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From Ballet to Baseball: How to Include Your Child’s Activities in a Documentary Family Session
No need to squeeze a family photo session into your already chaotic schedule. Instead, let’s document your real life. Whether it’s ballet class, soccer practice, or a Saturday morning swim meet, these are the moments that define your family’s rhythm.
Here’s why including your child’s activities makes for the best kind of family photography:
- The Case for Capturing Your Real Life
- Your Kid’s Passion, Frozen in Time
- Say Goodby to the Forced Family Portrait
- The Best Activities to Capture in a Documentary Session
- How to Prepare for a Session at Your Child’s Activity
- Why You’ll Love This Style of Photography
Let’s dive into why your child’s extracurriculars are the perfect setting for a documentary family session.
The Case for Capturing Your Real Life
You know what’s exhausting? Trying to carve out an hour of “perfect” family time between music lessons, hockey practice, and that overdue grocery run. Instead of forcing a staged, overly coordinated photoshoot, why not let me tag along to a place you’re already going?
Life isn’t lived in a spotless studio. It’s in the ballet recital’s dim backstage lighting, the dusty baseball diamond, the noisy swimming pool, and the art-filled school gym. Documentary family photography is about preserving those everyday, unfiltered moments because they are what you’ll miss most when your kids grow up. (Spoiler: they do that alarmingly fast.)
And here’s the thing—you won’t feel like paparazzi is following you around. I’m just the friend tagging along who happens to like taking pictures. We won’t stand out in a crowd, and no one even needs to know this is your family session. It’s just a normal day with a little extra magic captured in images.
Your Kid’s Passion, Frozen in Time
Let’s face it—our kids throw themselves into their hobbies with an intensity that is sometimes amusing, often inspiring, and always worth remembering. A session at their piano lesson or football scrimmage shows who they are right now.
- The Tiny Dancer: The way she ties her ballet shoes with exaggerated concentration? That’s gold.
- The Budding Artist: The smudge of charcoal on his cheek as he sketches? Perfection.
- The Hockey Enthusiast: That fierce, determined glare before the puck drops? Legendary.
These aren’t just pictures. They’re proof of who your child was at this exact stage in life. And trust me, you’ll want that proof when they suddenly decide they “never actually liked soccer.”
A perfect example? I once accompanied a family to their daughters’ harp lesson. Not only was the teacher thrilled to be included in their photos as an important part of the kids’ education, but she loved having the images for her own website—real moments of her teaching in action. It was a win-win for everyone.
Say Goodbye to the Forced Family Portrait
Let’s be honest. Getting everyone to cooperate for a “perfect” family portrait is like herding cats—cats who have opinions about outfits and don’t want to stand too close to their siblings. But when I photograph your family during a regular activity, there’s no pressure. Everyone is naturally engaged, and the smiles are real because they’re not being asked to smile.
The Hidden Benefits of Activity-Based Family Sessions
Aside from making your life easier (which is reason enough, really), incorporating your child’s activities into your session comes with some unexpected perks:
- You Get to Be in the Photos
Most parents have countless photos of their kids, but how many include you? A documentary session lets me capture you cheering them on, helping them lace up their skates, or wiping their post-game sweat. These are the little things your kids will look back on and appreciate someday.
- No One Is Bored
Kids sitting stiffly on a park bench for an hour? Nope. Running, jumping, playing? Now that’s a session they’ll actually enjoy.
- Genuine Connection
A family walk to the local farmers’ market, helping with a school science project, or simply reading together before bed—these moments show love and connection more authentically than any posed portrait ever could.
The Best Activities to Capture in a Documentary Session
Need ideas? Here are some great options that work well for family photography:
- Sports – Hockey, baseball, swimming, gymnastics—any activity that gets your kids moving is perfect for dynamic, emotion-filled photos.
- Music Lessons – Capturing the intense focus (and sometimes frustration) of learning an instrument is priceless.
- Art Classes – Their hands covered in paint, their proud smile as they show off a masterpiece—it’s all magic.
- Outdoor Adventures – Nature walks, skating at Hawrelak Park, or just an afternoon at your favourite Edmonton playground.
- Everyday Routines – Saturday morning pancakes, bedtime stories, or that chaotic school-morning rush (yes, even the chaos deserves a place in your album).
How to Prepare for a Documentary Family Session at Your Child’s Activity
Worried about logistics? Don’t be. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Inform the Instructor or Coach – A quick heads-up ensures they’re cool with a photographer being present.
- Dress Comfortably – No need for matching outfits—just wear what you’d normally wear to the activity.
- Go with the Flow – Things won’t always go as planned, and that’s okay. A little chaos makes for great photos.
- Trust the Process – Your kids might ignore the camera at first (which is actually ideal), but eventually, they’ll relax, and that’s when the magic happens.
Why You’ll Love This Style of Photography
Years from now, you won’t be looking for a perfectly curated Christmas card photo. You’ll be flipping through albums, remembering how your daughter used to spin in circles after every ballet class or how your son used to spend hours perfecting his slapshot.
These are the moments worth saving.
Ready to Capture Your Family’s Real Life?
If you’re tired of staged photoshoots and want something real, I’d love to document your family in action. Whether it’s a Saturday morning at the rink or a quiet afternoon of piano practice, these moments deserve to be preserved. Let’s create something real together.
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Paula Gerein Photography
Documentary photography for families and businesses of Edmonton and Central Alberta, Canada. Available for travel.
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