WHAT IS LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY?

You might have heard the term "lifestyle photographer" or "lifestyle photography" and wondered what exactly is it?! Have you ever seen photos on Instagram of a family walking in a field during golden hour? Maybe you've seen photos of a couple rolling around in the sand at the beach and laughing. If you're on social media, chances are you've seen plenty of lifestyle photos. So now, let's get into what lifestyle photography actually is and why it's something you may be interested in for your next photo session. Lifestyle photography is a style of photography that aims to capture real-life events, situations, or milestones in an artistic manner. Not all photographers create this type of photography. The primary goal of lifestyle photography in Windermere, FL is to capture magical your memories and tell unique captivating stories about your lives. Here are some key characteristics and aspects of lifestyle photography:

AUTHENTICITY

The focus of lifestyle photography is on capturing genuine moments and emotions rather than posed or staged scenes. In this regard, the photographer acts more as a documentary photographer and captures interactions which are already happening. A lifestyle photographer does not stage or set up scenes, but rather will loosely give prompts to their clients and allow their clients to interpret those prompts and interact however they feel most comfortable. Outside of models, most people are not used to being in front of the camera, nor following posing direction or holding poses for an extended period of time. With lifestyle photography, clients are encouraged to be more of themselves for the camera. Although it is subjective, this can often make for a more candid and authentic photo than a rigidly posed photo. However, there are situations where specific poses need to be used such as fashion, editorial, or product photography. In those situations, a lifestyle documentary approach may not be ideal.

NATURAL SETTINGS

Lifestyle photos are often taken in real-life environments such as homes, parks, or streets rather than studios. This is important because lifestyle photography aims to capture a client or subject's environment and their interaction within that environment. That being said, while traditional portraiture will use a very close-up perspective usually with a telephoto lens, lifestyle photography will utilize wider angles and perspectives so that the environment around a person becomes more visible in the frame. By making the photo more about the person and their relationship to their surroundings with lifestyle photography, we can make the photo feel more natural and authentic.

STORYTELLING

Each photograph aims to tell a story or depict a slice of life, conveying a narrative through the images. This is accomplished by using nontraditional methods and angles. It is important to capture faces as well as other details about a person, such has hands (hands are one of the most expressive parts of the body), clothing, accessories, tools, jewelry, or anything else that may expand on the story about a person. Details of the environment can also help tell a compelling story in a lifestyle photograph.

CANDID MOMENTS

The subjects are typically engaged in activities, often unaware of the camera, resulting in natural and candid shots. Much like a documentary photographer, a lifestyle photographer will usually try and stay out of the way of the subjects and allow them to interact naturally. Much of my training as a photographer has been done on the streets of cities, capturing candid interactions between strangers, often not knowing that their photograph was even taken. The point of this is not to be sneaky (I always shoot in the open and obvious, but remain undetected) but rather to capture a completely candid moment without the intrusion of a camera in someone's face. A person's behavior, mannerisms, and expressions can all change when they know that a camera is pointed directly at them, or when they are asked to pose.

EVERYDAY LIFE

Lifestyle photography highlights ordinary moments and activities in life, making them look beautiful and significant. Think about it, those big, monumental, and glorious moments that we all wait around for don't come by very often. Our lives are made up mostly of seemingly ordinary moments. However, that's where the real magic lies. The small moments can often be the most beautiful because they are life at its best, genuine, unexpected, and candid. We should try to live in the moment and enjoy every second, because it goes fast! When captured correctly, everyday fleeting moments can become unforgettable memories and preserved forever through lifestyle photography.

LIGHTING

Natural light is often used to enhance the authenticity and warmth of lifestyle photos. For these types of photos, it is often favored over artificial or studio lighting. The difference is that natural light already exists in the environment, so why not use what's already available?! Natural light can still be manipulated to look a certain way, but in the end it's still natural and will definitely complement the the candidly beautiful interactions that make up lifestyle photography.

INTERACTION

Lifestyle photography captures interactions between people, such as family members, friends, or couples, emphasizing relationships and emotions. Again, this is different from posed photos which aim to portray a person in a very specific way. When we think of headshots, we are presenting a person that makes them look like the ideal person for a certain job, whether that's an actor, singer, artist, chef, etc. These types of photographs must be posed otherwise they may fail to accomplish what that particular client needs. However, when it comes to families or couples who want their precious memories captured, unposed and candid interactions will tell a beautiful story and create truly compelling photographs. Lifestyle photography is commonly used in family photo sessions, branding, marketing, and social media content to create a more relatable and engaging connection with the audience.

PERSPECTIVE

Lifestyle photography often utilizes wider angle lenses. These lenses allow the photographer to get closer to their subject while still capturing a wide scene. This is useful in tight spaces or when the photographer wants to emphasize the foreground subject while including the background. It differs from traditional photography where the goal is to capture a close-up photo of a person and have a blurred out background. The environment becomes less of consequence and the subject takes the main stage in the photo. Traditional portraits are great too! However, I tend to focus more on lifestyle photography as I like the look and feel of lifestyle photos.

What types of photoshoots can incorporate lifestyle photography?:

Honestly, any kind of photography can be done with a lifestyle "vibe" or style. This includes anything from family portrait photography in Windermere, FL, to couples/engagements photography sessions, and even individual portrait or branding sessions! It simply is a style or approach to photography rather than being a genre of its own. The key is that clients are given prompts, rather than specific and detailed posing instructions and the photos are taken in natural environments. This could be a park, city street, or even at a client's home!

Hopefully, now you know enough about lifestyle photography to decide if you would like to incorporate into your next photo session! You can always ask me to do more traditional posed photos and I will happily take them for you. I'm happy as long as I have a camera in my hand, but it's not about me. It's about you! However, I can tell you that most clients benefit from having a more natural, relaxed, and candid lifestyle session. Trust me, your photos will come out amazing and you'll be glad you did a more casual shoot that isn't so rigidly posed!