4 Tips for How to Get Ready for a Lifestyle Photography Session

Fall brings beautiful colors and cool weather, making it the perfect season for family and lifestyle photography. Lifestyle photography is more than just portraits; it’s about capturing real moments, emotions, and stories. If you’ve already mastered Landscape or Portrait Photography, you’ll find that Lifestyle Photography requires a different approach to capture those authentic moments.

Let’s dive into what lifestyle photography is and how you can prepare for a successful session this fall.

What is Lifestyle Photography?

Lifestyle photography is about capturing people in real-life situations or events in a natural, artistic way. It’s not entirely candid but also not strictly posed. The goal is to document genuine emotions and interactions while telling a story through images.

Wikipedia describes lifestyle photography as a genre that captures portraits of people in real-life situations, with a focus on the everyday moments that reflect their life story. The beauty lies in the balance of lightly posed setups and allowing the natural responses of your subjects to shine through.

Light: The Foundation of Any Great Shot

Natural light changes quickly, especially outdoors in fall, so you’ll need to be prepared for shifts in lighting conditions. To make sure you get great photos, consider these options:

• Flash Photography: Learn basic fill flash techniques to balance the natural light.
• Reflectors: A simple reflector can help redirect light onto your subject, ensuring they are always well-lit.

Always be ready to adjust to the changing light—whether the sun is suddenly covered by clouds or hitting your subject from a different angle.

Choosing the Right Lens for Lifestyle Photography

While portrait photographers often use telephoto lenses to blur out backgrounds and focus solely on the subject, lifestyle photographers should aim to include the environment in their images. This helps tell the complete story.

• For Full-Frame Cameras: A 35mm lens or wider is ideal. Personally, I find a 30mm lens to be optimal for capturing the balance between the subject and their surroundings.
• For Crop-Sensor Cameras: Aim for a focal length of 20mm or less.

Using a wide-angle lens allows you to incorporate more of the setting, which is essential for storytelling in lifestyle photography.

Key Camera Settings for Lifestyle Photography

Once you have the light and lens dialed in, it’s time to focus on your camera settings to ensure sharp and dynamic images.

Shutter Speed

Lifestyle photography often involves movement—especially if you’re photographing families with children or pets. You’ll need a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the action.

• Minimum Shutter Speed: 1/90 sec is a good starting point, but you may need to go faster if your subjects are active.
• Preventing Camera Shake: With a wide-angle lens and a shutter speed of at least 1/90 sec, you can significantly reduce the chance of blurry photos.

Aperture

Unlike portrait photography, where you aim for a very shallow depth of field, lifestyle photography benefits from a moderate depth of field.

• Aperture Settings: F/5.6 to F/8 works well for lifestyle shots, as it keeps both the subject and parts of the environment in focus, adding depth to your story.

ISO

Your ISO setting will depend on the available light, but the goal is always to use the lowest ISO possible to avoid grainy (noisy) photos.

• Pro Tip: Using Auto ISO can be helpful, as your camera will automatically adjust the ISO to maintain proper exposure, allowing you to focus on the moment.

Drive Mode

Moments in lifestyle photography happen fast and often unexpectedly. Using Continuous Drive Mode allows you to capture a series of shots in quick succession, increasing the likelihood that you’ll nail the perfect moment.

Posing: Keep It Natural

Lifestyle photography is about real moments, so the posing should be light and natural. Instead of asking your subjects to “look at the camera and smile,” give them an activity or direction that encourages interaction. For example:

• Have the family walk hand-in-hand down a trail.
• Ask children to play in the leaves while parents look on.
• Encourage couples to talk or laugh together.

These activities help create authentic and relaxed moments, which translates into beautiful, heartfelt images.

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Final Thoughts

Fall is the perfect season for lifestyle photography, thanks to the beautiful landscapes and cozy atmosphere. By understanding the unique lighting, lens choices, and camera settings, you’ll be well-prepared for any family or lifestyle session.

In our Digital Photography Bootcamp, we explore these techniques in detail and practice with live examples, so you can confidently shoot a wide range of photography styles.

Are you ready to capture those candid, meaningful moments this fall? Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or someone looking to schedule a session, now’s the time to embrace the art of lifestyle photography!