I LOVE lifestyle photography. Love, love, love it. Lots of people may wonder why I regularly capture my son in his underwear. Because that’s all he wears! lol. Lifestyle photography is real. It captures things that are relevant in one’s life & freezes genuine moments. Recently we had family pictures taken & it felt weird that my boys actually had pants on! I felt like a fraud because I had picked out their outfits & made them look different than usual. Although my friend did an amazing job with our pictures, it just didn’t feel like “us” because of me getting everyone all done up.
Although lifestyle photography is care-free, in the moment, real, & raw, there are still things you can do to help your lifestyle shots shine.
8 tips for creating fantastic lifestyle photography shots
1. Although you aren’t going to pose your subjects or tell them “smile!” you can still seek out the good light & direct them to that area.
Turn them until you find the light on their face. I LOVE backlight but sometimes you just have to keep turning your subject until their face is illuminated nicely.
2. So that it seems more real & you are able to be a fly on the wall while shooting, do whatever you need to do before hand so as not to call attention to yourself.
If you want to de-clutter, open curtains, etc. do it before the pictures begin. kids can sense when pictures are about to happen. If you are doing all of that in front of them, they may close themselves off & be less open to the camera being out.
3. Have your camera out & handy as much as possible.
You never know when something great will happen so be ready so you can snap before the moment is gone.
4. Think details.
With lifestyle photography, don’t just take the safe shot. Take the safe shot, then take several more variations of the same shot. Focus on details, use creative compositions, get close up, get the big picture, shoot from the side, stand overhead…be artistic!
5. Don’t tell your kids what they have to wear…make it be their idea.
But fill their closets with stuff you like so the chances are greater that they go for something you approve of 
6. Think of activities your subject enjoys (that would keep them in the same spot for several minutes) then just wait for the sweet expressions to unfold!
7. Instead of saying “ok, now put your arm around your brother” or something similar, if I feel that my subjects need some help I change my words to make them sound less deliberate.
This helps me get a more genuine moment on camera. I might say “aaww, that is so sweet how you love on him like that – makes my heart melt!” or “I loooove it when you snuggle your brother…it’s so adorable!” then he is likely to do it again without me really asking.
8. Lots of the time with lifestyle photography we are indoors. Embrace the grain!
Don’t be afraid to crank up the ISO because shooting with proper exposure will help your image not suffer too bad. even though it’s okay to shoot your lifestyle images with a high iso, still try to seek out the best light possible. Even in dark houses, pockets of good light are out there, you just have to find them
Now I want to see your lifestyle images! If you care to share in the comment box below, I’d love to see!
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Kelly Garvey - Contributor
Latest posts by Kelly Garvey - Contributor (see all)
- 8 Tips for Backlighting - May 17, 2013
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At Click it Up a Notch you will find tips and tricks to improve your photos one click at a time. 
Twitter: foodalogue
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I love and am inspired by this collection.
Joan Nova recently posted..Delicious Brussels Sprouts and Chestnut Hash with Eggs and an Extra Treat!
Love lifestlye photography! I wish I posted more of our own house, but the declutter factor eliminates it! By the time I clean up, they have everything taken out again
Love every minute of it though!
Mama Monkey recently posted..Meyer Family
I love that picture of the kids bathing in the sink. Thanks for the great tips. I do always try to keep my camera handy because as you said you never know when your going to want to capture the moment.
I just did my very first storyboard tonight…http://emilysworldofthoughts.blogspot.com/2012/10/storyboards.html
Emily L. recently posted..A Week in Review
Twitter: likaphotography
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loved the post. thank you. esp #5
When I think of lifestyle, two photographers come to mind…Tara Whitney and Kelly Garvey!! That first photo is from my FAVORITE session you did!! Seriously, it makes my heart smile!!
I’m curious, is there a certain lens you go to for lifestyle shoots? I’m smack dab in the middle of Ashley’s LIfestyle w/Kids WS over at CM, and I’m pretty convinced I NEED the 35 for indoor shooting. I’ve noticed a huge difference in noise level between my prime and zoom lens indoors at high ISO’s! (I’m comparing my 24-70 2.8 to my 50 1.4, using my full frame body)
Thank you Kelly for sharing!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/keylimecottage/8100984068/
Great post! Good things for me to remember as I try to capture my son on a day-to-day basis.
Charity recently posted..Hands
Twitter: coliejames
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Love these Kelly!
A few of my lifestyle sessions are http://www.coliejamesphotography.com/search/label/lifestyle%20photography
Colie J recently posted..just my kid | colorado lifestyle children photographer
Twitter: whenpigsflyblog
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I always love coming here because it gets me inspired to get my camera out. Now that the weather is getting colder, I have to experiment more inside.
Gorgeous images. My absolute favorite style of photography. Thanks for the awesome tips!!
Twitter: dollfacedlynne
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I photograph for fun, I am a true novice, but your tips are really helping me!
Thank you
Twitter: Jennifer Bacher
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This is such a great post Kelly! You really excell in lifestyle photography, which takes talent to think outside the box and get away from the posed stuff. I am hoping to get better at this. Thanks for inspiring me as always! You are the bomb sista!
I love lifestyle and am always trying to capture the ‘unstaged’ moment.. I do a daily with my son that has helped me immensely improve my lifestyle photography skills on my personal blog –
http://theblife.myfotojournal.com/
I thought it was so so hard at the beginning and how was I possibly going to do an entire year. but now I’m on day 217 (I didn’t start in january..) and it gets easier and easier each day.
Thanks for these great tips. I LOVE the photo of your two boys in the sink.
cheers
Twitter: clickitupanotch
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I adore you lifestyle shots!! You are one gifted lady!!
Love lifestyle photography! Your images are fantastic. I’m always trying to improve my skills…
http://robandheatherwilliams.blogspot.com/2012/10/just-enjoying-cool-mornings-on-porch.html
Thanks for this article and tips. This is my style. I wonder though if clients will want posed shots as well. Do you do both or only do the lifestyle? Also wonder what type clients its best for- I want to try it with newborns and babies and I know it would be great with all age kids and families. Could it work with seniors? I could see doing the posed shots but it would be great to get them doing what they love in the moment too.
Question- do you ask the family to pick things to do that they love while you are there photographing? how does that work? I was thinking when I saw your image of them baking in the kitchen- that must have been a bit planned. Or do you literally just have them go about the day ? how long does a lifestyle photog shoot for ? a day?
joanna schoff recently posted..Project Life 365 2013