What is Lifestyle photography?

I looked up “lifestyle photography” on Google and I was directed to many photographer websites and blogs that offer lifestyle photography as their style so I re-entered “lifestyle photography- definition” and about the 10th item down came across this which kinda made me laugh:

Lifestyle photography is photography re-creating “real” life situations in a controlled setting. Lifestyle photography is one of the most popular and consistent types of photography in the market today. Lighting is generally bright, airy and quite natural looking. Photographic control is lacking, so faces may not show clearly, settings can be quite confusing with many distracting elements, expressions on subjects can be quite disturbing and not very genuine nor pleasing, and most images cannot be printed accurately in color. There are many commercial applications,however, including magazine editorial and advertising usage.

So I thought I would put my own thoughts here on the blog as to what I consider lifestyle photography since I think as a photographer I use this term a lot and it’s a phrase on my blog, website and price list, but many people seeking a photographer may not know what it means. Am I right? If you are a photographer or have additional information or want to add things please do so in the comments- the more the merrier:)

To me the “lifestyle” style of photography means photographing you and your loved one(s) interacting with each other, playing a game, holding hands and walking, talking, cooking dinner, swinging on the swings, drinking wine at a cafe, picking up shells, eating ice cream, jumping on the bed, having a picnic, laughing at each others jokes all preferably outside with great afternoon or morning light in a fun setting or location that has meaning to you all with little direction from me on what to do. Even just looking at each other, not at me, while I’m photographing gets really great images. I will not be sitting you in a studio with lighting and backdrops or telling you where to stand, how to smile, etc. The best images from my sessions are those where you don’t know I’m really there taking your photo. If I see a spot with great light in the area where we are shooting I will want to go over there and photograph and let you know that this or that spot looks great lets try over there. With small children and infants they are on the move going where they want to go, doing what they want to do and being happy and excited. Kids love playing, they don’t love having to sit and smile at the camera. Did you ever try to get a 2 year old to sit and look at the camera AND smile on a stool in a studio after you have been waiting in line for 40 minutes- not easy! But if they are in their backyard playing and having a good time- guess what? They are smiling:) and smiling kids are happy kids and we get lots of great shots of you interacting and smiling with each other. I have fun, you have fun, we get some amazing images- a win-win-win situation!

Now I’m not a model and most likely you aren’t either and you may be nervous in front of the camera(I know I was when Chris and I had our photos taken last fall!) but I want to have you be as relaxed and as much like yourself around me as possible for your images so there may be some direction in the beginning of our session. I may say- go over there, sit on that bench and smile and talk to each other, tell a joke to your kids, walk down the street holding hands, everybody get on the bed and cuddle. It’s all about the moment and the emotion between you and your family. I have to say towards the end of all my sessions everyone is the most relaxed and some of the best images I’ve ever captured are the last few clicks of the shutter. If you are looking for a posed family photo I’m likely not the person you should be hiring or spending your money on as we won’t be a good match for what you want.

I’m sure many people have thoughts or comments so please leave them below and lets get the conversation going.

Some images that I just LOVE and fit with what I’m saying above- a picture speaks a 1000 words right?

Here I had them stand against the wall, the kids were getting tired so the parents were holding them. With a little help from mom and dad we got these great images:) Some of my favorites I’ve taken: