Artistic Family Photos: From Happy Snap to Meaningful Art
Family photos serve an incredibly valuable purpose in our lives, both at the time they’re created and, over following years, as a way to look back in time and see something of the life lived by those that are most dear to us.
Family photos, in addition to their documentary nature and our preference for creating a pleasing likeness of those depicted, have the capacity to transcend the humble snapshot and become meaningful art. As such, the family photo can be elevated from the family photo album to the art gallery wall.
Family photos bring great pleasure into our lives as they document the people depicted, often at an important moment in their lives, and allow us to look back at how fashion, physical appearance and our lives have changed over the years.
The above image was made, as part of a commission, to create family photos for a fellow classmate from my primary and high schools.
Members of the extended family were returning to my hometown, Hamilton, for Christmas celebrations and to spend time with their grandmother who was terminally ill.
I happened to be home myself and, when I received the unexpected call, I was happy to make time for the photos.
Despite being a very hot summer’s day the family photos session was great fun. I’d scheduled the session as late in the day as I could, knowing the light would improve as the session progressed.
Up until then, I did all I could to find areas of open shade in which to situate my subjects. Fortunately, the rambling backyard included large trees which provided decent shade.
I made all manner of photos on the day featuring couples, individual families, grandparents and pets.
I love this particular photo as it shows the grandchildren and their partners, in a relaxed group photo in the family’s backyard, where they were all camping.
In line with expectations, most photos were supplied in color. But I have to say, my personal favorites were those that I converted into black and white.
They just seem to convey the sense of nostalgia that’s associated with this kind of image and growing up, on the edge of town, on a large, somewhat wild and overgrown bush block.
The signs featured in this photo pointed to where tents had been erected for members of the family, as well as other essential places of interest including the bush shower, toilet (i.e., thunderbox) and meals area.
I have to say, it was a very impressive bush camp.
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Family photos at the Perry Sandhills in NSW, Australia.
Are Family Photos Snapshots Or Art?
I have vivid memories of working, as a stills photographer, on the Australian motion picture film Summer Coda during a particularly hot summer.
Most of the film is set in and around the city of Mildura in far North West Victoria.
The film was somewhat of a family project with my nephew, Richard Gray, writing and directing the project. Richard’s wife, Michele Davies, was responsible for continuity and dialogue on the film and I came on board to manage still photography duties.
Towards the end of the project Richard’s family: his mum Maree, sister Rachel, their partners Trevor and Dean, and brother Pat spent a few days in Mildura.
On a rare day off from my duties as film stills photographer we all crossed the border into NSW and visited the Trentham Estate vineyard for a lovely lunch.
After lunch I took Rachel, Dean and Pat down the Silver City Highway, past the town of Wentworth where the famous Murray and Darling rivers meet, and out to the Perry Sandhills.
The image at the top of this post features, from left to right, Rachel, Dean and Pat surveying the surrounds from atop the first dune.
I love the warm, orange colors of the dunes, reflecting light from the late afternoon sun, and the way they contrast with the blue sky.
The shape and texture of the dunes, while somewhat diminished by the footprints, are also important to the composition as it serves to the separate the dunes into different areas of visual interest.
Family photos featuring my nephew, Patrick Gray, Perry Sandhills, NSW, Australia.
Family Photos: How To Move Beyond The Snapshot
Here’s a photo I made of my nephew, Pat, at the dunes.
While composing the image I remember trying to echo the strong shape of his shadow, cast by the low angle of the late afternoon sun, with the V shape of two intersecting dunes on the bottom right corner of the image.
In this case I believe the warm tone black-and-white rendering, together with the relatively dark tones present in the background, add a powerful mood that contrasts with Pat’s always happy and positive nature.
Family Photos and The Duality At The Heart Of Art
I feel this duality, the contrast between two opposites, to be what lifts an image like this from a snapshot towards art.
It’s in this space, where the intention of the photographer goes beyond merely producing a pleasing likeness of the subject, that photos are elevated onto an altogether other plane of existence.
I’m not saying that I’ve created great art with this environmental portrait of Pat.
What I’m trying to outline is something of the process by which art is created.
And I also want to make the point that good photos, even family photos, are the potential to bridge the gap between the commonplace snapshot and art.
In fact, when well crafted and made with serious intent, family photos can actually become art.
Abstract shapes and textures make art from a snapshot, Perry Sandhills, Australia.
