Lifestyle Photography
¿What is
Lifestyle Photography?
The goal of lifestyle photographers is to capture moments of authentic connections. I'm not going to go through a list of poses from a Pinterest board to address you. Rather, we will take the time to guide you to authentic moments so that we can capture the spontaneous smiles, the raucous laughter and the most intimate moments. As a lifestyle photographer, I am here to document those everyday moments that we don't realise are great memories to cherish. My job is to make sure your session is as relaxed and carefree as possible to create memorable images that showcase your real life.
Locations
We have two options for choosing the location of your shoot: outdoors or in the privacy of your own home. Both options are beautiful and the best option to choose will depend on the images you want to get. Are you looking for a more relaxed and familiar atmosphere? Or maybe you prefer to spend some time on the beach or in nature to admire the sunset? Are you hoping for some tender photos of you and your little ones at home? Or do you prefer more natural photos with your hair blowing in the wind? Take your time to think about what you want to achieve with these images before choosing the location and read below for more information about indoor or outdoor locations.
At Home
There’s nothing more comfortable and stress-free than having a photo shoot in your own home. A home shoot usually allows children to relax more and is ideal when the weather isn’t on our side, not to mention that the light coming through the windows is lovely.
The best time of day for an indoor shoot is from the morning until midday, so it’s worth bearing this in mind when choosing a time.
You don’t need to have a beautiful, tidy home; we can take the photos in a bedroom with windows, in the living room, the kitchen – any room with a bit of natural light will do.
Cooking, playing, sprawled on a bed, sitting by a window… there are as many possibilities as there are families and homes.
Outdoors
Outdoors
I love outdoor sessions because it is the opportunity to take advantage of the sunlight. The best time for these sessions is sunrise or sunset. Maybe it's good to keep this in mind for young children, as it can affect their sleep schedules, but it's really worth it.
For families, these are fun sessions to capture moments of laughter and happiness.
For outdoor sessions, we will choose together the best location that suits your personality: do you like walking in the countryside, are you fascinated by fields of tall golden grasses, does your family love water and are you all willing to get your feet wet? Outdoor shoots can add a magical touch to your images.
Emotional Photography
As a lifestyle photographer, I take the time to guide you towards authentic moments with your loved ones throughout the shoot. I will not focus on the typical "look at the camera and smile" images. Although, I can always include some more posed shots if you wish.
You will only have to look directly into the camera if I ask you to do so. I am here for you to sit comfortably in front of the camera and for everyone to relax in order to capture beautiful moments and create emotional photographs. I will direct you towards a beautiful light, ask you to walk holding hands, suggest tickling or cuddling, have fun with the little ones during the session and little by little your true personality will come out.
I love it when families take control after a simple prompt and allow their interactions to unfold without artifice. Sitting and capturing these moments of natural connections happening in front of my camera is my favourite moment. Although I can guide you, I love to see how you naturally interact with each other. The sessions will be a mix of your moments with a few prompts to better guide you.
Be Yourself
What I am really asking you to do is to be just that: yourself. I am not here to judge you; I am here to capture your most honest self. That version of you that your loved ones know and that we seek to preserve in our session. Please be open. Don't be afraid to love your babies or your partner as if no one else were there. I want you to laugh out loud, snuggle tightly, run your fingers lovingly through their hair, tell them with passion and purpose how much you love them, and stay connected to your loved ones at all times.
You will never have to ask me "is that okay?" because if it feels natural to you and the way you connect with those you are being photographed with, then it's okay with me.
Allow yourself to be in the moment as much as possible and enjoy the experience. Laughter is always welcome, tears of joy and little smiles of love too.
Wardrobe and Styling
Let's take a deep breath before we start. The idea of choosing a wardrobe for you and everyone else who will be part of the shoot can seem a little overwhelming. I totally understand and have put together some helpful tips to make wardrobe selection easy and enjoyable.
Firstly, for at-home sessions, I want you to think comfortable and like you're hanging out at home. Think bare feet, comfortable clothes and being true to yourself.
For outdoor sessions, I’d also advise you to make sure you’re comfortable first and foremost!! On the beach, we’ll take our shoes off; in the countryside, we’ll wear shoes that are suitable for walking on dirt tracks and clothes that allow us to move around easily.
Styling Tips
1. Choosing colours: I used to have a guide with all the earthy and neutral colour palettes that might look good in photos, but I’ve decided to remove it. If you want neutral colours, perfect; if you want yellow, red, green or orange, perfect! I want you to feel comfortable in the clothes you’re wearing and for them to bring out your personality; I don’t want you to be ‘dressed up’ just for the photos. The more natural your clothes are, the more authentic the photos will be.
2. Don’t hesitate to add jewellery, hats, waistcoats, scarves, belts, braces, etc. to give it a special touch.
3. Feel comfortable: avoid high heels and clothes that are too tight so you can move around and feel at ease.
4. Don’t all dress in matching colours as a family; photos of people in jeans and white T-shirts are out of fashion. Feel free to mix colours and patterns.
5. If we’re having a shoot on the beach or by the river, do remember to bring swimwear and/or clothes that can get wet (and towels to dry off with).
6. We’ll just avoid logos or large prints on clothes, as they’re very eye-catching and tend to distract from the photos.
7. And if you have any questions, I’m here to help you choose.
Nudity and Skin on Skin
Maybe a priori you are embarrassed to take off some clothes or you don't look good to do skin to skin with your baby, here nobody is going to judge you but I can assure you that the pregnancy photos with few clothes and skin to skin with your baby are beautiful, emotional and elegant.
At all times I will make you feel comfortable to create tender and timeless images of a time in your life that will never be repeated.
I still respect everyone's decision, and every session is different.
This is the end of my little guide to prepare your photo shoot with me. If you still have any questions, I am at your disposal at any time to answer them.
I can't wait to meet you and your family to take pictures that I hope will last in time and will be for you a unique memory that will tell your real story.