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Why Documentary Images Don't Go Out Of Style

In my previous blog post, I looked at some of the major style trends in family pictures over the last 40 years. Even without clues from the hair styles and clothing choices in the pictures, you can often tell when they were taken by the style of the portraits themselves or the way they are edited. Just like with fashion, there are trends that go in and out of style in family pictures that date them. 

One thing I noticed when searching for photos in the Creative Commons archive for that blog post was that although the posed portraits might have trends that went out of style, the candid family shots did not. I found example after example of images from decades ago that looked as if they could have been taken yesterday. Documentary photos have an ageless feel to them. Don't believe me? Look at the following images and try to guess what year each one was taken. (Hover over each picture for the answer.)

1986

1986 Sleeping Beauty at the Cabin by anoldent is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1980

Sleeping baby by kattebelletje is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2006

the siesta resource by oooh.oooh is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2006

Micael Sleeping - Matutu - 2006 by visionshare is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2004

wide by crimfants is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1992

1992- Jasper-rbsheet58b-030 by Paul-W is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1982

Sleeping by lyzadanger is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1993

1996 Dinner's End by anoldent is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Why is it that documentary style photos are timeless? In one perspective, they are most definitely not. They are dated the second they are taken because they capture so many details about the time when they were taken. They preserve the haircuts, the clothing, the way the room was decorated or the little dimples in the hand of a chubby toddler. But as far as style trends go, they remain relevant throughout time. You don't look at them a decade afterward and cringe a little bit at the cheesy poses or the gimmicky over-processing.

The reason documentary images are so classic and enduring is that usually a good documentary image captures a moment. And moments don't age or become outdated. 

2001

Reading the paper with daddy, early Sept 2001 by your neighborhood librarian is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?

2009

Phyllis reading a story by viralbus is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1988

September 4, 1988 by Trinity is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1993

Catherine and the boys reading Miss Nelson Has a Field Day, Madison, Photo by Juliet, 1993 by ali eminov is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2007

05/07/2007 (Day 217) - Reading On The Way To Reading by Kaptain Kobold is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?

1982

Pittenger-slides-1982-137 by Paul-W is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Natural moments draw you in. We see the moments first and it's afterward that we take in all the details and clues from the picture about the time period when it was taken. Seeing moments makes us feel something. We connect with documentary images. They bring back memories, even if the photos are of other people. They preserve detail and become more precious with time. 

1995

Therese's Birthday - July 6, 1995 by Jim the Photographer is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1985

mom's birthday cake 1985 by eustatic is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2007

Birthday by SaltyGrease is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1980

Lali's birthday 1980 by rbarenblat is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2008

Dad's Birthday 2008 by Dave Q is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1992

Jordan 2nd Birthday 1992 Grandma Coulter by Douglas Coulter is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

My family!

My 6th birthday. I adore this photo. I love that my entire family is in it. I love my mom's hand laying on mine, my dad is hovering over to watch, my sister puffing her cheeks to help me. I love all the details and I'm grateful to have it.

1992

Jordan 2nd Birthday 1992 guests by Douglas Coulter is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Since the focus is so much on the moment and accurately capturing life as it happens, documentary images are not post-processed the way portraits can be. There is no photoshopping in fake sunflare or adding a filter that makes everyone look a little plastic. This adds to their ability to stay relevant through the years. The example photos I'm showing suffer a little from the ability of the cameras available at the time but serve as great examples of similar moments throughout the last few decades and how moments, like human nature, remain a constant that we connect with when seeing the pictures.

1985

Ready for a swim by Snap Man is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2001

Swimming in the Saco River by rickpilot_2000 is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1980

1980 Diving in an hot afternoon in London by Sgt. Pepper57 is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?

2022

Polar Bear Swim 2022 (51792010862) by GoToVan from Vancouver, Canada is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?

1981

Album-GMP-1981-177 by Paul-W is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1989

Waikiki Beach, 1989 by Alan Light is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1984

Lindsay at swimming pool in Orlando, FL by EtanSivad is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

1990

Pool Party 1990 by Joe Shlabotnik is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/?ref=openverse.

2000

2000-swim lessons-004 by Kim Smith is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

As the lovable "Scrubs" character Ben said, 

Do you know what kind of photos your family will want 20 years from now? Just as much (and I'm biased but I might even say more) than having family photos in a flower field without a hair out of place, your family will want great pictures of real moments. Not just selfies at remarkable places you go to, but moments between family members captured in a way that is both artistic and authentic. Moments that include YOU. Moments don't go out of style, and neither do documentary family photos. What kind of moments do you have documented for your family? What is the quality of those photos? And are YOU in them? 

If you aren't sure how to capture the moments you will want to preserve, or if you are absent from your own family albums because you are always the one behind the camera, let's connect. Even if you aren't ready to jump into a session right now, sign up for my mailing list to keep in touch or hear about upcoming specials and session availability. Or visit here to read some FAQ on a documentary session. 

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