If we were going for a walk, I’d always have my camera strapped to my Spyder belt so I could join in with the activities but when the kids were in the moment I could just quickly shoot something. Documentary photography uses minimal post-production. : When you find a scene that is interesting, photograph it from various angles. “The top tip I live by when I document my own family: check all corners of the frame before pressing the shutter. It’s to break into the topic you’re photographing. 3. There are so many benefits to membership, including lots more educational opportunities – we only just launched on July 1st 2020, but we already have 2 hours of exclusive educational videos for members in our family photography tips section, with more to be added regularly. As a mother myself I feel that this adds beautifully to the story I’m capturing as parenthood is a rollercoaster of emotions and I want to remember it all!

Some of my favourites photographers are Henri Cartier Bresson, Robert Frank, Eliott Erwitt, Dorothea Lange, Mary Ellen Mark, and Martin Parr. My personal rule is that any post-production is done to help tell the main story – never change it. And I walk too much too. Secondly, trust the approach and trust your eye. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Capturing facial expressions in your documentary photography is a great way to convey the emotion of a story. Don’t try to shoot everything in front of you.

All the planning in the world doesn’t work if you don’t have the basics right. And it has made such a huge difference just in the last two client shoots that I have done in the last two weeks…. For me it’s truly about being personal to the subject I am photographing. In a longer session take the time to have a cup of tea and a chat. I think back to the times when I didn’t take spare batteries, set the focus properly, or check the tides table. Look for tiny nuances of the different relationships.

I am sure I will make lots of mistakes on the way, no doubt. If you’re interested in getting started in documentary photography, you should know upfront that it is not an inconsequential undertaking; you have little to no control over timing, lighting, or the subject matter itself. We found out my husband’s grandmother was a hobby photographer during the 20’s and she had some really great images and albums! My main tip that helps me a lot during family sessions is to simply leave all my fears and insecurities behind once I step into the family’s home and let myself go with the flow. While documentary work is always long-term. And meanwhile the two are easy to tell apart! It’s only when we step back and genuinely observe that we’re truly documenting real family life. Why will other people be interested in your story? These were all excellent learning curves!

So do all of us. Don’t expect them to know the rules of different photography genres so spell out what to expect. 4. But they are not documentary. To see how much they adore their children and how much their children adore them. We want to find something socially relevant, something that hasn’t been shot before. Learn more: Top 10 lenses to step up your photography game (coming soon). Documentary photography has a long and rich tradition worldwide, and you don’t have to go far for inspiration. Make 10 images of 10 different subject matter without moving your feet. So as soon as I met him, I started to make Potter references, which opened up some trust. And by working with fewer people, you can also establish a deeper relationship. Keep that in mind if you want good sales. Tea and cookies at Grammy’s. Get inspired by your own experiences and environment, and check out the following documentary photography tips to help you tell your stories. Could you incorporate archival photographs into your story? Brené Brown basically gave me an exit strategy out of a monumental breakdown I was going through only back in 2017. Whatever you choose is a representation of yourself and the story you are composing. Required fields are marked *. This is important when you are shooting people you don’t already know. The more they are asked to do this, the more they ‘perform’ for the camera. Introduce yourself, build a rapport, and do first-hand research. A few tears and tantrums is ok but 90% smiles is what’s going to be hung on their walls.