Documentary Family Photography in Bend, Oregon (Part 2): Location, Lighting, and Activities

If you’re new to the concept of documentary family photography, you’ll want to start with Part 1 of this guide, where we break down the exact mindset shift and wardrobe choices that make these sessions work. But if you’re ready to dig into the physical logistics of an unposed session here in Central Oregon, let’s talk about how your session location and activity do the heavy lifting.

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.

How to choose your location for a documentary session.

Choosing a location that helps everyone feel at ease lets your family’s true personalities shine. As part of the preparation process, a documentary family photographer will likely discuss location options with you, or even suggest where the photos can be taken. It’s quite common for documentary style photographers to solely schedule sessions in a family’s home, but I like to balance a family’s needs with what they enjoy. For that reason, I’m not going to give a one-size-fits-all location suggestion for documentary photos, because your family is unique. 

Let’s take a look at photos in your home versus an outdoor spot in Central Oregon, and why you should choose either option for your documentary session.

Documentary photos at your home.

Taking photos in or around your home can instantly set a tone for comfort because it’s a familiar space. If your family has camera-shy participants or really young children (think babies through preschool age), choosing to have your documentary session at your home takes a huge load of pressure off of family members. 

Taking photos at your home is truly a time capsule of who you all are.

Many family traditions, routines, and moments are spent within the comfort of your home. Even simple things like reading stories or brushing teeth change significantly as a child grows. And as someone who has photographed families in both home and outdoor settings for over seven years, I can say there is a difference between what a child will let a camera see at home versus somewhere else.

Documentary photos outdoors in Central Oregon.

Alternatively, taking photos in a favorite space away from home can document a favorite activity that is meaningful. Documentary family photography in Bend and surrounding Central Oregon is truly unique because of the myriad of activities we have at our fingertips. Think about morning trips to the Northwest Crossing Farmers Market, exploring the trails and little watering spots around Shevlin Park, hiking down into the canyon at Smith Rock, or grabbing sandwiches at the Farmer’s Deli food truck before heading to Drake Park - just to name a few ideas!

But before you hop onto a Pinterest board for inspiration for fun family activities in the area, consider that the point of documentary family photography is to solidify core memories for yourselves and your kids. It’s not to find the next trendy idea or to gather likes on a social media post.

Decoding lighting for documentary photography: indoor and outdoor locations

I lived in seven different states before permanently landing in Bend, and I can tell you that light here is quite interesting. Between the short winter days, long summer days, and the mountain ranges that define our horizon—it takes skill and attention to detail to plan for optimum lighting. Thankfully, natural light holds to a fairly predictable pattern in Central Oregon, making it a dream backdrop for documentary photography.

Lighting inside and around your home in Central Oregon.

Lighting can feel like a tricky thing inside homes in Central Oregon. Windows that are south-facing will get the brightest sunlight which translates beautifully on camera. Whether those windows are in a typical living space or not (I’ve seen some bathrooms with amazing lighting), it’s usually best to follow the light.  

For lifestyle family sessions, I will sometimes use an off-camera flash to light up a less-than-ideal space. I don’t pull out my flash for documentary family sessions, though, because it simply draws too much attention to the camera. Instead, I focus on finding the highest quality natural light in a home - which is typically mid-morning or mid-afternoon depending on the season. 

That being said, if you think your home doesn’t have good lighting, that doesn’t mean you can’t take photos at home. The contrast between light and shadow in homes can create a beautiful storytelling dynamic for photos that have a cinematic feel. We can also utilize your immediate outdoor spaces like a patio, porch, or backyard, or get creative with open doorways to capture the essence of your home while maximizing the available light.

Outdoor lighting in Central Oregon.

Sunlight in the beautiful outdoors of Central Oregon varies strongly by season. If you’re looking for photos in spaces that don’t have open shading available (like our scenic high-desert plains), it’s best to schedule the session within two hours of sunrise or sunset to catch that soft, pretty glow. If you can’t schedule within those golden hours, then we simply opt for an outdoor location that has open shade available, or consider a location that’s away from home but still meaningful to your family - like a stop at Goody’s Chocolate and Ice Cream downtown for a scoop before walking over to the Deschutes Public Library.

Decluttering your home versus lived-in charm (and why it matters).

There’s a whole lot of pressure put onto families these days to be ‘perfect’ - and families often think that their homes have to be perfect, too. This is not true. Take the pressure off yourself right now by knowing this: a documentary photographer is taking pictures of your relationship and interactions with your family members, not the decor in your house (or the mess that you might be worried about).

Quick check list for prepping your home for documentary photos.

+ Spot clean surfaces: quick vacuum or sweep of floors and wipe counters down

+ Declutter in an instant: toss dirty laundry in the hamper, extra toys into a closet, and dishes into the dishwasher. 

+ Have favorite items and activities handy: if your family loves boardgames, have a couple ready to go in your living spaces. If your family loves creating art together, place the supplies in an accessible spot (you get the idea).

How to choose activities for documentary family photos.

Having an activity helps.

The final piece of the puzzle is setting your family up to feel comfortable in front of the camera. Hands down the easiest way to accomplish this is to have your family participate in an activity that you enjoy doing together.

Before you run off with the idea that you can do anything in a documentary session, keep in mind that certain activities will photograph better than others. For example, playing video games may be a shared interest between siblings, but it’s not a moment that you’ll reminisce about fondly in photographs.

Quick checklist for how to pick an activity that photographs well:

+ It creates connection: Choose something that sparks interaction, eye contact, and touch between family members.

+ It holds attention without stress: The activity should be engaging enough to keep kids focused, but not so complicated that you end up concentrating too hard or frustrated.

+ It meets everyone where they are: It must fit the current skills, abilities, and attention spans of all your family members—especially toddlers.

+ It allows for natural movement: Pick an activity where your faces are visible and you can easily face each other, rather than something that keeps your backs turned to one another.

The Legacy of everyday beauty in your unscripted moments.

The reality of raising children is that they change drastically as they grow. I never fully grasped the meaning of the old adage, ‘the days are long but the weeks are short’ until I became a parent. My children are spaced almost five years apart, which means that my youngest is now going through the paces of toddlerhood that my eldest son left behind years ago. Sometimes I ache for those little moments long past because I know my five year old will never again be on tiptoe looking into the dishwasher, or filled with glee at the entire roll of toilet paper that he strewed about the bathroom. 

If you think of documentary photos as heirlooms to give your children one day - not a post that is going to get likes or comments - it really changes your perspective on what is important. Imagine all the beautiful parts of what it is to be a parent right now: like when your baby falls asleep in your arms, your toddler finds their sense of humor, or your kid slips their hand into yours and whispers, "I love you.” Documentary photography is the bridge between remembering those moments and being able to show your children what their childhood felt like. 

Twenty years from now, your children won't be looking at photos to see how perfect your house looked or whether your outfits matched. They’re going to want to see how you looked at them, how you held their hands, and what you did together as a family. If you’re ready to trade the stress of a perfect portrait session for an experience that honors your family's actual life, let's talk.