I was having a hard time with my oldest son wanting nothing to do with anything other than video games. He is only 15 years old and I knew that if I didn't do something to encourage him to get out of the house a bit that he would spend all of his time playing those games. For his birthday, I bought him a really nice digital camera. I signed the two of us up for classes to learn how to use DSLR cameras to capture images that were works of art. This blog contains many of the tips that we learned together.
Lifestyle photography is quickly taking over as more people want their real moments captured, as opposed to staged photos with matching outfits and fake smiles like what some studio portraits turned into. If you are a photographer, whether for a hobby or as a profession, you should learn lifestyle photography. Here are some tips to keep in mind when you choose this style.
Learn to Anticipate Special Moments
The challenge with lifestyle photography is that you are not supposed to tell the subjects what to do, but instead capture real moments. The problem here is that it is sometimes hard to get the moment until after it has already happened. With time, you will learn how to anticipate the moments before they happen. For example, if you are taking pictures of a little girl who just turned one, and she is in a field of flowers, get your camera ready to go when she picks up a flower. This is when you know something good is coming, whether she plucks a petal, puts it up to her nose to sniff, or the scent causes her to sneeze, which is always a fun shot.
Look at Things From Different Perspectives
If you always take pictures from the same angle, they are all going to look the same. Lifestyle photography is all about choosing different perspectives and looking at details a studio photographer would never think about. For example, if a family wants their pictures taken while at the beach, find some rocks where you can get pictures from a little higher up. When photographing children, sit down on the ground with them to see things from their perspective. For a bride who wants some lifestyle shots, sit off to the side, but on a chair the same level as hers and get some shots as she looks in the mirror, adjusting her makeup or hair.
Allow the Subjects to be Themselves
Not all moments are what people see as picture-perfect, but that is the beauty of lifestyle photography. You are capturing all the moments of someone's life, not just the ones that show their best features. Keep taking the photographs even if a teenager is pouting, a parent is checking something on their phone, kids are sticking out their tongues at you, or someone is crying due to having their picture taken. These are real moments the family will treasure, no matter how flawed they might seem at the time.
Encourage the Moments to Happen
Sometimes people aren't comfortable just doing their own thing in front of a camera, so they might need some hoaxing. There are ways to motivate them and encourage these precious and casual moments. For someone who seems shy and not sure what to do, give them something to do. If they are at the lake, give them a fishing pole. If a teenager seems bored, play music or talk to them. This allows people to come out of their shell and act more like themselves, which always turns into the best pictures.
Share8 June 2016
