Lifestyle Photography - Five Reasons It's More Valuable Than You Realize by a Roanoke Photographer Elizabeth Farnsworth
Who says family pictures need to have forced smiles?
Lifestyle Photography-
Five reasons it's more valuable than you realize.
You've seen me throw out those words.
"Lifestyle" "Documentary" "Authentic" "Photojournalistic" "storytelling"
"But you're not quite sure what they mean. Or why they're any different than what you're used to seeing. Or how something like this would look with your family.
I know storytelling photography is something that tugs on your heart strings sometimes. I know that it's new to the Roanoke area...more like the whole Southwest Virginia area. But I think you might just like it... And here's why.
Now, tell me. Do those smiles look forced?
ONE.
It's easy.
No grumpy days leading up to your session stressing about what to buy for each person to wear. Stressing about who will match who...and how your husband hates the new pants you just bought him...but he HAS to wear the pants.
No drive-long, plea filled talks with the kids on your way to a random park, while you beg and bribe them to "be on their best behavior" and "smile nicely for Miss Beth". And while we're at it...No having to bribe the husbands either.........
No sweat stain accumulations as you chase your toddler through the park. Not in the fun, playful way. More like...the "Sit on the log and look pretty" kind of way...
Documentary photography is simple. It is my job to artistically and beautifully bottle up your story. Your family just does what it normally does while I seek out those moments that make your heart sing. You wear your favorite clothes. You hang out in your favorite environments. It really is easy.
I wonder how long it will take to realize, "Wait. He's taller than the counter now"? It all happens so slowly, yet suddenly.
TWO.
It's capturing what you want to remember.
Do you remember the first time your baby met your new baby? Their face? What they wore?
You probably have an idea...but you were still a bit exhausted. It was all kind of a blur. You might have a snapshot hiding somewhere in an old phone somewhere, but you're not really sure how to get it off or what to do with it.
The coming home outfit. You'll probably pack that up in the attic somewhere. But what if you could bottle up so much more than an outfit? What about the excitement, the tenderness, and the curiosity of that first day together?
THREE.
It's more than just a smiling face.
There is nothing wrong with smiling faces. Everyone loves smiling faces! But what do you really want?
You want real faces. You want true laughs and true expressions that will always remind you of their exact personality.
Because sometimes they change. And you want to always remember the way they were today.
FOUR.
It's a glimpse of you. For them.
We're so focused on making sure to capture their big moments.
From their FIRST breath to their FIRST day of college...
We capture it all.
But sometimes we forget how they get from each milestone to the next. And it's all because of you, dear Mama. You applauded their first steps after the fell into daddy's arms. You packed those lunch pails each first day of school. You drove them to their first baseball practice and out to ice cream after their first winning game. You were there for all of it. And you deserve...they deserve...to see you in their moments.
One day, the only tangible pieces they'll have left of you are the images. Don't you want to give them the gift of memories? The opportunity to see you, loving them and being a part of their story?
FIVE.
It's makes the ordinary extraordinary.
We always knew it was extraordinary.
We saw them sometimes. When we allowed ourselves to Stop. Breathe. Look. We saw them.
The way they were kind to their sibling and we didn't.even.ask. When they passed a milestone and you didn't even notice. Until you did, and your heart broke just a little. Because you can't remember when they did that last.
Those moments where we're quiet and we smile. And we tell ourselves, "Okay mind. Remember this. Remember this moment."
Elizabeth Farnsworth Photography captures families with a mixture of lifestyle and documentary photography. With a focus on memories and moments, EFP works with families during birth, babies, and the every day. Working regularly in the Lynchburg, Roanoke, Salem, Blacksburg, and Christiansburg area...EFP often travels. Contact today to chat about capturing your families story.