Family Film Photographer | Earl Family Yan Fam Way

Back when I started photography I would photograph anyone and anything! Kids, families, babies, seniors, weddings…you name it! But I slowly realized that my whole heart wasn’t in some of those sessions. I didn’t have a passion to photograph seniors or the patience for crazy wilds kids. I felt like I was doing a disservice to my clients when I wasn’t totally and completely in love with photographing them! So I dropped all those potential money-making outlets and focused solely on weddings.

I built my brand around wedding photography.

As I grew as an artist I began to shoot more film. Back to where I originally started and where I first fell in love with photography. This new (old) found love sparked something inside me. It brought to life my photography in a new way. It also made me feel different about what I was shooting. There is something raw, real, and authentic about film. It sets a forced pace while shooting and creates a business workflow that works for me.

Film caused me to photograph families with a new approach.

I didn’t care that they were perfectly posed, had coordinating outfits, or the perfect backdrop. It was more about slowing down, letting them be themselves in their own environment. Messy hair and dirty hands were ok. Along with toys, goldfish crackers, and bare feet. As a family film photographer this is when I began shooting what I like to call lifestyle session. Families as they really are.

Back in March I attended a workshop by Yan. Let me tell you that she is the master at lifestyle sessions. She has a magical way with kiddos and capturing their sweet moments. Anything from butt-cracks to bandaids! After all, isn’t this what life is about? What is really happening day after day with our kids. I was so inspired by her approach to photographing families. She had great suggestions for getting the kids and parents to act natural and have fun! I especially love what she calls the fall apart pose. Your subject is perfectly posed but then someone leans their head in, or mom plays with her child’s hair, or baby bumps someone’s face. Those are the real moments I am after!

Life isn’t real unless it gets a little messy and when it does I want to be there to photograph it. Nothing is perfect, no one is, so why photograph that? As I learned from Yan I was able to practice shooting film and look for the imperfect moments that make each photograph beautiful. My photographs are meant for my clients to remember those moments. As their children grow and change, their “firsts” and “lasts”, the way life was.

For anyone that is looking to dig deep about what they do, to shoot more film, or to document life for their clients I would highly recommend attending one of Yan’s workshops! Or if you are just looking for a big squeeze hug she is good at that too! She just released dates for her class so make sure you go over and sign up soon! Then enjoy this session below of Becky Earl’s family that volunteered for the workshop!

Kodak Portra 400 and 800. Contax 645. The Find Lab.