Leave Only Footprints, But Not In A Photo
Needless to say, all photographers need to respect the environment in which they’re making photos. This is as true for portrait photographers, commission to make family photos, as it is for landscape, nature and wildlife photographers.
If you’re a portrait or landscape photographer, looking for a portfolio standard image, be sure not to walk into the frame until after you've made your image.
Occasionally footprints can add a narrative element to an image, but usually they become a visually messy distraction.
The dunes at the Perry Sandhills are actually quite small. You can gain a good overview of them by leaving your car in the second car park and, after only one minute of exertion, cresting the first dune for a decent overview of the landscape.
We arrived in the late afternoon. It was hot, but the light did look very promising.
I would have been happy to wait an extra hour or so and photograph the dunes at sunset and beyond, into the dusk.
Unfortunately, I had to get the family back to Mildura to see the rushes (i.e., a rough cut of important scenes filmed throughout the week) with Richard, Michele and members of the crew.
Our visit to the dunes was probably 40 minutes in duration, including the 20 minutes Dean spent trying to help a bunch of folks move their car that, somewhat miraculously, they’d succeeded to bog in soft sand at the entrance to the car park.
Not only was this a problem for this car load of visitors, their car was also blocking our way out of the car park. I had a 4-wheel drive back, so we were able to exit via a somewhat hidden track out of the carpark.
And, with plenty of other folk around to help, the car that was bogged in the sand also managed to get out.
The lesson, if you decide to visit the Perry Sandhills, is that a low to the ground, hotted up car may not be your best option.
Dynamic family photos add variety to a family portrait photo session.
Family Photos: What Makes Them Great
There are certain concepts, techniques and elements of design that need to be considered whenever a painting, musical score or a photograph are produced.
In the case of a photo, some examples include the following:
Subject
Theme or Story
Camera technique
Light appreciation and management
Composition
Tone
Color
Meaning and Metaphor
If you fail to consider the above examples the image that results will likely disappoint both you and your wider audience.
The fact that little Johnny is smiling just won’t be enough.
I have a great friend called Ashley. I made the above photo, featuring members of his family, at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Melbourne. It was a fun day, though challenging for me as the light was bright and quite harsh.
All the photos we made, including the family group photos, appeared relaxed and casual. That’s due to the easy going nature of these folks, and also because the photos were made in a beautiful outdoor environment, on a lovely day.
This provides a greater deal of freedom for those you photograph, particularly young kids, and it really shows in the photos you create.
It’s also fair to say that I directed and organized the family photos in such a way that achieved relaxed and candid looking results.
This particular image was made right at the end of the session. I think it was only the second time I’ve tried to make such a photo. But I love it as it portrays a tight knit and loving family.
The lesson to take away from this particular photo is that the photographer is never really done. There’s always an opportunity for just one more photo, a saying for which I’m known.
Because so much of my career was during the days of analogue film based photography, I learned to be quite frugal with the amount of images I created.
Frankly, due to the relatively high cost of film and processing, I couldn’t afford to do otherwise. Back then, it was that way for the vast majority of photographers, whether amateur or professional.
Nonetheless, my enthusiasm to make great pictures that would stand the test of time and provide lasting memories for the families I photographed, has always been there.
My approach was simple, and can be outlined as follows:
Make the photos that are expected by your customers.
Make the photos you know will sell.
Work intuitively and strive to make a few extra family photos that are unexpected and highly creative.
Conclusion: Making Family Photos With Enthusiasm
It’s critical, when making family photos, that you do so with enthusiasm.
The photos you create should showcase your creativity; the quality of your engagement in the process and with those you photograph; and your ability to produce visually dynamic, memorable images.
Have no doubt, your clients will treasure these photos and remember fondly the fun you all had in making them.
What’s more, this approach will allow you to differentiate yourself, and the family photos you create, from your opposition. That can only result in more jobs booked and a more stable and profitable business.
Just remember that, if the family photos you create lack meaning, either in your eyes or those of your customer, then they will likely be considered as little more than snapshots.
Ultimately, it’s for you to decide whether or not you like the photos in this post and whether you’d describe them as holiday snaps or something more.
Actually, I’ve been careful to select images that are accessible and easy to replicate. I just don’t see the point in doing otherwise.
However, it’s important to recognize that a well crafted and meaning rich image will likely connect with a greater audience, beyond the immediate family and friends of the subject depicted.
If that’s the case, you’ll know the photos you create are much more than mere happy snaps.
