Documentary Family Photography in Bend, Oregon (Part 1): How to Prep Your Family

I’ve noticed a shift in the family photography industry lately: parents want to capture photos that feel more like treasured memories and less like posed pictures. As a documentary photographer in Bend, Oregon, this is one of my favorite topics to write about. Here’s the truth that these parents know: the moments of childhood are fast and fleeting. If you’re unfamiliar with documentary photography but interested in real memories for your family, let’s take a look at what prepping for a documentary session actually looks like.

Before we get too far, Hi - I’m Elise

A Bend, Oregon photographer determined to make family photos more than just smiling at the camera. If you’re looking for real memories & a photographer to help make it a comfortable experience, you’re in the right place.

What is documentary family photography?

Documentary family sessions create truly candid pictures, meaning it is unposed photography. Think of it more like a photojournal approach - the photographer isn’t telling you what to do while they are photographing you, but is capturing your family just being yourselves. I call my documentary family sessions “This is Life” because it focuses on documenting the everyday beauty in this season of your family’s lives. 

Some families might think that a documentary session will result in messy, chaotic, or unattractive photos. This isn't true. An experienced documentary photographer doesn't see a mess; they see the details that make up your reality. Ten years from now, you won't care that there were too many toys strewn about the floor - you’ll remember the sounds of your children laughing as they played. Plus, you have to remember that an experienced photographer curates your final gallery to weed out the unflattering shots and include the best storytelling images.

Your family will look human, not messy.

What to expect when booking a documentary photographer.

The real secret to capturing beautiful documentary photos is in the preparation process. A documentary photographer working with families is going to take time to get to know you before showing up to a session. This has the added bonus of forming trust with the photographer prior to being photographed by them. Getting to know a family can be done through a pre-session questionnaire, a call or video chat, a short meetup with a parent (or parents), or a combination of these tactics. 

If you’re suddenly thinking that this is going to add extra work to your plate, fear not. A handful of carefully chosen questions can give a whole lot of information in a short amount of time. And typically once you’ve given this information, a documentary photographer is going to be able to easily point you in the right direction for location and activities (which are covered in part 2 of this guide).

To give you an idea of how we uncover those details, here are a few things I ask my clients before the session: 

+ What does your family love to do together right now?

+ What do you want to remember most about your kids at this age?

+ How does each member of the family feel about being in front of the camera?

These simple questions tell me a whole lot about what is important to a family in a short amount of time. Whatever a family answers will guide the framework of their particular session, ensuring that it is true to their individual interests.

Prepping your family for documentary family photos.

Prepping family members for documentary photos is an important part of the process because it’s not quite the same as prepping for more traditional lifestyle family photos. While most traditional portrait sessions create spaces where families will look at the camera and smile, documentary photography is best when participants ignore the camera.

It can be hard to let your true self shine if you’re thinking about what you’re looking like on camera. I encourage parents to remember that it’s best to get involved in an activity to take your mind off the camera. I also encourage parents to prepare children by telling ones who are old enough to understand what’s happening that they don’t have to pay attention to the camera at all. Kids are usually pretty good at ignoring the camera once given permission to do so, and parents relax if they are focused on something with the kids.

The biggest relief for parents in a documentary session? There’s no bribery involved or pressure to perform. If your child suddenly has big feelings or doesn’t want to participate, that’s okay. Take a moment to parent and help them regulate - that bond you share is the real stuff of a parent-child relationship, and it makes for the most honest, beautiful photographs. Your life isn’t a curated, sterile feed. Documentary photography honors all facets of everyday life.

What to wear for a documentary family photo session.

Documentary family photos are based on your real activities and everyday life - so there’s going to be lots of movement and interaction involved. Since these photos are also unposed (meaning not guided), a photographer is not going to be spot checking everything for before they snap the picture. With this in mind, it’s important to think about wearing outfits that are going to work for you with minimal effort. Your goal is to style your family for the ‘everyday’ but put together feel, and to avoid common wardrobe malfunctions. You want lived in, but not sloppy. 

For kids, this is where you can let their personalities and interests shine. Does your toddler have a favorite pair of rainboots? Let them wear the boots. Does your six year old love to dress up? Roll with the costume. Your current self might be a bit annoyed by these obsessions (I’m a parent also, I get it), but your twenty-years-from-now self is going to look back on these memories fondly.

If you want outfits that look intentional but still allow your kids to climb playground equipment at Columbia Park or run around your living room without wardrobe malfunctions, look for durable playwear. I love recommending local shops like Riverbend Resale Boutique or Hopscotch Kids that carry pieces designed for real movement, not just sitting still and smiling.

Quick checklist for family outfits.

+ Skip mini dresses and maxi dresses. If you want to wear a dress, midi or tea length dresses provide space to move freely without tripping over your clothing or flashing undergarments. 

+ Aim for colors (not black or white). Color lends emotional expression to your session, and brings a whole lot of life to your images.

+ Skip clothing with large logos. These photos are your memories, not advertisements for a company. (A teen with a favorite band shirt can be an exception, as this is what matters to them currently.)

+ If a child is wearing a dress, put bloomers over a diaper or undershorts over underwear. (You’ll be grateful you did, trust me). 

+ Dress for comfort and your memories, not impressing the camera or social media. (BUT still think put together: patterned pajamas are adorable, crusty or threadbare sweatpants not so much.)

What's next for planning documentary photos - and how to choose the right location.

Prepping your mindset and your wardrobe is half the battle. The next step is figuring out where this magic actually happens. In Part 2 of this blog, I’m breaking down how to choose the perfect location, how we handle lighting, and ideas for activities to keep your family engaged so you completely forget I’m holding a camera.

Let’s Capture Your Family’s Real Story. You don't need a Pinterest-perfect house or perfectly behaved kids to get heirloom-quality photographs. You just need to show up as you are. If you're ready to skip the forced smiles and preserve what your life actually feels like right now, let’s plan your session.