Leigh Ball
Documentary family photographer
for the Macedon Ranges & Melbourne
PERFECT FOR THOSE OF US WHO 'AREN'T REALLY PHOTO PEOPLE'
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If you're wondering if a documentary style of photography could be right for you,
it could be because you're smart enough to know that life isn't always pretty but there's a lot of sweet moments along the way.
Testimonial
"Leigh captured some beautiful photos of us all and made us feel so comfortable and at ease in front of the camera. We were able to just play with our kids and go about our day and now we have photos to look back on one day to remind us what life at home was like."
Louisa
Testimonial
“Having photos in a space we were comfortable was a game changer. Leigh noticed small moments between my girls and between my husband and myself. I got beautiful photos and the kids only remember their play at the park. A win for us all.“
Kate B
In-home or on location documentary family photography means that you are never directed, you’re free to be yourself.
At a time in history where the life we portray to the outside world seems more disconnected than ever, we sometimes feel the need to share visions of how life could be;
- clean, ironed (what’s that?), colour coordinated clothing,
- hair and makeup done,
- house clean and tidy
- perfectly behaved children who listen and follow instructions
- perfectly behaved adults who smile a natural smile on cue and can make their children so the same.
Can you relate to this style? No judgement from me, I've done it!
The stress of trying to achieve all of this can be well hidden, but it will be there and your memories of those photos will include that feeling.
Achieving photos such as this can feel like chasing a mirage or a rainbow, you reach for something magical, but no matter how hard you try, it vanishes before you get there, leaving you feeling like somehow you missed out on what it seems others have.
This creates stress and anxiety within your family that nobody needs more of.
When clients come to me, it's usually with a horror story that goes something like this....
"We had to drive to a place at the worst time of day for little kids. One had a meltdown on the way and the other one spilt their drink on their new cream shirt. By the time we arrived I was a stressed out mess. It was all I could do not to yell at the kids, but it wasn't their fault. Why did I put us through this? The photos were nice but when I look at them, I wonder, 'who even is this family?' It didn't seem like us. It wasn't us."
There has to be a better way... and here it is!
In a world that craves real authenticity, memories deserve to be more than a mirage, something fleeting and unachievable. Your life deserves to be preserved as it is, both the ‘pretty’ and dare I say it, the ‘not so pretty.’
The key difference when you choose documentary style photography is that you
- are not directed to do anything at all,
- no-one is asking you to undertake a type of activity,
- pose in a certain way, or
- smile on cue.
This can be a very freeing feeling for you. There is no pressure to get anything ‘right’, you can just be yourselves knowing that I will capture you in a timeless and creative way.
When you book your session you can expect me to have a quick chat to you and meet your people. I'll find out if there's any 'no-go' zones in the house, then I'll just start shooting, observing, stepping right in or standing back, depending on what's happening.
How it works
Before your session
- You will receive an information pack that will likely answer most of your questions. Anything that you’re still wondering about can be answered in a quick phone call.
- You’ll understand what it means to have a documentary photography session happening in your home
- You’ll know that the only preparation that needs to be done, is on me.
- You’ll sign the paperwork and pay a deposit to reserve your place in my calendar.
During your session
- You can chill and just do the things you normally would.
- You don’t need to be in a rush
- You do not need to try and make your kids do anything for the sake of photos, no sitting still, no saying cheese, in fact I forbid it!
- You will be enjoying your time together, hopefully. That might mean lots of laughing and natural smiles. It might mean unhappy faces, cross faces, worried faces. It’s all normal and you don’t need to stress about it.
- You will let the day unfold as it does, no need to try to control everything because there is a photographer in the house.
After your session
- You will have photos that remind you of your life right now, the real feeling and connection
- You might share your photos, or not.
- You might make yourself a photobook that tells your story, printed so that it outlasts any changes in the digital world over the next 50 years.
- You can print wall art to be enjoyed for years, and passed on through your family.
- You will have photos you love, with you in them.
When you look back in years to come, or your grandkids and great grandkids are trying to understand your story by looking at your photos, what will they see?
Often when we look back at old photos, we’re searching for context and meaning.
We're looking for the
Who and also the
What,
Where and
How of the life you see before you.
What story will you be telling your future generations, will it include the real you? Or you at all, if you’re the one always taking the photos.
What is the difference between Lifestyle and Documentary photography for families?
Lifestyle photography tells a story of how life could be, documentary photography tells a story of how life is.
In Lifestyle photography, you get ready to look your best and have your family doing the same. The scene is staged or at least tweaked, activities and interactions suggested all of which can look good for the camera. Sometimes different lighting is used depending on your home or chosen location.
