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The Value Of Family Photography
By | August 13, 2010
During the early years of professional photography, the real value of family photography was often disregarded. Back then, photographers don’t know how to motivate their family subjects during portrait sessions, while the family on the other hand does not feel any desire to participate. If you would notice, family photos from centuries ago were commonly rigid images where the subjects are strapped into their chairs so as not to make unnecessary movements, while being captured with large format cameras and slow film under limited lighting. The resulting photos are stiff and formal and they do not necessarily capture the feelings behind such expressions.
It should be regarded that just like family storytelling, photos depict relationships among family members, but this is not well represent in past family photography. However, with the improvements in technology, changes in photographing behaviors have also become apparent. As more and more people gain access to cameras and become familiar with its technicalities, the process of photography also became less intimidating, which in turn changes the emotional content of family photos. Family members are now open to being photographed, disregarding formalities and stiffness that once permeated past photography.
Modern family photography has greatly deviated from the stiff and formal photos of yesteryears that were confined within the pale colored studios. Nowadays, more and more family groups are inclined to having their photos taken at locations that have special meanings to them. The photo shoot could take place inside their bedroom, their favorite vacation place, or together with their pets or prized possessions, which clearly manifest their love for family bonding time. On a similar note, while the subjects of past photography were often compelled to maintain stiff poses while directly looking at the camera, modern photo shoots permit the members of the family to engage in ongoing activities without the need to look at the camera in order to make the shot more realistic.
There are three primary reasons why parents like to commission portraiture for the family: for pride, documentation of family growth, and to commemorate not only the faces of each family member but also the laughter and fun that that particular moment holds. Photographing children, for instance, has become a trend for parents as capturing their little angel’s actuation during his or her early years is a priceless memory of a time that can never be repeated in any manner, shape or form. The portraits of children in the family are more than just historical documentations of their growth, but they also become universal commemorative pieces that encompass the kids’ innocence that will be gone once they grow up.
The same thing could be said with teen photos often commissioned during high school graduations, which is a fundamental changing time for the whole family because on one hand it is that time when parents are so proud of their daughter’s or son’s academic accomplishment and maturity, and on the other end is the realization of how their child grew up so fast. From that point on, family gatherings become less frequent, so the time spent together during family occasions become more special. Regardless if the occasion is a wedding, anniversary or christening, the fact that the family is whole again is already enough reason to capture the moments that may not happen again for a long period. Family portraits frame freeze important parts of our lives that often remind us why we work, love and live.
Currently, family portraiture, whether they are teen photos, children photos or parent photos, is more than just a reminder of our aesthetic appeal during a certain period in our lives. It is about getting a hold of the inner heart and soul of the family. The subjects could either look directly at the camera and be able to project his or her emotions, or engage on an ongoing activity without looking at the camera but emphasize emotion through actions. By all means, family photos are resonant of how the a certain family perceives the world.
Studio formals are things of the past when it comes to family photography. Modern family portraiture can now be carried out even in the most unconventional places in order to properly capture the emotions and heart of every family member. Photographing children and snapping teen photos are important means to capture moments within the life of your children, with which they could look back to when they already have their own family.
- frederick talactac
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