That’s a big statement, but it is one I wholeheartedly believe in.
I believe photos are an important tool in keeping families connected and serve an important role in growing strong healthy resilient kids, families and communities.
It’s one of the reasons I’m a photographer and one of the reasons that I take photos in the specific way that I do.
In the photographic industry, I am what is called a Lifestyle Documentary photographer. In a nutshell, what that means is that I take photos that look like a slice of life.
I’m also an educator and I teach parents how to look after the photos they already take and show them how to consciously, intentionally document their family life in a way that includes them and tells their unique stories.
The reason that I choose to focus on taking photos of families that look and feel like a candid moment of everyday life, is that I truly believe in the impact and power of photos to create connections between people and across generations.
I believe in the deep importance of the stories we tell with, through and around photos, and I believe in the positive power that photos can have on the mental health and wellbeing of all of us.
I believe that photos are a powerful tool that we can use to grow strong, mentally healthy and resilient kids and families.
And, when we have strongly connected families, with kids who have a strong sense of their identity and place in the world, it bubbles out into our schools, workplaces and communities.
Photos create space for connection
In taking photos and documenting our lives we’re not just recording something for history and memory, but we’re also creating and making space for connection. We connect through the stories that are shared and through the shared experiences that we’re documenting.
And we also connect with our history through photos as well. The photos we take of our lives help us to understand who we are together and photos from generations before us can help us understand who and where we come from. In turn, this can help us to define who we want to be and where we want to end up as individuals and families, too.
Photos can be a tool to support mental and emotional resilience
Being present in and sharing photos with the ones we love is something so powerful for connection, for strengthening the bonds we have with each other and for building a strong sense of identity – something that is truly important for mental health resilience. They are also a great way to help to further build a sense of identity and belongingness in families and groups, which is yet another way that photos can be used as a powerful tool in supporting mental and emotional resilience
Just think about what we do when we embark on an activity with our friends and family – often we stop to take a group photo to mark the occasion or celebrate an achievement. Not only this but we also encourage everyone to be a part of the photo to show the cohesive celebration of the moment.
We share photos and the stories that go with them daily – using them to celebrate, support and connect with each other. Photos used like this in our lives and our communities are a very powerful thing indeed. Particularly in times where we can’t connect as easily in person.
Every picture holds a story
Every picture holds a story about who’s in it, what’s happening at the moment that’s been captured, or the moments just before and after. And these stories open up lines of communication with everyone involved: everyone will have a different perspective or memory of the moment. The simple act of chatting about a photo can help us get to know each other more deeply. How many times have you lost an hour or two flicking through old albums (digital or physical!) and reminiscing and sharing?
The impact of being in and seeing photos of ourselves regularly and in a positive way is reflected in our sense of belonging, connection and self-esteem, and is really beneficial for kids as they grow to understand who they are and where they fit in the world.
Pushing back on an instagrammable life
Taking photos of the real and unique stories of everyday family life serves to push back against some of the negative messaging that comes through some of the photography we are bombarded with every day. And it’s a pushback on the idea of having a perfectly curated and “instagrammable” life.
Your family story is unique to your family – and family life is not a curated beautiful feed of moments all the time.
Family life is messy and chaotic at times, but that doesn’t mean it’s not also beautiful. And sometimes, the beauty is found in the messy chaos too.
When I work with my clients, I help them plan for ‘time spent together’. Yes, we do curate things to make for a pleasing-looking photoshoot, such as coordinating wardrobe and photographing at certain times of the day or the year.
But without a doubt, it’s the moments, connections, personalities and relationships that I catalogue during the shoot that are the most important and valuable thing. And it’s these things that matter, no matter what the wardrobe or location looks like.
Photography matters – it’s not just vanity
On the face of it, being photographed professionally or taking plenty of photos of ourselves, and our families and friends can seem like just a bit of fun (and it is of course!). And there will always be those that are quick to identify this as vanity or superficial showboating. In truth sometimes it is – and there is nothing wrong with that at all! Life is worth celebrating!
But in taking a closer look, and approaching having your photograph taken with a different lens (pun intended!), there is so much more depth to having lots of beautiful, real, unique photos of your story.
After all – one day your kids or your grandkids will be looking for a photograph of you. What will they find? I hope they’ll find a lifetime of photos of you and them together in the perfect and curated moments and the beautiful, messy and chaotic moments.
So – that’s one of the big reasons why I’m a photographer, and why I take photos the way that I do. There are other reasons too, of course, but today, this felt important to share this with you.
