I get asked allllll the time “do you have a studio?” And with the exception of newborns, my answer is (and likely always will be) the same “nope! I’m a lifestyle photographer through and through”. It’s actually not a decision I ever really struggled with…studio or lifestyle…props or no props, etc. I could spend an hour explaining why I chose lifestyle over studio…but I’d rather show you with an image (or two). :)
Two images that for all intents and purposes purposes are the same “pose”. Except the one on the left was a pose…and is the ONLY studio like image we have framed in our home. I was a crazed new photographer praying my two small children would sit in a 4×4 space long enough without freaking out for me to get one, just ONE, decent image I could hang on the wall. Sure, they look adorable and I’m thankful to have the way they look at 6 months and 2 1/2 frozen in time, but it doesn’t evoke a whole lot of emotion for me.
The image on the right however…brings back a slew of wonderful memories. The girls prepping before taking the plunge down the slide together, McKenna’s slight look of hesitation because Kennedy was holding her just a tad too tight…the memory of them insisting on putting on their pjs (dirty face from dinner and all) and going out for “just one more” slide and feeling like rockstars getting to stay up just a little later than normal. I smile when I look at this picture. It immediately takes me back to that warm summer night and the joy I felt watching my two lovely ladies giggle and play together.
So that, my friends, is the reason I don’t “do” studio. I want to capture the raw moments. You know if you’ve had a session with me that I do very little directing (though I will likely wipe away any crumbs from their lips)…and I let your kids be themselves. I make it as stress free as possible and FUN. We play the games your children like to play…we run, we tickle, we play hide and seek and peek-a-boo. And that’s what allows me to capture who your children really are and not just simply what they look like. And if you haven’t had a session with me yet, give me a ring. Lets have some FUN!
