The goal of lifestyle photography is to convey real-life situations artistically. By capturing candid, unstaged scenes, this type of photography tells people’s stories.
Although a lifestyle approach can be applied to any people-centric type of photography, many experts believe that family portraits are the prime example. Lifestyle photography is distinguished from candid portraits by the photographers’ involvement in the scene.
With these ten lifestyle photography tips, you will be able to capture heartwarming stories and find your footing in this genre.
Shoot for Authenticity
In lifestyle photography, the goal is to document life as it happens, so you need images that look natural and as close to reality as possible. The notion of someone following you with any kind of camera is probably not normal to those you work with.
A lifestyle photographer captures images that are authentic to real-life situations. This means no posed portraits, no props, no artificial lighting, no studio photography. Your role should be limited to providing suggestions on where pictures should be taken or which outfits would suit them best. However, you should not interfere with the session’s overall look or feel.
You should encourage your clients to be as natural as possible. There’s no need to go through the children’s toys or overdress them before you arrive. These small gestures will also make them feel more comfortable, which will result in less forced scene-stealing throughout the photoshoot.
Plan Ahead
Although you want to capture spontaneous moments, that doesn’t mean you should just show up without doing some planning. For a successful lifestyle photography assignment, you need to prepare in two main areas: personally and technically.
Prior to the shooting day, you need to get to know your clients personally. Get to know their likes and dislikes, what they like to do together, and what they’re passionate about. Be familiar with these things to the point where you could have a discussion about them. Younger subjects need to feel comfortable enough in front of a stranger to open up and be themselves.
When it comes to the technical side, you should learn as much as you can about the areas in which you will be working. You should also be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. You can, for instance, ask your client about natural light before the shoot and then choose your shooting time accordingly if the photoshoot will take place at their home. Be sure to know the settings of your camera like the back of your hand. This is because you won’t be able to control the subjects. Therefore, you’ll need to be able to react quickly to any changes.
Use Everyday Locations
Light does not play a major role in choosing a location for a lifestyle photoshoot as it does in most other types of photography. Instead, you should consider where your subjects feel most comfortable, and what truly represents them.
What do they do in the afternoons? Do they play in the park or stay at home and create? Do they look forward to exploring the great outdoors on the weekend or would they rather relax in their living room on a lazy Sunday morning?
All of these questions should be answered during the planning stage, and you can use them to decide where to conduct your photo shoot. You will be able to capture the different interests of your subjects by choosing two or more locations whenever possible. Also, you will have a backup plan should your first choice not work out.
Get Everyone Comfortable
The vast majority of people are uncomfortable being completely open in front of strangers, let alone a stranger with a camera. You’re responsible for making your subjects feel comfortable when you’re with them. It is possible to achieve this goal in several ways.
Get to know them by talking about a topic they enjoy. The planning stage will provide you with this information if you’ve done it right. You could share some fun facts about dinosaurs as the children show you their rooms or chat about the latest NFL trade rumors over coffee. You should keep the discussion light and let them do the majority of the talking.
It is imperative to take into account their daily routines if children are participating in the photo shoot, as is most commonly the case with lifestyle photography. If the kids are hungry or tired, then a gorgeous setting during the golden hour for photography is pointless. Respect crucial times in the day like mealtimes and nap times, and make sure they have fun throughout the process.
And finally, don’t let your clients be the ones to carry the burden of the scene. Having a conversation about the type of image you want to capture and how you intend to capture it will make them feel more comfortable in front of the camera. We’ll learn how to direct the photoshoot without ruining the purpose of lifestyle photography in the next step on this list.
Direct Action Not Poses
Tell your subjects what to do instead of how to do it when taking lifestyle photos. This way you can keep your photos candid while still offering them some guidance. Ask them to show you their favorite game instead of telling them what to do for their family portrait.
In this way, their interactions will be more natural, and they may even forget about the camera. Whenever a situation arises, let it unfold naturally. However, don’t hesitate to suggest a change of activity if you wish to try something different or if the one you’re doing isn’t working.
Anticipate Movement
Photographing lifestyles is quite similar to photographing wildlife. The environment is dynamic and fast-paced, and you have only a small amount of influence over it. A toddler’s speed is nothing compared to the speed of a bounding deer.
Moments of special significance in lifestyle photography rarely last longer than a second. So it’s key to be able to anticipate them and shoot at any moment. You can capture even more meaningful images when you use the burst mode to capture the instants immediately before and after the actual moment.
Pay Attention to Detail
Taking a wide-angle shot is not necessary for every photo you take. In fact, some might not even be considered portraits. It is helpful to zoom in on details that deserve a close-up shot and to be aware of what makes the space theirs, like a box of toys or a cat sleeping in the window, in order to capture images that truly reflect the people you are photographing.
The aim of lifestyle photography is to capture more than just a portrait session. As a result, your clients will appreciate the effort you put into finding more details than just the obvious. Browse through fine art photography portfolios online or read photography books such as The Photographer’s Eye to get inspired.
Take Part in Conversations
In most photography careers, people skills are crucial, and lifestyle photography is no exception. Although you should minimize your interference with the photo shoot, don’t act as if you aren’t there.
If you talk throughout the photoshoot, your subjects will see you less as a photographer and more as a guest, which will help them remain calm and natural. Additionally, it will allow you to direct the action without appearing out of nowhere to give orders and disappearing again once the order has been given.
Keep Your Camera Handy
During lifestyle photography, it is imperative that your camera remains ready. As you study to become a professional photographer, you’ll discover that some of the most memorable images are captured through the most unexpected means. In the case of capturing these unexpected moments, this is all the more true.
Stay on top of the action even during small breaks and be ready to shoot. Here your client’s self-awareness will be at its lowest, showing raw emotions and his or her true self.
Tell Their Story
Ultimately, your clients don’t pay you to take a couple of nice portraits, but rather to tell their story. They make you part of their lives in exchange for a tangible memory of those moments. Thus, you must move beyond technically flawless portraits and learn how to tell stories through your photographs.
The style of your photography should reflect the relationship between each image within the photoshoot. Additionally, if you are printing the images or sharing them with your clients as an online gallery, be sure to present them in narrative order.
Conclusion
Lifestyle photography is a powerful art form that captures authentic moments and emotions, showcasing the beauty of everyday life. Through thoughtful composition, natural lighting, and genuine interactions, photographers can create compelling stories that resonate with audiences. Embracing this genre allows us to cherish the little joys and celebrate the essence of being human.