What is Lifestyle Photography?

When I mention I do lifestyle photography, I'm often met with looks of confusion mixed with intrigue.  What exactly does "lifestyle photography" mean?  Good question!  I've often had a hard time describing it to people because to me, it's more of a feeling.  The way a client feels at a session.  The way I feel taking the photos.  The way others feel when they see the final images. 

I've always loved photojournalism.  I love the candid nature of it.  Always have.  Perhaps that's what draws me to lifestyle photography and its editorial quality.  One lifestyle portrait should immediately be able to tell a story about the people in the image & in their environment.  This is achieved in a natural, organic way.   That's not to say I don't put thought into each session.  However, rather than posing clients and telling everyone, "Say cheese!" (ugh!) I just sit back and wait for moments.  I feel that moments really do happen if you just sit and wait.  If you over stage a session and worry too much about perfection, the images will almost always not come off as a real moment.  It's those real moments I try to capture.  A laugh.  A look.  A grin.  A tear.  This may be achieved by letting kids play, telling a couple to hold hands and just walk through a field & talk or by watching a groom as he sees his bride for the first time on their wedding day.  It's all about the moment.

So there you have it.  My two cents on what I mean by lifestyle photography.  I'm not a great writer (that honor belongs to my husband & brother...both great with words) so I will let my images speak for me now. 

Enjoy!

-Lynn Marie