Frequently Asked Questions About Documentary Family Photography in Taipei

Documentary family photography is different from posed or studio photography because it’s about telling the story of your real life. There is no dressing up or posing involved. I spend time with your family and unobtrusively observe and capture the beauty in your everyday life. The photos are candid and unposed because my goal is to make photos of precious, true moments from your daily routine and the place you’re living that you’ll want to remember forever. The photos might not show a perfect family in a perfect way, but they’ll show a real family in a beautiful way.

Some people confuse lifestyle photography with documentary family photography (understandable!). Lifestyle photography is when the photographer comes to your home or takes you to an outdoor location and then offers guidance or prompts to make photographs that look natural. As a documentary family photographer, I approach sessions like a photojournalist and value authenticity over perfection. I don’t pose or direct families because I want to preserve your true story with the complete range of emotions, from laughter to tears, chaotic to quiet. The resulting story is more raw and intimate, which I believe is the most beautiful kind of story.

One more thing: Documentary-style photos are meant to artfully capture real life. The photos are not heavily edited and don’t involve retouching faces/bodies.

I will not be creepily watching you all from a dark corner. I’ll be interacting and enjoying the day with you like a friend who just happens to have her camera with her. It may sound counterintuitive, but people feel more at ease and able to live their true, beautiful lives in front of me if I’m interacting with them rather than being a fly on the wall.

I am happy to spend a few minutes getting a group shot or two where everyone is looking at the camera, but beyond that, I don’t pose or direct people in any way. What I do best is artfully capturing your unique, authentic story as you interact with one another doing something that you love or is meaningful to you. If you’d like more direction or posed photos beyond a simple group shot, another photographer would be a better fit.

The longer your session, the more time I have to settle into a rhythm with you and your family, observing your dynamic and really knowing your story. For this reason, the shortest session I offer is two hours.

Documentary family photography is about capturing what’s most meaningful for your family and what communicates the most about your story. Picking a location that is beautiful or cool or looks quintessentially “Taiwanese” makes sense for posed photos but doesn’t really tell a story about your family on its own. Ask yourself the following questions when thinking about a location:

• Is there a specific place that my family wants to go so we can explore or do something together?

• Where do we all have the most fun together?

• What do I want to remember about this time in our lives and Taiwan in general, and what places are a part of these memories?

TIP: Locations that just involve a lot of walking and no stops to do things together usually don’t make for very interesting photos.

All you have to do is be yourself! You don’t need to dress or act a certain way. The goal is to document authentic moments of family interaction so that you’ll be able and look back on this fleeting time in your life as it truly was. These moments will naturally unfold as you all live your life and do your thing.

That being said, interaction is the key here. Documenting your everyday routine will give us plenty of natural moments to capture, but it doesn’t hurt to have a few interactive activities in mind. Screen time, Play-Doh, and playing with Lego don’t foster very much interaction. Games, crafts, baking, and doing your typical daily routine will give us more moments of connection to capture.

When you’re thinking about what activities you might do during your session, I recommend you make sure each parent has a chance to shine. For example, if Dad usually does snuggling and reading in bed, make sure there’s an activity that allows Mom to be in her element as well.

We can also go on an outdoor adventure or a brief outing in the neighborhood! Believe it or not, your kids will look back fondly on going to the neighborhood 7-Eleven for ice cream.

TIP: Put your cell phone away—it’s distracting in photos and communicates a feeling of being distracted or less involved than you really are.

And always remember: good behavior and a clean home are not a requirement!

The goal of a documentary session is to preserve a slice of life—just as it is—for you and your family forever. I recommend that you don’t wear matching outfits or anything too fussy or uncomfortable. We want everyone to be themselves and to be able to play and get dirty (this always makes for interesting photos). That being said, I do have a few suggestions that’ll help keep the attention on the people you love rather than the outfit they’re wearing when you look back on your photos:

• Solid, neutral colors work best.

• Avoid loud patterns or logos.

• Hats will make it harder to see your face.

I’m happy to travel up to about an hour or so outside Taipei/New Taipei City when time allows (i.e. Hsinchu, Yilan, Jilong), but a small travel fee will apply.

I can travel anywhere island-wide/worldwide for full Day in the Life sessions, multi-day storytelling projects, or for 3+ shorter sessions that take place over a period of several days. Feel free to discuss the possibility of bringing me to your city with other families you know, and reach out if you’d like to work together on a long-form storytelling project to document your family memories on vacation.

Travel expenses (i.e. HSR or plane ticket, accommodations if necessary) will be added to the final price.

For birth photography, I typically stick to the Taipei and New Taipei area. However, depending on your birth circumstances, I may be able to come to you anywhere in Taiwan. Get in touch and we’ll talk!

1. First, get in touch with this contact form.

2. I’ll be in touch to explain a bit more about how the sessions work. I’m also happy to get on the phone or hop on a video chat to answer any questions you might have about what to expect during your session. If you feel like documentary photography is the right fit for your family, then I’ll send you an invoice for the deposit (25% of the session fee).

3. Once your deposit is paid, I’ll give you a short (optional) questionnaire so I can get to know you and your family a bit more.

4. Finally, I come over with my camera and hang out, documenting the moments that tell the story of your family as it is right now. You can pay the remainder of your session fee in cash on the day of your session, or I’ll send you an invoice for the remainder of your fee right after your session.

5. You’ll receive your private online gallery of your photos—edited and ready to download— within 2-3 weeks after the final payment has been made.