Through a mother’s lens: lifestyle photography

When I became a mother I discovered my love for photography. It not only captures what children do but who they are. In honor of Mother’s Day this week, I’m sharing a few approaches I use to photograph kids at home.

Both portraiture and lifestyle photography can tell a story. The latter focuses on everyday moments where the photographer acts an an observer. This creates authentic imagery and allows kids to be themselves.

Consider the lighting

Capturing lifestyle moments does not always mean perfect lighting. Take advantage of it when it’s great, but when it’s not, I either go outside or I embrace the moodiness.

For inside shots, east morning light and south afternoon light work well for bright and airy images. In rooms with low light, take photos next to a window. For outside, overcast days or open shade on the north side of structures creates soft, even lighting. “Golden hour” with the warm west sun is dynamic and creates dimensional shadows.

Look for details

Photography is not just about smiling faces. Look for interesting details that tell a story or that capture a specific moment or relationship.

Remove “noise”

Some lifestyle photography is beautiful showing everything exactly as-is. For a slightly more styled shot, I like to remove obvious unwanted “noise” to get an image that highlights the subject or activity. This might mean tidying up the area or repositioning yourself to exclude unwanted items in the background. If the colors in the image take away from the subject or story, I usually process the image in black and white to subdue distractions.

Experiment with framing

To make your composition more interesting, frame the moment by including more environmental context. This creates an observational effect.

Look for authentic moments

When I notice my kids doing something characteristic of them, I like to snap some shots. I don’t prompt them to look at me (although sometimes they do). Capturing moments of your kids exploring and doing activities they love is a great way to remember them at certain ages.