So, you may have heard the term thrown around, or you may not have and that's why I'm writing about it. In my photography career, as with most photographers (or anyone's specific career really), both skill and style develop over the years. In recent years, I have been more and more drawn to the connection and "imperfection" during my sessions. I'd find myself drawn to the toddler's tears, the mother's loving gaze, the boy's giggles about 'potty talk' or father's kissing of a boo boo after a fall. All these were happening between what the parents thought were the keepers. I have been drawn to the 'in between' moments as they are known, for a long time but wasn't sure exactly if my client's would appreciate those moments as much I did. Well, low and behold, my clients are basically amazing and almost all of them have some sort of appreciation (and sometimes can see the humor) in these shots as well. With this realization sometime in 2017, I was committed to unrolling a huge focus on Documentary Family Photography in 2018.

"It is in the everyday things around us that the beauty of life lies"

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

So, why the switch? It's pretty simple, it's what lights my fire, what inspires me, and what keeps me loving on your families even when I'm so sleep deprived or am missing weekend events with my own family to be with yours. I am so lucky to absolutely LOVE what I do, but I made a commitment in 2018 to shoot what inspires me, and the REAL you inspires me.

"So, Jess, are you totally extinguishing Lifestyle sessions?" No, not just yet. They will be phasing out likely over the next year or two but I can't say for certain. The tricky thing is, I've kind of been shooting hybrid sessions (as stated above, capturing the in-between and providing those images for my clients) because that's what I was drawn to from an artistic and personal perspective. If you've had a Lifestyle session with me, then you know exactly what I'm talking about. But I'll be pushing my past clients to explore the realm of Family Documentary Photography, and if they really don't love it, we can chat.

Essentially, during sessions, I'd find myself giving direction but I've found the direction was more for the parents, and not for me or the kids. DIRECTION made them feel COMFORTable, but the truth is I'm not great at direction... I'm much better at watching, waiting, capturing and observing. And more importantly, I've realized that I don't NEED to give any direction- my families are doing exactly what they need to be doing: being themselves!

And this is the gift of Documentary Family Photography: bottling up the real, unique, one-of-a-kind YOU.

And that is why I decided to focus more and more on documenting the always beautiful, sometimes chaotic, often messy, occasionally quiet, every day. I think the every day moments are gloriously and beautifully real. I feel it's so so important to document your life, NOW, as it is.

So, I encourage you to think about it by looking back into your family photos of your childhood. What are some of your favorites? and WHY? Is it the photo on the mantle in your mother's house of you and your siblings looking directly at the camera and smiling during your JCPenney portrait? (Doubt it!) Or is it the one in the album of 4th of July, running around with sparklers, with sticky faces and no shoes on that conjures up great feelings of nostalgia and warm memories? What about that picture of your favorite toy? or the thing (you know THAT thing you did) with your mom you loved so much? For me, I love the photo of my toy chest that was built by my grandfather, and my Teddy Ruxpen, I looooooved that freakin' thing. I also loved sitting on the tile counter in our kitchen (with the tiles my dad imported from Mexico and hand installed) to help my mom bake (see below). I loved prepping the apples full of cinnamon and sugar before they went into the apple pie - my mom usually added a bunch extra so I could snack on the sweet and sticky apples that smelt of fall. I'm not sure what we were baking below, but clearly I approved.

baking with mom circa 1986 — Me circa 1986, baking with my mom on the counter. This is the home I grew up in, in New York. That cookie jar and that bowl are still in her home, and they conjure up warm and comforting memories when I see them.

I don't know about you, but the more random things I see in my childhood pictures, the more memories I have. It's not about the cleanest photo (though I can't argue with a nice simple wall for portraits) but how are you documenting memories for yourself and your family? I don't have any connection to the JCPenny Portraits that my mom made me take on Easter.... Maybe you do, maybe you don't. But the point is, what conjures up memories for you? And how can I help you bottle those memories up for your family? THAT is Documentary Family Photography.