What is Meaningful Lifestyle Family Photography?
Elena S Blair
Lessons
Class Introduction: Get Started With Lifestyle Family Photography
04:11 2What is Meaningful Lifestyle Family Photography?
03:06 3Settings for Shoots
06:48 4Light, Composition & Location
09:40 5Why Connection is Important
13:20 6Session Experience
08:12 7Family Preparation
09:10 8How to Get to Know Families Fast
09:46Considerations for a Photograph
03:34 10The Family Session Workflow
07:28 11Shoot: Start Standing
05:39 12Shoot: Money Shot & Siblings
04:59 13Shoot: Laying Down
04:15 14Shoot: Mom & Dad Alone with Child
06:41 15Shoot: Movement Poses & Everyone in The Frame
03:57 16Additional Shoot Considerations
02:50 17Pricing & Business Strategy
12:00 18My Editing Strategy
04:44 19Image Gallery Delivery
08:32 20Finalize The Client Experience
04:58Lesson Info
What is Meaningful Lifestyle Family Photography?
I don't think that words that we use to define our work really matter. But, we have to right? We have to use 'em. So I'm gonna talk about what I mean by lifestyle family photography. What it means to you might change. What someone else might tell you might be different. So, I just wanna be totally transparent about that. We're all gonna have our own definitions. But to me, lifestyle family photography is really taking your work to the next level. You're getting past the surface of the family. You're not just photographing what they look like, you're photographing who they are. You're getting a feeling, emotion, real life energy out of your work. That's what lifestyle family photography is. And that can be really hard to do. Coming at photography from an emotional standpoint from something that is more of a technical thing, it can be hard to do. So, I'm gonna show you how I do that and how you can do that. And I think that you will find that it'll be very helpful. So we're talking a lot...
about us today too. We're talking about us artists. What does it mean for you? It means that you're gonna go into every session and you know that you are going to connect with your families like this and that you are gonna make something that means something to you. So, you are not gonna burn out. You are gonna be absolutely and totally head over heels with what you're doing, because it is so much more. It means so much more than that stiff portrait that you're just churning out every time. It is absolutely creative. It is absolutely artistic. Every time that I go into a session, I still get nervous. I still get butterflies because I'm so excited about what magic we're gonna make. I'm like, this is gonna be so much fun. I read my session form and I can't wait to meet this family and we're gonna do something really fun and amazing. So, this is gonna save you from burning out. You guys, a lot of people burn out in this industry. A lot. I can't tell you how many photographers started when I did ten years ago, and are no longer in business. So, you want to avoid burn out. You need to take care of yourself as an artist. That's very, very important. Especially in family photography. So, lifestyle photography like I was saying, it's gonna give you the opportunity to stand out. We're all doing the same thing. It is saturated. There's a ton of family photographers in your area. We're probably all using the same gear. We're probably all editing with the same software. Maybe using the same presets. Everything is pretty much the same. But, if you do something that is unique to you, something that is an actual artistic expression for yourself, you are gonna stand out. This is what's gonna make you stand out. When you see somebody's portfolio online that just blows your mind and you're like, wow, this photographer is incredible, I promise they are super passionate about what they're doing. It absolutely their artistic expression. And that is why they're standing out. Lifestyle photography is gonna give you the creative freedom to stand out like that. This picture is one that I showed because it is very me. All my stuff is very much like this. I have friends and people that I know that tell me that when my stuff shows up on the internet they know it's mine before they've read who did it. That's what you want. You want your work to stand on its own. What I'm gonna teach you today is not how to be like me, 'cause that would make me a terrible teacher. I am gonna teach you how to be the best version of you, so that your work is gonna speak its own story. And your work is gonna stand out. And this is gonna set you apart from your peers.
Class Materials
Ratings and Reviews
Katie Rivers
This was a great class! So much great information packed into such a short amount of time. I also LOVE Elena Blair. I would love to meet her after taking this course. She is so confident and fearless in her work and that is so inspiring!