When it comes to preserving memories, photography has long been the go-to medium. A photo can capture a single moment in time, allowing us to look back and remember the exact moment our child smiled their first smile, the joy on our faces during a family reconnection, or the serene beauty of a landscape. However, in the age of dynamic digital content, there is an emerging trend that offers a richer, more immersive way to preserve memories: video portrait sessions. My good friend Bryan Snider has an incredible talent for capturing video portraits during photo sessions and we have teamed up to offer a photo and video package for your next session.
Here’s why you should consider booking a video portrait session in addition to your traditional photo session.
Capturing Movement and Sound
Photos can convey A LOT, but sometimes video can take you back to an era in time that you may have otherwise forgotten. A smile in a photo is beautiful, but a smile in a video is contagious. With video, you can capture the way your daughter twirls in her new dress, the sound of your son’s laughter, or the adorable mannerism of young children. Movement and sound add layers of depth and emotion, making memories more vivid and alive.
Telling a Story
While a photo can capture a significant moment, a video can tell a whole story. Whether it's a day in the life of your family, a journey through a significant event, or an interview-style session where you share your thoughts and feelings, video has the power to narrate your story in a way that photos simply cannot. The narrative arc created through video can be both moving and memorable.
Although most video portraits don't require much communication, they are a wonderful way of telling the story of your current era. Just recently, I spent time combing through old hard drives of my childhood with my mom. Her mom passed when I was nine years old, and we hadn't remembered we had videos and photos of her during our childhood Christmas celebrations. Being able to see her again brought tears to our eyes because even for a few moments, she was still with us and we could remember her mannerisms, her love, and her presence.
My mom felt similarly when seeing videos of my sister and I when we were younger. I actually divided up our photos and videos by year so my parents can go through and revisit my sister and I as little girls. Once I saw how much my mom was moved by photos and videos of my childhood, I recognized how important it is to capture every stage of life because it's fleeting.
Enhanced Emotional Connection
Watching a video can evoke a strong emotional response. The combination of visuals, sound, and sometimes even music can prompt memories and feelings in a powerful way. Video allows you to relive moments, feeling the same emotions as you did when they were first recorded.
With technology the way it is currently transcending and evolving, you can most definitely print and frame a photo or have a canvas printed for your wall, but videos are harder to display. Let's think about it this way: imagine purchasing a digital frame that allows you to play video. You can display a video portrait in a digital frame on your bedside table. Imagine year after year adding to the frame and one day while you're getting ready for your child's wedding, you glance over and see a compilation of video footage and photographs you've collected year over year. You will get to reminisce on how you got here. The child you've watched grow from a small baby is getting married.
And if there are children after marriage, you will get to watch your children become parents just like yourself. It will be a movie you'll find yourself watching every single day.
Preserving Personalities
Photos capture how people look, but videos capture how people are. The way someone laughs, their mannerisms, and their unique personality traits are all preserved in a video. This is particularly poignant for capturing memories of loved ones who may not always be around. Hearing a loved one’s voice and seeing their expressions can be incredibly comforting and meaningful.
Creating a Time Capsule
A video portrait session can serve as a digital time capsule. Imagine looking back 10, 20, or even 50 years from now and seeing not just how you looked, but how you moved, spoke, and interacted with the world around you. It’s a priceless gift for future generations, offering them a window into the past that is more dynamic and real than any photo album could provide.
Just as discussed previously, videos are a way to take a look into the past. As a photographer, I love being able to capture still moments, but there is something so stunning about being able to watch your little one give you a kiss on the cheek or how dad reacted when his kids ran over to attempt to tackle him (a fun photo prompt!).
Over time, family members may pass and being able to watch how they interacted with your little ones (or even yourselves) is a huge reason alone to document everything in a photo and video format.
Complementing Photos with Dynamic Elements
A video portrait doesn’t replace the need for photos; it complements them. The still beauty of a photo session provides perfect moments frozen in time, while the video adds context, movement, and atmosphere. Together, they create a comprehensive and rich memory package.
Let's Wrap it Up
In conclusion, while photos will always hold a special place in our hearts and homes, adding a video portrait session can elevate the way we capture and cherish our memories. It’s an investment in a richer, more emotional, and more engaging way to look back on life’s precious moments. So, the next time you’re booking a photo session, consider adding a video portrait session. You won’t just see your memories—you’ll feel them all over again.
My good friend Bryan Snider is the most talented videographer in the video portrait game. We enjoy working together on portrait projects as our styles complement each other so well. When you book a photo session with myself, I HIGHLY recommend booking a video portrait at the same time. Bryan and I work together to create a collective video and photo session that will remind you how incredible this life and your loved ones are. Whether you're looking to have your family captured during annual family photos or an anniversary or engagement session with someone you love, consider upgrading to a photo and video package. I promise you will never regret it!
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