Life In Print

Life In Print

I remember clearly as a child the experience of family portraits. You know the drill, right?
Photographer: "You, little girl. Stop squirming. Square your shoulders to the camera. Put your chin down. Head tilted a little to the right… a little more, no - too much. O.K., stop! Right there; Say cheese!"

My brother, my sister and me: "Ugh." Roll eyes, cross arms over your chest and pout.

Result? The Deer-In-Headlights look.
Nothing could be further from the true nature of our family than these "boxed" photos. We were uncomfortable, uninterested and unnatural. We sensed our mother's stress and frustration. We stamped those memory-making photos as memories worth forgetting. They whole experience was so…well? Wrong.

As a mother, I avoided those boxed photography situations for fear of stamping the same four walls around my children's memories. I wanted them to experience the camera the way I finally did in advertising.
Photographer: "Jenn, darling, just give me movement. Dance, be yourself. I'll keep up. Who cares about the wrinkle in the skirt, you look great!"
Me: Exhale and bliss.

As I became more interested in being behind the camera than in front of it, I realized my unique opportunity to share my experiences in portraiture photography and lifestyle photography with others.
How can I take the best portraiture photography concepts, blend it with my taste in art, and come up with something feasible a parent would want? How could I show my clients what was out there, outside of the box?

I took my own opinion as a parent and put it behind the camera.
My parental opinion?

First, there should be no box. There should rarely be a tripod. The flash does not need to exist in every exposure. And, who says you can't crop out shoulders or tops of heads? Who commands this rule? I mean really, what might happen? The client actually likes the image and wants to own it, instead of believing there are no other options out there and settles for the one perfectly framed?
Second, there is a place for traditional portraiture, and I would never tell you to ignore it as a photographer. As a parent, I want options. I want to see the difference. I want a little of everything.

Last but certainly not least, I want to see my children, not stiff images of beings that resemble my kids. I want laughs and drool. I want movement and messy hair. I want to live in the moment even when the moment has passed. And the only way I can do that is through the photo. So show me the photo, give me life in print so I can take it with me always.

And this is my style. It's complex, but simple. It's fun, but organized. It's demanding, but carefree. It's life in print.
Have you lived a moment in print lately?


Author: Jennifer Mannion of Pixie Posie and NAPCP member. The National Association of Professional Child Photographers (NAPCP) offers parents a directory of Child Photographers who specialize in children photography and portraits. NAPCP's mission is to provide parents and clients a comprehensive directory of professional Children Photographers who will fit their needs.