… and Three Reasons Why You Should Book a Documentary Session
We document everything now.
The first steps. The messy meals. The sunset behind the swingset. It’s all there—on our phones, in our camera rolls, sometimes already backed up to the cloud before the moment even ends.
In some ways, this is of course a gift. I am more connected to my niece and nephews because of smart phones and their ability to document than I would be without it. I would never trade it. But: life with smartphones come at a cost, none of which I need to explain to you.
What I do want to help you see is why, even in a time when we’re all photographers and videographers, hiring someone to document your family might mean something different than the everyday documentation with smartphones.
1. Because you’re in the story too.
When you’re the one holding the phone, you’re usually not in the photo. Or if you are, it’s a selfie. Or rushed. Or after you’ve already handed someone else the phone and told them how to take it.
Hiring a photographer means you get to be part of the scene, not the one trying to capture it. It means your kids will see you in the photos—not just behind the camera. They will feel your presence in the moment, and down the road they will see images of what it looked and felt like when you were there with them.
2. Because being fully present is hard—and worth it.
We reach for our phones without thinking. Sometimes it’s to capture something beautiful, but sometimes it’s to feel in control, to make sure we don’t miss it. Ironically, the more we try to preserve a moment, the more we pull ourselves out of it.
A documentary session gives you a break from that tug. You don’t have to be in charge of remembering. You just get to experience being with your loved ones, knowing everything else is taken care of.
3. Because a fresh perspective reveals what you can’t always see.
When you’re deep in the daily rhythms of family life, it’s easy to overlook what makes it yours. The way your kid always climbs the counter to get their favorite cup. The way everyone ends up piled on the couch by the end of the night. The things you’re too close to notice—or too tired to document.
A documentary photographer brings a different kind of attention. One that’s not about staging or directing, but about seeing what’s already there. Sometimes it takes someone else’s perspective to help you see the beauty in your daily life.
Final Thoughts
We’re not short on photos these days. But we are short on presence, and on space to step back and actually see what matters.
That’s what a documentary family session can offer. Not only unique photos, but the gift of presence with your loved ones.
Explore documentary family sessions.
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