WHY ARE FAMILY PORTRAITS SO IMPORTANT?
An article by Adam Yaffe.
Whilst browsing the internet during our period of confinement, I came across this selection of formal and informal family portraits of our royal family. It’s fascinating to see how family portraits have evolved over the generations, from what was once a stiff and formal affair, to the most recent being relaxed and casual. Some of these images, no matter how many decades old, have really stood the test of time well and are just as relevant today as they were then.
They reminded me of the reasons why family portraits are so important and valuable. The new normal, once we get there, will be very different from what we are accustomed to. However, regardless of change, the family portrait is just as important and relevant today, as it has always been.
Whether you have a family photography session annually or once every couple of years, your choice to invest in family photography does matter and it is important. Your family portraits bring your family together. It reminds your family of its love for one another. Your family portraits bring joy. And, in hard times, your family portraits can bring comfort and can heal.
When children are younger, having a portrait of the family is a great way to catalogue the progress each of them is making as they grow, and you never know when that last chance for a family photo will come once they are grown up. There’s no reason to squander the opportunity to capture life together as it is now.
Did you know the simple act of having your families’ photographs hung in your house increases your children’s self-esteem? Studies show that having your family photographed and having your loving portraits displayed prominently in your home sends the message that your family is important to one another… and that you cherish the memories you created together.
PersonalIy, I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. A good photographer’s job is to create and make the image look like a loving holding space for kids where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level.
We frequently don’t realise the importance of family pictures until it is too late, something we’ve been painfully reminded of during these recent times. Too often we find ourselves seeking out pictures of memories with a person after he or she is no longer around. The beauty of photos are the ones that will put smiles on our faces and help us cope with the change of a person who is no longer nearby.
Naturally, we look to our photographs to help us remember the good times as we understand family dynamics will often change, I like to provide families with stunning wall art that will provide treasured memories for many years to come. At Yaffe Photography, we see family portraits as a gift to be able to share a visual record of moments, details, people, places and things to those they love, so that they, too, can feel even a glimmer of the joy we feel when we reflect on those times.
These days, families are increasingly viewing their images exclusively in a digital form, be it a mobile device, a laptop, or on social media. But does an image on a mobile phone, tablet or computer screen have the same impact? No, they don’t. In fact they become all too easily forgotten. My thoughts are very simple, I think the family portrait should be on the wall. I firmly believe that placing a family photo someplace in the home where the child can see it every day without having to turn on a device or click around on a computer to find it really hits home for that child’s sense of reassurance and comfort. They have a certainty about them and a protecting quality that nurtures a child.
For all my wonderful clients who choose to purchase a beautiful Yaffe portrait, it is such an honour for me that any family sit under their portrait at every dinner that I have personally created. In the end, it’s all about family. I love making my family portraits into stunning and original artwork. Clients should think bigger than a shelf picture…. as lovely as desk portraits are, a large wall portrait makes an amazing impact and in a most unique way, puts a smile on your face every time you walk by.
