So… What Are We Even Doing Out There?

If you’ve ever looked at a photographer’s website and thought, “Wait, what’s the difference between documentary and lifestyle? And does it even matter?” – you’re not alone.

Most families just know what they want their photos to feel like. Real. Them. Not stiff. Not forced. Not like a stranger’s Christmas card.

The style of photography your photographer uses is actually a big part of how that happens. And since I lean into a pretty specific mix in my own sessions, I figured it was time to break it down in plain language.

The Three Styles (And What They Actually Mean)

Posed Portrait Photography

This is what most people picture when they hear “family photos.”

• Fully posed
• The photographer directs every position, every look, every smile
• Everyone is arranged and told exactly what to do

It has its place. But it’s not really my world.

Lifestyle Photography

This one gets talked about a lot, and it’s worth understanding what it actually means.

• There’s guidance involved – light posing, some direction
• The photographer helps you look good in the light, gives you something simple to do together
• Then steps back and lets it unfold

It’s curated, but not stiff. Directed, but not robotic. The goal is a “perfected” version of a real moment.

Documentary Photography

This is where my heart lives.

• No posing. At all.
• My job is to observe – not to choreograph
• I’m watching what’s already happening and capturing it
• It has a storytelling quality that feels more like a film than a portrait session

The difference is simple: I’m not there to create connection. I’m there to document the connection that already exists.

How I Actually Work (Because It’s a Little of Both)

Here’s the honest version of what a session with me looks like…

I lean toward documentary. Heavily.

That means I’m not over-directing your family. I’m not stopping you mid-tickle-fight to reposition everyone. I’m watching. I’m noticing. I’m documenting what’s already happening – because that’s the stuff worth keeping.

But I’ll also throw in a little lifestyle when it makes sense. Maybe I thought a tickle fight would be a great idea and suggested it, and just let it unfold after that. If the light is better ten feet to the left, I’ll gently move you there. If you’re all standing around not sure what to do next, I might give you something simple – “hey, can you all just walk toward that tree together?” – and then let it unfold naturally from there.

I don’t interrupt connection in an attempt to create it. That’s kind of my whole thing.

Oh, and yes… we’ll absolutely get that “everyone looking at the camera” photo too. **wink**

Why This Actually Matters for Your Family

The style your photographer uses shapes everything about how your session feels and what you walk away with.

A fully posed session might give you a technically beautiful image that doesn’t really feel like you. A purely documentary session with no guidance at all can feel aimless if you’re not used to being in front of a camera.

The blend is where the magic is – at least for my families.

You get images that feel true. Not performed. The in-between moments, the real laughs, the kid who ran off and then came back with a fistful of rocks… the list goes on.

And those are the photos you’ll keep coming back to.

Not because they’re perfect. Because they’re yours.

Ready to See What This Looks Like in Real Life?

If you’ve been on the fence about booking a session because you’re nervous it’ll feel stiff or awkward – this is me telling you it won’t. That’s not how I work.

I’ll be there, quietly in the background, doing my thing ready to jump in a give some direction if needed. You just focus on your people.

If you’re a Chattanooga family who wants photos that actually look like you, I’d love to connect. Click HERE and let’s talk about what your session could look like.