One of the enduring qualities about documentary family photos is the timeless, authentic memories they capture that take you right back to a moment in time. Photographs that show family members being engaged in various activities, sharing laughs together or expressing some genuine emotions.

The joy I feel when I look through my own childhood pictures is the same joy I want you and your kids to get from flipping through your family albums. It’s the tangible means to revisiting your past, reconnecting with the exact feelings of the captured moments and allowing loved ones to live beyond your memories. It’s a representation of your family's journey that will gain value over time as the photos tell the story of your life.

Why documentary family photography?

Documentary family photography captures the essence of your everyday life, providing a true reflection of your family's love and connections.

As a documentary family photographer, my passion lies in capturing your real, authentic moments over the staged perfection or poses. Instead of portraying a superficial view of how you look, I focus on showcasing the beauty of your everyday life from what you get up to, genuine emotions and interactions that naturally play out without interference when you are in your own natural environment.

SIX things you do not want to miss from your family photos

During the session, there are questions I will ask myself when making photos to tell your family’s story:

“What will the family miss one day?”

“What will the parents want to remember from this moment in time?”

“What memories the kids want to see in their photos of themselves/you?”

While every family is unique and there isn’t a way for me to guarantee specific types of image, I will consistently look for the following aspects in capturing your everyday life:

Your child’s perspective

How your kids see the world and experience their everyday life. By not directing the moments, I make photos that give them an insight into their personalities and characters at this stage of their childhood.

Your parenthood reality

While parenthood can be fun and rewarding, it can also be exhausting. In the thick of parenting, it can be hard to recognise those moments to make pictures yourself. I’ll make sure to put you in the frame, highlighting the rewards and challenges of parenting, while showing how much you mean to your kids.

Details matter

Your family’s story is not just told solely in your smile or embrace. Your story is told through every item and surface you touch, the art on your walls or the stacks of laundry waiting to be put away. The context in which you live often reflects your passions, interests and habits. I help to tell a fuller story of your family life with everyday items and your surroundings.

Quiet moments

Fleeting, quiet moments are often overlooked in the midst of the chaos of family life with kids. Helping to preserve these authentic moments will become cherished memories in the future.

Funny moments

Family life is peppered with lots of spontaneity and humour. In capturing the real, candid moments as they unfold, I’ll reveal the funniest moments and laughter in your everyday life.

Interactions and connections

I do my best to capture all the ways you interact and connect with each other. Because seeing the interactions your kids have with you, siblings, other family members and pets helps to remember the bond you share.

Your family story in a documentary family photoshoot

Looking through your photos of your everyday helps you to slow down and appreciate the relationships, objects and places in your life.

As a documentary family photographer, I have documented families in a wide range of settings, different family dynamics, ages, religions and cultures. I treat every family’s story with the utmost importance, capturing honest pictures that tells your story and show you how it feels. The resulting images are curated in a way that presents a narrative in your album, showcasing the journey of your family. 

Has this whet your appetite for documentary family photography? Learn more about my documentary approach and what’s involved in a day-in-the-life session. Let’s talk to book a session capturing your family’s authentic moments.