… “We’re not very interesting! There won’t be anything to photograph!”…

I hear this ALL. THE. TIME.

Let me assure you, you are not boring and there is ALWAYS plenty to capture! It is all the subtle moments and details that happen during an ordinary day that make documentary family photos so meaningful. In fact the more ordinary your day, the more authentic it will feel and the whole family will be relaxed and natural.

Trust the process

One of the most important roles of documentary family photography is to capture the essence of a family and the character of each individual. It’s about, personality, interactions, how each person fits in and how they contribute. There isn’t a cookie cutter look to documentary family photo sessions, because every family is unique and every home is different … it’s my job to celebrate this individuality.

“I was really worried that we were just not going to be interesting enough, but the photos are amazing. I didn’t realise before our session, but I get it now … when we saw our printed photos, with the little everyday things elevated to something beautiful and majestic, it made me realise how special our day-to-day life is and how important it is to have a record of that.” – Lisa

Sometimes there is a temptation for clients to over plan. It is nice to incorporate favourite family activities, but it’s also important to give everyone space to just be themselves, sometimes the most beautiful, deep environmental portraits come from the quietest moments.

The best way to capture life is to simply let things be. You don’t need to worry about sibling rivalry or toddler meltdowns, dirty faces or dressing up clothes, hyperactive whirlwind frenzies or quiet chilling in front of the TV … it’s all part of real life and that story will play out in your photos to make them feel both artful and authentic.

Just remember, real life is far better than any of us could plan for.

Documentary Family photography in St Albans

Something tells me that worrying about being boring was not on the mind of Becca when she booked her shoot. With four young boys, there is always something happening and her house is rarely quiet.

One of the wonderful things about long form sessions is that I get to really experience the different relationships in a family, and I can bring this through into the images, so it was a really treat to observe and capture a large family. The oldest brother took his role seriously, he was the protector and peace maker, there was true sibling rivalry between the middle two boys which brought all the spectrum of emotions, and the littlest thrived on being adored and looked after by every one and was desperate to be able to keep up with his big brothers.

We were lucky, their adventure session took place just before the weather turned rainy, so we were able to sandwich a favourite dog walk in between everyday happenings at home. By the time the gallery was ready, dark nights and cold weather had well and truly set in, which made it extra lovely to look back at the beautiful day we spent together at the end of summer.

It’s so difficult to narrow down my favourite images into a blog post, if you want to see more you can watch the slideshow here.

Emma Collins in an international award-winning documentary photographer. She specialises in documentary family photography in St Albans, Hertfordshire, creating art from the everyday. By using a contemporary day-in-the-life approach to sessions she captures natural, candid, storytelling family photos. Has this whet your appetite for documentary family photography? Learn more about different types of sessions here or get in touch to book your session.

The post Life with boys | Why everyday stories are anything but boring | St Albans Family Photography appeared first on Emma Collins.

What is a day-in-the-life family photoshoot?

Day-in-the-life photo sessions are where photojournalism meets family photography. They preserve the intricate story of your family life right now, from dawn til dusk and everything in between. Nothing posed, just simple, honest moments artfully captured to celebrate your uniquely beautiful family life. Through skilful use of composition and camera technique I elevate your everyday into contemporary art, you will be surprised by the magic that I find!

During your day-in-the-life session I spend several hours with you, so everyone has time to relax in to it. You may choose to mooch around your home and play in the garden, or you might have some activities planned. Whatever happens I go at your pace, following your typical day, documenting real moments, routines and connections as they unfold naturally. You’ll forget that I’m there with a camera as it’s more like hanging out with an old friend! When you look back at your photos you want them to feel authentically ‘you’, so don’t have to prepare anything, you don’t need to get dressed up, you don’t even need to tidy.

Sound easy? It really is the most stress-free photoshoot you will ever have and I promise the photos will be the most meaningful.

Documentary family photography in Cambridge

As a photographer I love to work on these long form sessions, it’s where my true passion lies. I put my heart and soul into a shoot, spending a full day immersing myself in your family to capture the wonder of your ordinary. It allows me to take my time and really slow down. This enables me to watch and wait until something catches my interest, something that is unique to your family. So you can imagine how excited I was to be invited to spend 24 hours photographing the Hagues family in Cambridge.

It was an honour to be asked to photograph the Hagues as Diana is also a family photographer. I know from experience that as a photographer you are always behind the lens. So ironically you are never in your own family photos. Consequently I made sure I put Diana front and centre to show her how much she means to her boys.

… but you might also notice another protagonist – the yellow ball! Any family with footie mad kids will recognise this character. I love how the colour pop weaves through the series to tie everything together.

We had the most fantastic time together so it was impossible to narrow down my favourites. Here is a tiny selection! However, if you want to get a real feel for how a full day-in-the-life session works, watch this slideshow.

Emma Collins in an international award-winning documentary photographer. She specialises in documentary family photography in Cambridge, creating art from the everyday. By using a contemporary day-in-the-life approach to sessions she captures natural, candid, storytelling family photos. Has this whet your appetite for documentary family photography? Learn more about different types of sessions here or get in touch to book your session.

The post Pressing pause | Why book a day-in-the-life family photoshoot? | Family photography in Cambridge appeared first on Emma Collins.

Documentary family photography in Harpenden, Hertfordshire

I adored spending time with Sarah and her family! Because I spent half a day with the family, I had time to observe them intimately. Finding out what their home life was really like, allowed me to authentically document their everyday routines and rituals, and how they interacted as a family unit.

When I arrived early on Saturday morning, Sarah’s oldest son was already dressed in his wellies. He was having his sleeves rolled up, ready for some ‘hard work’ digging in the sandpit. Their typical weekend centred around getting dirty on a woodland walk, mucking out the horses and working up an appetite for the customary family lunch. Together they cooked up scrambled egg and grated tomatoes, a tradition dating back to their Spanish wedding breakfast. Exhausted from the morning’s activities the boys settled down for afternoon naps, my cue to say goodbye.

Why documenting the everyday is important

It was so lovely to watch and photograph the family spend time together. Looking back, the walk we took through the woods opposite their home feels especially poignant. It’s a walk that Sarah was keen to capture as it was part of their everyday routine. When I went back to deliver all their frames, the landscape looked different. Tragically, and without warning, the land owner had decided to chop down the woods. The photos we made that day had taken on an even greater significance, because that special part of their daily life had been erased forever. The first thing Sarah said to me was how upset she felt. She was so grateful that we had captured this part of their story for them to look back on and remember fondly.

This is exactly why everyone needs documentary family photoshoots! When you’re in the thick of it, parenting young kids with all hands on deck, it feels never ending. But the thing is, life has a habit of changing without warning. Memories fade and when life moves on you ache to remember how things used to feel. Authentically documented family life brings back all the lost memories.

If you would like to find out more about documentary family sessions, click here.

Emma Collins in an international award-winning documentary family photographer in Harpenden and St Albans specialising in creating art from the everyday. She captures natural, candid, storytelling family photos with her contemporary day-in-the-life approach. If this has whet your appetite for documentary family photography, learn more about different types of sessions here or get in touch to book your very own session.

The post 1/2 Day-in-the-life | Days with little boys & horses | Family photography in Harpenden appeared first on Emma Collins.