“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
– Hellen Keller
Celina Bailey
Kym Vitar
Gemma Robillard
Elisa Elliot
Vicki Hull
Natasha Kelly
Lacey Monroe
Erika Roa
Jenny Rusby
Jessica Uhler
Michelle McDaid
Jodie Byrne
Robin Stephenson
Heather Bowser
Erika is a midwestern girl now living in western Washington. She has a 3 year old son, a serious coffee addiction, and is one of the co-founders of Sham of the Perfect.
Where can we find you online (Website, Facebook, Instagram)?
www.littlefishphoto.com
http://www.facebook.com/photosbylittlefish
http://www.instagram.com/travelingfish
What’s your favorite lens for shooting this type of work? And do you have any accessories you just love (filter, bag, camera strap, etc.)?
My Sigma 35mm and my Sigma 24mm are my go-to lenses. One of them is almost always on my camera. I also recently fitted my camera with a Heritage Herringbone hand strap, which has been a total lifesaver. My hands are small and I shoot with a Nikon D700 which is a bit of a beast so the hand strap makes it possible for me to shoot with one hand while feeling secure. My other fave accessory is my circular polarizing filter. We live near the water so having the filter to cut down glare from water and retain a little extra color in the sky is indispensable.
What are you drawn to document? Is there a particular composition, technique, or mood you love?
I love capturing humor, juxtapositions, and interactions between people. I’m also a sucker for bold compositions using lines and negative space.
What is the most valuable tip you have learned in pursuit of shooting in a more documentary style?
Consider the overall scene first. Then, figure out how your subject fits in that scene.
Why is storytelling photography important to you? Why do you feel compelled to shoot with this approach?
Storytelling has always been what photography is about for me. The camera is a way to present life in the most honest way possible. If I wanted to create a beautiful, immaculate scene, I’d take up drawing or painting. I want to show life as it is. I want to portray truth as much as possible.
Shooting this way allows me to validate my perspective on life as well as providing visual supplements to the stories of where I have been what my family’s life has been like.
Briefly tell us about your journey into family documentary photography.
I remember always being drawn to documentary images growing up, but once I took a basic film class in college (as a part of a journalism/communications degree) I was totally hooked. I continued to shoot as a hobbyist for the next several years, picking up my first DSLR in 2007. In fall of 2013 the time was finally right for me to open a small business. As I started taking clients my work was certainly more heavily lifestyle, although my heart always with more documentary work. As I’ve become more confident in business my work has quickly shifted to being as documentary as my personal work has always been.
“Keep your face always toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you.”
-Walt Whitman
Erika Roa
Natasha Kelly
Robin Stephenson
Michelle McDaid
Kym Vitar
Chrystal Cienfuegos
Elisa Elliot
Lacey Monroe
Celina Bailey
Gemma Robillard
Jenny Rusby
Vicki Hull
Jodie Byrne
Heather Bowser
This month’s Perfectly Real Artist is a little different. We wanted to take a month and feature Molly Flanagan whose Visual Storytelling course (through The Define School) is where we all met. You can check out Molly’s work on her website, Facebook, or Instagram. Here is what she has to say about documenting families.
What’s your favorite lens for shooting this type of work? And do you have any accessories you just love (filter, bag, camera strap, etc.)?
My favorite lenses are Canon 24L and 35L. One accessory that I love when photographing a family in their home is a small cross-chest purse I found on clearance that is big enough for a lens and my memory cards.
What is your favorite type of light to shoot in?
I don’t have a favorite type of light. However, I love the challenge of trying to make the best of what I am given in any lighting situation!
What is the most valuable tip you have learned in pursuit of shooting in a more documentary style?
“Stop talking theory.. and do not over-think the image. Lose the ego and let the photograph find you. Observe the life moving like a river around you and realize that the images you make may become part of the collective history of the time that you are living in.” – Eli Reed
Let’s talk clutter. Embrace it as is? Try avoid getting it in frame? Does it depend on the frame?
As a mother of 3 I am fully aware of the all-consuming nature of clutter! However, the endless lego pieces, leaky sippy cups, and bread crumbs under the table are all a part of my story. When my children are grown I want to remember all of those details. And if I am constantly moving things out of the frame or composing to exclude them, I will be recording a false reality. Depending on what story I am trying to tell, there maybe times when certain areas are excluded from frame in order to draw attention to my subject. For instance, the sun may be hitting the milk jug in a way that makes it a bright white ball of light on the kitchen counter, competing for attention as I look through the viewfinder. So I may compose to exclude the milk jug or change my vantage point to draw more attention to my subject. There are two Fine Art photographers that include home-life clutter in their images: Jessica Todd Harper (Home Stage) and Julie Blackmon (Domestic Vacation). I like how they embrace the chaos of life with small children in such an intentional way.
Why are you so awesome? 😉
Ha! I have a strong passion to document real life, and real life is often boring — not really all that “awesome”. So, I often wonder if the pictures I produce will be perceived as uninteresting. And I worry the families I photograph will get their pictures and say, “Is that all?”. As more photographers embrace a documentary approach to family photography, I see a trend towards tweaking moments so they are a easier sell. Setting up candid moments then moving dad to the left or asking mom to smile bigger — maybe moving the entire activity into a prettier pocket of light. These things are definitely ways to make more awesome pictures — but I don’t want to be awesome. I just want to be genuine and be content with life the way it is, even the boring parts.
