Lifestyle photography Hyatt Regency Dubai, photo by Gerry O’Leary
Lifestyle photography is a form of the genre that often looks candid but is usually staged to perfection. It aims to capture people in a real-life situation, looking natural, and tell a story about the moment.
For wedding and family photographers, their bread and butter is lifestyle photography – artistically capturing people in the moment and reflecting the emotions of the day. The key is to look effortless, whereas it takes a lot of skill, patience and dedication to capture these moments with aplomb.
For me, lifestyle photography comes under hospitality. Sometimes this is called idealised lifestyle photography. Whenever a luxury hotel requests a full photography shoot, there are usually some lifestyle images included. In this scenario, the idea is to promote different experiences in the hotel or highlight the ambiance of a property. My role as a director comes into play, as I stage an image to make it look as natural as possible.
Who Needs A Lifestyle Photographer?
Anyone who wants a batch of photos of people in a certain situation needs a lifestyle photographer. To this end, many amateurs might proclaim that they are creating lifestyle photography, however the attention to detail for professional photos is a necessity. The best lifestyle photographers are usually blending a few genres at the same time (i.e. architecture and fashion, landscape and people)
Businesses that need professional lifestyle photography include:
- Hotels and resorts
- Spas and salons
- Restaurants and bars
- Events companies
- Businesses that need informal images of their employees or customers
Plan Your Lifestyle Photography Shoot
When planning a lifestyle photography shoot, it’s vital to prepare properly.
First, develop a shot list with the client. Discuss the purpose of the images and how to apply the brand guidelines.
Then, choose a setting for the shoot. When you know where that is, plan for the variables that might arise in that environment. For instance, if it’s outdoors, such as the lifestyle image (above) that I photographed for Radisson Blu Resort Maldives, the timings of the tide and when the water is calm need to be considered. In other properties, the wind might be higher at certain times, or you may need to take into account the sun’s position at different times of day.
Think about how you can relay the story in different ways through the images. Although you might keep snapping, it’s best to have a few angles and even other lenses on hand to keep the narrative as interesting as possible.
The Key Elements Needed for Lifestyle Photography
Since I started photographing hotels and resorts many years ago, the trends have changed in lifestyle photography, however one thing remains true, it must look authentic.
I prefer to use professional models for hotel and luxury spa photography, simply because they know how to act naturally for the camera and they photograph well. Models know how to take direction and it expedites the process and allows me to capture more images in different poses – which is also a bonus for the client.
The images are of subjects engaged in an activity – this could be eating at a restaurant or laughing over drinks at the bar. To achieve spontaneity and the best results, I usually have to create and narrate a scenario the models can follow.
It has to look like a moment that would happen in this setting, thus allowing the viewer to imagine themselves in the same scenario.
The surroundings, although not the focus of the image, do play a significant role. The environment provides context – for example, children playing in a water fountain, a woman on a massage table or a couple riding horses on the beach.
I want to create an emotional connection with the viewer through these image. When the models act naturally, I can capture genuine expressions and natural interactions through the camera that help evoke emotion and build that connection.
Lighting for Lifestyle Photography
Although we want to create as natural an image as possible, the use of light and composition is still critical. I’ve previously discussed how I will use natural light as much as possible – it will never go out of style for me – however, sometimes I have to get creative. The subjects should never be in shadow, so I need to compose thoughtfully.
I may need to alter my viewpoint to capture the subjects, which may also involve adjusting the lighting. Sometimes I need to use a reflector to bounce light onto the models.
When outdoors, I find that the golden hour is a wonderful time to shoot people, as it provides a soft, warm light.
The type of lighting used in lifestyle photography is sometimes outlined in the brand guidelines. For instance, they may want a more sultry, muted lighting for a cigar lounge.
For excellent lifestyle photography, you need to have expert photography skills, but also be confident working with people. There’s an art in making people let loose in front of the camera and prompting natural expressions to produce beautiful images. And never forget the lighting!
Get in touch if you have a lifestyle photography project in Saudi Arabia, India or Seychelles that requires professional photography. Follow me on Instagram to see my latest projects. Feel free to share this article on your social media too.
