What is documentary family photography, and why you will forever abandon trendy, posed photography

First, a bit of fun history.

Family portraits were for the longest time in history reserved for the very few with enough wealth and endurance to sit through a posed live painting session. (Can you imagine what treats and threats they had to use to keep those poor little kids still for SO LONG? Yikes!) With the invention of the earliest film cameras and their broader accessibility, photographed family portraits took the same form as their painted predecessor: posed, viewer-faced, serious, and mostly uniformed.

As cameras continued to become more widespread and are now ubiquitous, family photos changed in format and look, but in philosophy they remain mostly the same, whether taken on a phone or a professional camera. They aim to signal two important things - these faces in the frame are a family unit, and this is how we looked when a particular thing/event happened. Selfies or not, we mostly all pose the same way as those early paintings (just a lot less glam looking) - we line up next to each other, face the camera, and - the new addition to the family portraits - SMILE whether you like it or not!

Documentary family photography pushes the conversation on family photography further by asking questions like: What sets you apart from other families? What does being a family actually look like in your day-to-day life? What is your family culture and identity? How do you love each other when things are not joyful and easy and mess-free? How do you hold each other through life’s toughest moments? Where does your grief meet joy and your mess meet peace? What moments will be engraved in your hearts forever?
In essence, what is your family’s story and how can it be documented through photographs?

But, does any of this really matter? Isn’t it all just decorative wall art?

This matters a lot. Photos and videos are the only way we pass down generational stories. They are also how we remember our own lived experiences. The way we photograph and what we choose to display shape a visual narrative of who we are—both as individuals and as families. It will remind us of what is important to us and where we aim to go. Photographs on your wall are essentially little vision and mission statements that everyone understands intuitively. You can imagine that a photo on the wall of a family that prioritizes status and wealth will look very different from one belonging to a family that treasures shared meals and time together. Your photos are not only snapshots of memories, but also a compass guiding your family's values and identity.

So what does this look like during a session?

Glad you asked! Since ANYTHING can be captured through the lens of authentic documentary storytelling, I will give you a few categories based on how I organize my work:

“Day in the life of” session - As the name suggest, this session a pajamas to pajamas (the kids’ pajamas, just to be clear). I join you for whatever planned and unplanned adventures you might have and artistically photograph life as it unfolds. I engage with you and have little chats but try not to disrupt any family moments or events. I am there with you for the day, but the day is not structured around me or the photos.

“A chapter in the day” - This is a 3hr version of the “Day in the life” session. It is a perfect way to experiment with this genre and document a quiet morning at home or a fun family adventure.

Funky family portraits (aka “Keep portraits weird” sessions)- Think of this as a throwback to the classic family portrait we discussed earlier - but with a playful twist that captures your family’s quirks, warmth, and everything that makes you wonderfully you. These are a lot of fun.

Special events - birthdays, weddings, living funerals, any and all of your family’s big moments. I’m here for it all.

Legacy photo essay - Think of me as your personal photojournalist, here to tell a story of someone special in your life - someone whose essence, love, and legacy you hope to carry forward, frame by frame, into the hearts of future generations.

Got a wild or wonderfully weird idea? Let’s chase it down together and turn it into a story worth passing down!