In Documentary photography, nothing is moved or altered in any way. It’s a type of photo journalism, recording and preserving the way life actually is. The context is just as important as the people, the surrounds form part of the story. The interactions happen without direction from me. I won’t use additional lighting, I will move myself, rather than anything in your home to get the best images.
How do I prepare my children?
Your little person or people are learning, growing more independent, trying to express their true feelings in the best way they know how. To expect otherwise is unrealistic and honestly not fair. We often expect more from kids than we do of ourselves. There is no pressure or expectation for your child/ren to be anything but themselves. Depending on the age of your kids, you might like to tell them that I’ll be hanging out with my camera in your home. You can tell them that they can pretty much ignore me and just do what they normally do. You can also mention that I won’t be asking them to do anything in particular and I certainly won’t want them to be pretending to be anything they are not. That includes not pasting on a cheesy grin for the camera!
What if me or my child are anxious of strangers?
Where possible, I will meet you and your children before the day when I bring my camera with me. We can make friends, hang out and play for a while.
I am a qualified early childhood educator with a gazillion years of experience with kids of different ages. When kids feel my genuine interest and are allowed to warm to that in their own time, they are free to just be themselves. Of course being in their own environment helps, it’s familiar and comfortable.
Because I won’t be asking your kids to cooperate in any way, there is zero pressure on your little people. This approach avoids most issues but if you feel your child has a need that can be best met in a particular way, I’m all ears!
What if my child has a last minute meltdown?
No stress, as there is no pressure for you or your child to be or act in a certain way, everyone is free to manage anything that happens in the usual way. I will be sensitive to everyone’s feelings and not add to any emotions that are being experienced.
Do I need to organise what we will wear?
You can do whatever you like. If you are normally organised in this way, you can go right ahead. If you are not and struggle just to get yourself and the kids dressed in something, anything, then no you don’t need to change that. If they get dirty, they can stay dirty or you can change them, whatever you would normally do. If they love that new fairy dress that they got for their birthday and want to wear it, they can. Remember this is a real life story, not a fabricated one.
Do I need to organise my kid’s sleep time and meal/snack times for the photoshoot?
No, you can let your kids do whatever they need to do and whatever they would normally do. We can discuss normal routines beforehand when planning the shoot time. If they sleep at some stage they will wake up and might share a drowsy cuddle. At some stage, you’ll need to refuel so you can eat and drink whenever you need to.
Should I bribe my kids or promise them treats to cooperate?
There is no for need for this. As we won’t be making them do anything they don’t want to, just for the camera, you won’t need to feel pressured to bribe them in any way that is out of the ordinary for your family.
What is the best time of day for a family photoshoot?
As we will be in your home, documenting your usual day, the timing depends on you. There is no best time for this type of photography, we won’t be dragging kids out at dinner time to catch the sunset or avoiding the harsh midday sun. Whatever the light is, it is, I will make the best use of the natural and available light.
Is documentary family photography right for me?
If you feel that you want your real and true story captured, it is absolutely right for you and your family. If you value living life in the moment over posting on social media about how your life is perfect, it’s a great choice.
This type of photography suits people who are courageous and willing to be their authentic self. It suits people who don’t want to engage in the stress of pretending life is something it isn’t. If you are someone who doesn’t want to compete online and want to give your metal health some breathing room, this type of photography could work well for you.
If you are the type of person who values your peace and privacy, want less anxiety, less stress and feelings of inadequacy, this is type of photography is definitely for you.
Will my photos be edited?
Yes, documentary family photos are edited to ensure that they accurately represent the true picture. Camera lenses don’t see the world the same way as our eye’s do so editing is necessary to ensure what you see is closer to what you get.
There is no one right way to edit photos as this will vary in every different situation. Some look great in black and white, some need the vibrant colours. You will likely receive some of each. What you can be sure of, I won’t use a one size fits all preset to make your photos look the same as everyone else’s.
How many photos will I receive?
There is no set amount of photos that you will receive. I will provide you with an entire gallery that represents the time I spend with you and your family. There will be no need to choose which ones you will receive, only which ones you would like to print from your collection.
How long will you spend at our photoshoot?
I prefer not to set an amount of time for photographing your family as this will vary according to what happens on the day. I will stay as long as I need to in order to provide you with the quality and quantity of images you will be expecting.
I do offer a choice of a ‘little’ and ‘big’ packages with approximate times, as well as add ons that you can decide on after you receive your images. No pressure. You can find out more on the Documentary Family pricing page.