Lifestyle Photography... without family implemented

[ChrisAdval]

I have a strong interest in story-telling in photos, so I thought exploring lifestyle photography would be a good way to practice this type of photography, but from what I see from most self-proclaimed lifestyle photographers is they shoot family photos as capturing their lifestyle... of their family... for me family isn't for me at all. So I was thinking of just finding an individual whom seems very well rounded either famous or not (doubt I could photograph lifestyle photos of a famous person) and document their lifestyle, either overall lifestyle or specific one they specialize in. And I got no real clue how to do this, but logically I thought about just finding individuals of people in my own network, maybe photographers I admire locally and shoot them in lifestyle type of photos, such as documenting a day of a model photoshoot from setting up the studio, to the actual production, and a little bit of post-production. And to add more depth to the photos I would talk to the subject about themselves and their lifestyle we're photographing...

Tell me what you think of that game plan and if you have ever done lifestyle photography please add in your experiences and tips you recommend, do's and dont's if any... Thanks!

[Rentham]

Chris it sounds like you are talking more about documentary or editorial photography. Lifestyle photography isn't about following someone around. I generally think of it as a more subtle form of product photography. It uses alleged "everyday situations" (the lifestyle) but they are deliberately created in controlled environments. It often serves a commercial purpose by aligning the product with a certain set of values or themes.

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by Rentham

Chris it sounds like you are talking more about documentary or editorial photography. Lifestyle photography isn't about following someone around. I generally think of it as a more subtle form of product photography. It uses alleged "everyday situations" (the lifestyle) but they are deliberately created in controlled environments. It often serves a commercial purpose by aligning the product with a certain set of values or themes.

This.

'Lifestyle' seems to have been hijacked recently by family portrait photographers because it's a neat little catch-phrase that covers shooting in the clients home etc.

An interesting expansion of this, related to the suggestion you're making is the shoot with a family that is kind of a Day in the Life session. The photographer is there with the family for breakfast, getting ready, going somewhere interesting like a museum, taking some family portraits and then finishing with the family kicking back hanging out at home...

It's actually an inviting prospect and a veritable cash cow.

[ChrisAdval]

documentary photography it is then... but from what I've explained is that a good game plan to achieving some documentary photography? I've already got one local photographer (with work I admire) to agree to letting me do this, as well do a video interview with him for my youtube channel and facebook group. So it will be a very educational experience ;-)