What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography
The word lifestyle is a fairly recent term in the world of family and newborn photography. Before lifestyle there were two main types of photography families had available for portraits traditional family Photography and documentary family photography.
Traditional family photography has always reminded me of the walk-in studios at Sears or JC Penny’s from my youth. Traditional portraits have planned posing. The subject is expected to stay within the parameters of the pose and look at the camera with a great toothy grin. A prompt we are all familiar with might be used, “say cheese”. For traditional photography families are encouraged to dress in their finest. This bring me back to my old Mary Janes and itchy white tights.
Documentary is the other type of classic photography. In documentary there is no posing, in fact, there is not supposed to be an awareness of the photographer at all. The photographer is simply an observer catching families in action. Where traditional photography aims for perfection - documentary photography is the pendulum swinging the opposite direction, trying to catch imperfection. Documentary photography bring images to mind in which kids are in their natural environment. Documentary is likely to catch a chocolate smeared face, dirt under nails holding a bucket, playrooms filled with toys scattered over the ground, or kids running through sprinkles on a not so manicured backyard.
Lifestyle is where tradition and documentary come together and form that balanced medium. Like traditional photography lifestyle photography utilizes posing family members. However, unlike traditional family photography which requires strict posing and no deviation from the pose, lifestyle means the photographer is a guide that will gently direct your family through predetermined poses which allows, and encourage, authentic interactions and movement.
Unlike traditional photography lifestyle photography does not aim to create perfect posing that results in looking at the camera. Instead lifestyle photography provides guided posing that is meant to place all family members in an aesthetically pleasing composition and with prompts to interact with each other. Prompts in Lifestyle photography might be, “look at each other” or “touch your new baby’s nose.” The goal it to catch authentic connection, joy and love.
Similar to documentary photography the photographer steps back and allows events to unfold as an observer. Lifestyle, like documentary photography, does catch the unscripted moments - however, it catch plenty of loosely scripted moments too. Your photographer is an expert in watching for a moment between moments - when a sibling rungs up to peak at your newest addition.
I have worked as a lifestyle newborn photography for many years - I highly prefer this type of photography for newborns as it focuses on connection between family members. Even more importantly, lifestyle is focused on relaxing in your own home and the natural intimacy between family members. I can remember having all three of littles ones and needing that time in my home to adjust to my new normal. I love that lifestyle photography catches a little glimmer of this precious and fleeting time!
If you are looking for a lifestyle photographer in the Boulder or Denver Colorado areas please feel free to reach out! I am booking my 2024 calendar. Click here to learn a little bit more about me and click here for newborn FAQs.
