The Power of Capturing Everyday Moments in Family Photography || Family photos by Lorenza Tessari
Why the Ordinary is the Most Extraordinary
Hello! I’m Lorenza, a family, newborn and motherhood photographer based in Vancouver, BC. I specialize in capturing the beauty and authenticity of everyday family life—moments that might seem small, but hold deep significance in the story of who you are as a family.
When you look back at photos, what do you want to remember? The big milestones? Yes, they matter. But it’s often the quiet, fleeting moments that are the most cherished. The way your child’s hand fits perfectly into yours, the way your partner looks at you when you’re not paying attention, the giggles, the messes, the imperfect moments—these are the moments that define your family’s story.
In this guide, I’ll explain why these everyday moments are so important to preserve in family photography, how I approach capturing them, and why you might want to consider a more intimate, real-life photoshoot for your family. Let’s dive in!
1. Why Everyday Moments Matter More Than Perfect Poses in Family Photography
We all love the perfectly posed family portrait, don’t we? The smiling faces, everyone dressed in matching outfits, looking picture-perfect. But, let’s be honest—how often does your family really look like that? Probably not often.
The truth is, the most meaningful family photos are often the ones where you’re simply being yourselves. These are the moments that might seem ordinary at first but are loaded with emotion and significance. The way your child hugs you tightly before going to bed, how your partner reaches for your hand in the middle of a walk, or when your little one smiles shyly at you across the room—those are the photos that will bring you joy for years to come.
Why do everyday moments matter so much?
- They capture real life. Life isn’t a series of perfect poses, it’s messy, unpredictable, and beautiful in its imperfection. These moments tell the true story of who you are as a family.
- They evoke emotion. When you look at a photo of your child laughing at a funny face you made, or of your partner helping you with the dishes, you’ll remember not just the image but the feeling behind it—the joy, the connection, the love.
- They are timeless. A posed shot may capture the moment in that time, but a candid shot of everyday life can transport you back to a season, a feeling, or a memory that you’ll never forget.
At the heart of it all, capturing these moments means capturing the essence of your family—your quirks, your connection, your love, and your daily life together. These are the photos that will have the deepest impact.
2. Embracing Imperfection – The Beauty of the Everyday Moments in Family Photography
When I first became a parent, I realized that no moment is too small or too “ordinary” to photograph. In fact, I found myself drawn to the little details—the messy hair, the mismatched socks, the pile of toys scattered across the living room floor. These moments might seem insignificant, but they tell a bigger story.
Why embrace imperfection?
- It’s real life. Embracing the chaos of everyday life in family photography allows you to see the beauty in the mess, the unposed, and the real.
- It tells your true story. Every family has its own rhythm—its own messes, its own moments of joy, and its own imperfections. These are the things that make your story unique. A perfectly posed picture will never capture the soul of your family as a candid moment of a hug between siblings, or the way your child runs to greet you when you come home.
- The magic is in the details. Those fleeting moments—the way your child’s hair falls into their eyes, the quiet way your partner looks at you, the small things that make up your world—are just as valuable as the big moments.
I specialize in embracing the “imperfections” in family photography. These seemingly small moments often hold the most significance, and they are the memories you’ll want to keep forever.
The Power of Capturing Everyday Moments in Family Photography || Family photos by Lorenza Tessari
3. The Everyday as a Reflection of Your Family’s Legacy
Your family’s legacy is not just about the milestones, but about the collection of moments that tell the story of your life together. And it’s the everyday moments that make the most powerful narrative.
As a family photographer, I want to create images that help preserve your legacy. That means capturing your day-to-day—those tender moments with your newborn, the quiet conversations you have with your partner over a cup of coffee, or the silly faces you make when playing with your kids. These moments are often the ones that reflect who you are, and who you will be as a family years from now.
What do I mean by “legacy” in family photography?
