Break the Convention and Capture True Family Moments with Genevieve Russell

The typical family portrait, where everyone is coordinated in white or black shirts, powdered and primped, and told repeatedly to smile at the camera, don’t interest me. But, ask me to come and have blueberry pancakes, hang out and color, take a walk and photograph the nuances of a family Sunday—that is a complete joy! The resulting images act as a little time capsule, a way to preserve flashes of everyday life that don’t linger long.

A Hobbs Family StoryPortrait © StoryPortrait Media

The visual imagery can be so much more enhanced with snippets of audio. I turn the microphone on a child playing the piano, reading about Mrs. Wishy Washy, singing "Chicken Fingers," or a dad reflecting on parenthood. Editing out a few select moments and thoughts using multimedia software, I create a StoryPortrait, a vignette, a short chapter of a day in the life...

Try this approach next time you pull out the camera around family members. You'll capture moments that everyone will cherish.

Learn more from Genevieve in her workshop
Photographing People
March 7-13, 2010

Visit her blog at storyportraitmedia.blogspot.com to see what she's up to.