what is documentary photography?
Through documentary photography, I’m looking for the honest rhythm of your day—the way your toddler’s hair is a mess of tangles, the quiet, loud or even chaotic moments of a Saturday morning, or the fingerprints on the window pane after checking the weather.
What does this mean?
- No Posing: I won’t ask you to tilt your chin or look at me.
- No Performance: You don't have to entertain me or keep the kids quiet. The "chaos" is my favorite part.
- The Focus: I’m looking for the crisp details—the grip of a hand, the tear on a cheek, the socks on the floor—that tell the story of who you really are.
In ten years, you won't care that everyone’s outfits matched or that your house was Pinterest-perfect. You will care that you can see the life of your family in every frame. Documentary photography isn't about creating a "perfect" image; it’s about preserving a perfectly honest memory—chaos included.
what makes documentary photography different?
Traditional/Lifestyle Photography
- Directed - The photographer tells you to "look at each other and laugh"
- Staged - You sit in one spot, look at the camera and smile
- Aesthetic - It's all about how you 'want' to look
Documentary Photography
- Observed: I wait for the moment you actually laugh
- Authentic: We move around the house to where the life is happening
- Foundational - It's about how you actually live
Traditional photography captures what you look like. Documentary photography captures who you are. I want to find the crisp beauty in your chaos so that you can hold onto it forever.
what I expect of you during your session
1. Leave the Laundry on the Couch
Seriously. Documentary photography is about the truth, and the truth is that life has piles of clothes, sink-fulls of dishes, and toy-covered floors. Don’t scrub your house or hide your life. I’m looking for the real life details of your actual home—the way the sun hits your favorite messy corner or the chaos of a lived-in living room.
2. Ignore the Camera
Honestly, the best photos happen when you completely forget I’m holding a camera. I want you to think of me as an old friend who just dropped by to hang out and see the kids. You don’t need to "host" me. Please don't worry about offering me a drink, tidying up the living room, or checking to see if I’m getting "the shot." I promise, I am! The more you focus on your world and ignore my lens, the more magic we’re going to capture.
3. Embrace the Chaos
If the kids are running wild, let them. If the baby is crying, hold them. If the flour spills while you're baking, laugh. I am not looking for "perfect" behavior; I am looking for love in action, the love that doesn't sit still. The moments that feel the most chaotic to you are often the ones that look the most beautiful in a frame.
4. Wear Your "Everyday"
You don’t need matching outfits or itchy lace. Wear the clothes you actually live in—the soft t-shirt, the bare feet, the favorite hoodie. We want these photos to feel like a legacy, a record of who you were in this exact moment.
5. No "Cheese" Allowed
I will never ask you to look at me and smile. If your child looks at the camera and grins, that’s fine! But we aren't chasing the "holiday card" shot. We are chasing the heartbeat. I’ll be watching for the quiet winks, the tight hugs, and the unscripted magic that happens when you think no one is looking.
what you can expect of me
1. The Activity
We will be in touch in the weeks leading up to your session and we’ll pick something your family actually loves doing—whether that’s a flour-filled baking session, a messy craft afternoon, or a chaotic puddle-jumping competition. On session day, I’ll give you a few prompts to get the ball rolling and help everyone settle in. Once the fun starts, I’ll step back.
2. The Observation
Think of me as a fly on the wall—or better yet, an old friend with a camera. Whether we are building with blocks in the living room, making s'mores by the fire pit in the backyard, playing UNO at the kitchen table, or even watching TV while dad makes pancakes, I’m observing the rhythm. I won't tell you where to stand or how to look; I wait for the love to happen in action.
3. The "Old Days" Feel
Remember those old disposable film cameras from the "old days"? They were unscripted, a little unfocused, and perfectly honest. I bring that same nostalgic feel to your photos. I’m looking for the authentic stuff—the way you brew your morning coffee, the grip of a baby's hand around their favorite stuffed animal, or the mud-caked floor after playing in the rain.
4. The reality
I don't crop out the reality. If there’s a pile of laundry on the couch or dishes in the sink, I keep shooting. Those are the details that will make you cry happy tears in twenty years, because they are the honest truth of who your family is.
Think of this less like a 'session' and more like a time capsule. We are documenting the parts of your life that usually get forgotten—the messy, the wonderful, and the perfectly imperfect.
Most people walk into a photo session feeling like they have to perform. They worry about the messy house, the crying baby, or the toddler who won't sit still. My approach is different. I’m not here to direct your life; I’m here to document it. I’m looking for the truth—the kind that doesn't need a filter or a forced smile. I find the crisp details hidden inside your beautiful, everyday chaos.
