Franklin TN Documentary Film and Photos | Real is the new perfect
If I asked you to think of your favorite people and the memories you most treasure with them, would you say it was when you were posed on a quilt in a field for your annual check list family session?
No. you wouldn't.
So why are we investing in just this type of photography? Im not saying no to posed or lifestyle sessions, but I am saying we need to say yes more to real life memories. Meaningful sessions with the purpose behind them to preserve our memories.
I have been a photographer for almost 10 years. Its been trend after trend after trend. and at some point around year 7-8, I subconsciously became sick of it. I didn't know why. I didn't know what happened exactly, other than my own family had our own documentary shoot.
I had hired a photographer from Australia, who was visiting the area, to film my family. She said the session came with photos, but initially, I didn't care much about those.
But then, I received the images before the film. and the images had me breaking down in tears. This moment changed my heart forever. I entered into a transition of finding my own authentic self as an artist. and never looked back.
It all makes sense in hindsight. My degree is Psychology. Im excellent at reading people and moments. at Feeling what people are feeling. I just allowed trendy photography to deter me from my true inner self for far too long. I still love capturing families outside in lifestyle sessions, but it doesn't feed my soul like documentary.
My theory is, is that inside all of us, particularly mothers.... there is this part of us that wants raw real photographs and videos of our everyday. As mothers, we can see that the boo-boos, the sick days, the stories that are being told to our children, the quick hugs, the long snuggles, and the giggles, are the real moments that make our hearts go pitter patter. I just think we are too afraid of something way off in left field, to fully invest and jump into it.
I hear it all the time .... "Our lives are not that interesting" and Im here to tell you, thats a lie you're telling yourself. Your life is interesting. Because it is your family's story. and that is the most interesting life that there is. Photos and film of your family - that goes above and beyond any staged session that there is.
I met with a momma the other day, as she is hiring me to capture her life with a 3 year and 1 year old twins. I asked her why she wanted a film. I wish I could have videoed her long answer. I will try to paraphrase what she said. It made my heart soar.
"I look back at photos of my 3 year old as a baby and I already find that I forgot things that I didn't realize I would forget. I have always wanted a big family and I feel so blessed to already have 3 kids. Its absolute chaos, but I love our chaos and I want that story to be told"
Y'all, I nearly cried listening to this mommas heart!
One final thing. Preserving these memories, isn't just about what momma wants to remember. It is also about documenting the childhood of her children. Capturing life as it happened - so that your children can look back and remember their LIVES and how they LIVED in YOUR family.
So lets get back to the heart of photography. Preserving our real raw memories, so we can look back and truly remember.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Jennie
Nashville Family Filmmaker and Photographer | Why you should get a family film
Some people are adults, who now have family movies from their childhood. They watch them and recall their childhood. This is especially wonderful if a family member has passed away. To be able to go back in time, quite literally. Maybe on the video, we see how mom would snuggle little Ethan, or kiss Hannah's boo-boos. We see how Dad would play catch in the front yard on Thanksgiving with Tony, or how the cousins would always have pie fights.
But now, in 2018, we are lacking this, a lot. Unless its a video that comes up from years passed on Facebook, we don't have these videos of childhood to recall in the future. Having the annual Christmas Card or Fall family shoot is great and all, but is this truly capturing time? Is this really meaningful? Is it the actual meaning behind what photography was intended for?
I got married in 2006, so it was not a common thing to video the wedding. At the last minute, someone asked to take a candid video with a handheld camcorder. and I said yes, absolutely. That day was the last day I saw my mother. My mother died 3 weeks after my wedding.
When the end happens, I want to have as few regrets as possible. And when social media is gone and all of life's chaos is stripped away, when were saying our goodbyes, I know that what will truly be missed, is the moments. Not the posed ones in the field for the annual family shoot, but the everyday boo-boos and games, the naughty child who sprayed the sink with shaving cream, the way little Roman would giggle every single time his daddy played peek-a-boo. The way daddy would blow raspberries at bed time, or the teeth brushing chaos of having 5 children. The TRUE purpose behind photography is to remember THE MOMENTS. To capture the facial expression, the emotional connection, and the personalities. To tell YOUR FAMILY'S Story of today.
Some people think their family isn't interesting enough for a film. That could not be further from the truth. EVERY family is worthy of being honored with film and photos of their true selves! Everyone is beautifully IMPERFECT. Just as we were made. Just as we are.
In the end, it wont be the posed yearly photo we grab at. It will be the videos, so we can hear his laughter that we haven't heard in years. It will be our favorite image capturing a moment in time that told the story of love and connection.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Family Photographer | Documentary Day in the Life {The Chu Family}
Once you shoot documentary, you want nothing else. Gone is the facade and in comes the REAL and RAW. I am completely obsessed, and my client is in LOVE too. Remembering her early years of coloring, daddy putting pig tails in her hair, eating raisins, and running about. Those are the moments that we cant get back. Her sassy smirks and love of all things pink. Her spunk and giggles, those - are the memories worth keeping. In 2018, I will be doing MORE of this. and less of the directed, posed, even lifestyle (still directed to some degree) work. More films, more REAL moments. xoxo
Warmly,
Nashville Baby Photographer | Kinsley 12 Months
Baby Kinsley is so big! I cant believe she is ONE! She is so sweet and angelic. She has the most precious face. She has been ill and we have had to reschedule several times. But we finally made it happen! She was tired at the end and we got to grab some sweet shots of her sleeping. Again, she is just angelic!
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
Nashville Child Photographer | Personal
Its January and the weather is bitter cold, even in Tennessee. It may snow today, they're not sure. If it did, technically, it would be our 2nd snow, but the first snow, I think I saw all of 3 flakes :)
We've been inside and outside and enjoying all things winter. Greyson has been really into painting. I let him do it whilst I homeschool my older son, Atticus.
If you want your family captured, contact me here!
Warmly,