- It’s the story of you. Legacy isn’t just about “big events,” like birthdays or holidays—it’s about the small, everyday interactions that define your family. The laughter, the comfort, the routine that becomes your foundation.
- These moments are timeless. When you look at a photo of your child playing in the backyard, or when your partner gently picks up your baby, you’re not just seeing an image—you’re seeing your family’s story in a moment that may seem ordinary, but in retrospect, it’s extraordinary.
- You’ll treasure these moments forever. The truth is, we often don’t realize how much we will miss the simple, everyday moments until they pass. A photo of your child’s chubby hands playing with their favorite toy, or the way your family piles into the couch at the end of a long day—these moments are irreplaceable.
By capturing these everyday moments, I want to give you more than just a set of beautiful photos—I want to help you preserve the essence of who you are as a family. These are the moments that matter, and these are the memories that will last a lifetime.
4. How I Approach Capturing Everyday Moments in Your Family Session
When you book a session with me, my goal is to photograph you being you—in all your natural, unposed, and beautifully imperfect glory.
Here’s how I approach family photography to focus on the real, everyday moments:
- No forced poses. I guide you through gentle prompts that encourage natural interactions, but I never force you to “pose.” Instead, I capture those organic moments when you’re connecting with each other.
- Capturing your routines. Whether it’s a quiet moment of reading bedtime stories, making breakfast together, or simply relaxing on the couch, these everyday moments are gold to me. I aim to capture your family’s rhythm and routine in a way that feels authentic and natural.
- Documenting your love and connection. Love doesn’t always look like a perfectly framed portrait. Sometimes, it looks like a playful tickle fight, or a shared moment of laughter. I focus on those moments where the love and connection between you and your family shine through.
By documenting your everyday life in an authentic and timeless way, I help you hold onto those precious, fleeting moments that tell the true story of your family.
5. Preserving the Everyday for Years to Come
One of the most important aspects of my work is helping you preserve these everyday moments in a way that lasts. Photos are not just for today—they’re for the future, for you to look back on and remember the little things that made your family unique. These images will grow in significance as the years go by.
I want to create photographs that will live on your walls, in albums, and in your hearts for generations. These aren’t just photos—they’re heirlooms, reminders of the love and joy that filled your life during this season.
Final Thoughts: The Magic of the Everyday
At the end of the day, it’s the everyday moments that make your family’s story truly special. I encourage you to cherish these fleeting moments, because they pass by quickly, and they’re worth preserving. When you look back at your photos, I hope you’ll see not just the big moments, but the beautiful, quiet, and meaningful ones too.
Thank you for taking the time to read this guide! If you’re ready to book a session and capture the everyday moments that matter to you, I’d love to work with you.
Let’s tell your family’s story—authentic, real, and full of love.
The Power of Capturing Everyday Moments in Family Photography || Family photos by Lorenza Tessari
Ready to capture the everyday moments of your family’s life? Let’s connect! Reach out to me to book your family session today.
Digital images edited using The Archetype Process
You can also find me here: @lorenzatessariphotography
I’m Lorenza. I’m a photographer based in Vancouver, BC, where I live with my wife and our one-year old daughter.
I’m obsessed with photographing families and celebrating the legacy that they are building – the one that is more important than anything else they will ever build in this life. I love capturing my clients at their beautiful best, yet never abandoning the raw and real. Neither is better than the other, and a great session is the perfect mix of both.
Say goodbye to stressful family sessions, underwhelming images, and wasted time. Instead, get ready for a seamless experience, plus photos you want to hang all over your walls – because they capture the heart of your family, and the beauty of the legacy that you’re building… and you all look amazing, too.
It’s so much more than taking pictures – it’s a celebration of the biggest treasures that life has to offer: loving, and being loved. Get to know more about me or send me an inquiry. I’d be so honoured to create some magic with your family in front of my lens!
The Power of Capturing Everyday Moments in Family Photography || Family photos by Lorenza Tessari
