Lifestyle photography is all about capturing real-life moments and emotions in a natural and authentic way. Whether you’re a professional photographer or just starting out, there are certain key elements that can help you take your lifestyle photography to the next level. From choosing the right location to capturing candid moments, here are five tips to help you create stunning and memorable images.
Capturing Genuine Emotions and Expressions.
One of the most important elements of great lifestyle photography is capturing genuine emotions and expressions. This means focusing on the people in your photos and capturing their true personalities and emotions. To do this, try to create a relaxed and comfortable environment where your subjects can be themselves. Encourage them to interact with each other and engage in activities that they enjoy. If your clients are relaxed and comfortable they will give you genuine emotions to capture. By capturing these authentic moments, you’ll create images that are not only beautiful but also meaningful and memorable.
Telling a Story Through Composition.
Composition is a crucial element in lifestyle photography as it helps to tell a story and convey a mood or emotion. Consider the placement of your subjects within the frame, the use of leading lines, and the balance of negative space. Use composition to guide the viewer’s eye and create a sense of depth and dimension in your images. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different angles and perspectives to add interest and variety to your shots. Remember, every element in your frame should contribute to the overall story you’re trying to tell.
Storytelling in Lifestyle Photography
Storytelling is a crucial element of lifestyle photography as it allows us to capture the essence of a person’s life, showcasing their unique story through the images we capture. By creating a visual narrative that portrays a person’s character, interests, and passions, we are able to capture moments that tell a deeper story beyond just the image itself. This helps to create a more meaningful and emotional connection between the viewer and the subject. Through storytelling, we can convey the joy, love, and beauty of everyday life, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary memories that will be cherished for years to come. In essence, storytelling is what separates a good photograph from a truly great one.
One of the best ways to capture stories in photographs of families is to focus on capturing candid, unscripted moments. This could include photographing a family as they play together, share a laugh, or engage in a fun activity. The goal is to capture the essence of the family’s dynamic, showcasing their unique personality and relationships.
Another way to capture stories in family photographs is to pay attention to the details. Photographing a child’s favorite toy or a family’s treasured heirloom can provide insight into their history and personality.
Using props can also help to tell a family’s story. Photographing a family in their home surrounded by their favorite books, artwork, or mementos can provide insight into their interests and values. Similarly, photographing a family in a location that is meaningful to them, such as a favorite park or a family vacation spot, can help to tell their story.
Finally, it’s important to focus on the emotions and connections between family members. Photographing a parent hugging their child, a grandparent sharing a story with their grandchild, or siblings playing together can help to showcase the love and bonds between family members. The goal is to capture images that convey the joy, love, and connection that define a family.
Using Natural Light to Create Mood and Atmosphere.
Natural light is a powerful tool in lifestyle photography, as it can help to create mood, atmosphere, and depth in your images. Whether you’re shooting indoors or outdoors, understanding the different types of natural light can help you to make the most of this important element. Here are some of the types of natural light that work best for lifestyle photography:
- Golden Hour Light
Golden hour light is a photographer’s dream, and it’s easy to see why. This is the hour just after sunrise or just before sunset when the light is soft, warm, and diffused, casting a golden glow on everything it touches. This type of light is ideal for lifestyle photography as it creates a dreamy, romantic feel that can add depth and emotion to your images.
- Overcast Light
Overcast light is diffused and soft, casting a gentle, even light across your subjects. This type of light can be perfect for lifestyle photography as it eliminates harsh shadows and provides a flattering, natural light that can be used to create a variety of moods and atmospheres.
- Backlight
Backlight occurs when the sun is behind your subject, casting a halo of light around them. This type of light can be used to create a dramatic, ethereal feel that adds depth and emotion to your images. When shooting with backlight, it’s important to expose for the subject’s face to avoid underexposing the image.
- Side Light
Side light occurs when the sun is low in the sky, casting long shadows across your subjects. This type of light can be used to create a sense of drama and depth in your images, emphasizing texture and adding dimension. Side light can be particularly effective for lifestyle photography when shooting portraits or close-ups.
- Window Light
Window light is a great option for indoor lifestyle photography. It’s soft, flattering, and easy to work with, providing a natural, diffused light that can be used to create a variety of moods and atmospheres. When shooting with window light, pay attention to the direction of the light and use reflectors to fill in shadows if necessary.
Remember, the quality of your light can make or break your shot, so take the time to plan and prepare accordingly.
Helping your clients to wear Outfits that Add Depth, Interest and Color.
One of the essential elements of great lifestyle photography is the clothing and accessories worn by your subjects. Encourage your clients to choose outfits that add depth, interest, and color to your images. This could mean incorporating bold patterns, textures, or accessories like hats, scarves, or jewelry. Consider the location and mood of your shoot when selecting outfits, and aim for a cohesive look that complements the overall aesthetic. Don’t be afraid to offer styling tips or suggestions to help your clients feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera. They want the help!
You can passively make suggestions to your clients regarding their outfits with a style guide. If you don’t have one yet or you want to update your, download The Style Guide Checklist for free to help you get started!
Creating a Connection Between the Subject and Viewer.
Great lifestyle photography is all about creating a connection between the subject and the viewer. To achieve this, it’s important to capture authentic moments and emotions. Encourage your subjects to relax and be themselves, and try to capture candid moments rather than posed shots. Pay attention to body language and facial expressions, and aim to capture images that tell a story and evoke emotion. By creating a connection between the subject and viewer, you can create images that truly resonate and leave a lasting impression.
6 Apps that will help you in your Lifestyle Photography Journey
Many lifestyle photographers rely on a variety of apps to help streamline their workflow and improve the quality of their work. Here a list of six apps that can be helpful for lifestyle photographers to track golden and blue hour and prompt their clients:
- Golden Hour (iOS) – This app provides the exact timing for golden hour, blue hour, and sunrise/sunset based on your location. It also includes a weather forecast and a feature to save your favorite locations.
- Magic Hour (iOS) – Magic Hour is a comprehensive app that not only provides the timing for golden hour and blue hour but also allows you to plan your photo shoot by adding locations, notes, and even model information. You can also use it to calculate depth of field and hyperfocal distance.
- Sun Surveyor (iOS, Android) – Sun Surveyor provides a 3D augmented reality view of the sun’s path, allowing you to visualize the exact location of the sun during golden and blue hour. It also includes a compass and a map view, so you can plan your photo shoot in advance.
- PhotoPills (iOS, Android) – PhotoPills is a powerful app that can help you plan and execute your photo shoot. It provides information on golden hour and blue hour, as well as a planner that lets you see the sun and moon’s position at any given time. You can also use it to calculate exposure, depth of field, and other advanced settings.
- The Photographer’s Ephemeris (iOS, Android) – This app is designed to help you plan outdoor photo shoots by providing detailed information on the position of the sun and moon. You can view the direction and altitude of the sun, as well as the exact timing for golden hour and blue hour. It also includes a map view and the ability to save your favorite locations.
- Unscripted (iOS) – Unscripted is an app that can help photographers prompt their clients during a photo shoot. It includes prompts for different types of poses and interactions, as well as tips for capturing candid moments. It’s a great tool for photographers who want to capture natural, spontaneous moments during their photo shoots.