The Best Family Photographer in Austin?
Family Photography That Goes Beyond Candid
Nope. I don’t claim to be the best family photographer in Austin. I don’t think any one photographer could be. People forget that photography is an art, and art is personal and subjective. My approach and the images I create are unique to me as an artist. Some people get it. Others don’t.
I’ve realized that families get in the habit of booking yearly fall mini sessions to get some fresh, pretty photos ready to blast out to all their friends and family. It’s quick and easy. The truth is, anyone with a camera can take a decent family photo of everyone looking presentable. I don’t even remember when this became a trend, but I know enough about the chaos of family and the need as a mom to feel somewhat put together to understand why it caught on so quickly! Then Instagram and Pinterest swept up the images and suddenly a whole new genre of photography was born: Lifestyle Photography. It encompasses this idea that a story can be curated in a moment of emotion and connection and then captured in an image. Instead of your family posing and smiling at the camera, just add some movement and activity. Tickle the toddler, run around, throw rocks in the creek, whisper in each other’s ears, flap a blanket in the air and let the kids run under it, etc. It works. Kids are surprisingly easy to please and harnessing the power of play can radically improve your images.
I want to take it quite a bit further. I don’t want to create a story, I want to find a story. I can make a lot of 5 year old boys laugh by yelling, “poop!” or asking Dad to tickle them. But it’s so much more meaningful to watch a 5 year old boy smile ear-to-ear and laugh as he plays basketball with his Dad in the driveway. I approach photography like self care- if I offered you 20 minutes to yourself to relax or 3 hours, which would you choose? Everyone would choose 3! Because more time means more relaxation! More time to connect with yourself. You attune more and don’t feel as rushed to make something happen. This is why I choose a documentary approach over a lifestyle approach in most cases. I want your family to have the time to relax, connect, and attune to each other, allowing your own story to play out its magic.
I don’t know how you found me, or what exactly you’re looking for, but I’m sure that once I get to know you, I’ll know exactly how to create art from your family moments. So whether you started out looking for a lifestyle photographer or something different; whether you searched for unposed images or natural family photography; whether you have a Pinterest board full of inspiration images that look like they came out of magazines or you’d rather put no thought into your family photos at all…I want to know you. You may just discover that I’m the best family photographer for you. ;)
