles
• Have people make the range of faces:  Meaning ask them to show eachother their I’m mad at you face, or  I adore you face…keep shooting so you get those real moments
• Have them move!  Run, Jump, twirl, dance, tickle any of these things will help you get true emotion
• Encourage them to talk to one another while you are shooting

 

BIG TAKE AWAYS!!

• Always be ready!
• Remember composition
• Shoot through the moment
• Do what you can do to create emotion and connection