When phone companies started making better cameras for their gadgets, there was a fear among many professional photographers that their careers will die. This has been proven wrong because over the years, even as better cameras are produced, photographers who have remained true to their trade continue to shine. Lifestyle photography is one of the areas that photographers can embrace. From the name, you probably gather that it is the type of photography that captures real-life experiences. It can be in the form of photojournalist, or shooting weddings and events. As long as you are capturing everyday life activities where people are the focus most of the time, you are a lifestyle photographer. The qualities that will make your work stand out are:
Tell a Story
Your photograph should tell a story. They say a photo speaks a thousand words; so you need to ask yourself what yours is telling the people who are looking at your work. It is the little details that tie up the story, For instance, focus on the eyes of the bride and groom as they take their first dance after they exchange vows could summarize the love their share. The empty look of a hungry child in a war-torn country could be what is needed to tell the dire situation. Always think in terms of a story.
Bend the Rules Sometimes
When people are learning about photography, they get fascinated by the rules, such as rule of thirds and other things that define good photography. They then get stuck in the rules and get scared about trying something that goes against the rules. While these rules are generally important, there are instances that you may want to break the rules and create your own work. You never know what you can come up with until you try. Of course, this should be within reason. You do not want to get hired for an event and then start flaunting too many rules and in the end giving bad photos.
Always Have Camera Ready
The thing about lifestyle photography is that your subject is constantly changing. A running child who is chasing a flower might suddenly stop as you are trying to wipe your camera lens. The sparkle in a mother’s eye might be disrupted as the son gives a speech. That is why if you want to get raw and genuine photos, you need to always have your camera ready for the big moment.
Have the Right Software
You do not need to use technology to interfere with the integrity of a photo. Photos that are overly edited lose the magic that makes lifestyle photography beautiful. There is however nothing wrong with a little touch-up. Cropping out some things that are interfering with the subject is allowed. You can also adjust brightness and other minor changes. This works best if you have a good software that has many positive reviews.
Try Different Perspectives
Just as it is important to look at life from different perspectives, it is also important to take lifestyle photographs from different perspectives. Try different angles, keep changing lenses, change the position where you are standing, and keep trying different positions. Take more than one shot and later you can select the one that you think brought out the best of your subject and tells the story you have in mind better.