Family photographs

One of the most inspirational speakers at the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers conference in Hammersmith last weekend was the hugely talented Australian photographer David A Williams.

He took us through an emotional tour of his own family photographs, going back to the 60's. The most important question he asked was, 'Do you have enough family photographs?' He then showed us his own personal archive, featuring those where there was a clear emotional connection between parent and child.

There weren't nearly enough, and of course, the parent taking the photographs was rarely on record. What a disappointment for a child revisiting his/her childhood in later years, desirous of that loving evidence of human attachment.

The message was that we should all take more family photographs. Record the daily quotidien, however mundane it may seem at the time. That picture of a well loved toy will be a treasure to your child in 20/30 years. As will that loving arm around a shoulder, or a parent cuddling a toddler.

We should all take more family photographs and we photographers should offer this service to our couples. And why don't we? Pressure of time, maybe. Or it needs to be a grand occasion. And perhaps it seems expensive to pay a professional photographer to capture the moment.

Thank you, David A. Williams http://swpp.co.uk/members/goto/rd.cgi?redir=http://www.davidwilliams-heartworks.com