Holiday Storytelling: Perfect for a Day-in-the-Life Album

by Skip Cohen

​It's Marketing Monday, and as I sat down to write today's post, I started thinking about what I could possibly write about that I haven't hit hard so many times in the past. Almost immediately, I thought about a concept I first talked about many years ago: a Day-in-the-Life shoot. Why? Because November and December are the perfect times to capture this kind of story.

• The concept is totally dependent on storytelling. Like capturing a wedding, a Day-in-the-Life shoot is event-driven and all about building an album.
• Creating an album to tell the story adds to the excitement and anticipation of the season.  
• A session like this utilizes all the skills of the photographer. From portraiture to photojournalism, it brings into play technique, lighting, and composition - everything it takes to tell the story of a family's adventure.
• It's a unique offering and can be an ideal revenue producer.

Here's the concept: While it's called a Day-in-the-Life, it doesn't have to be for an entire day. It could easily be a 3-4 hour block of time. You're capturing the activity of a family, a child, a pet or even a business in their environment. It's about the interaction between the members of a family or employees, if it's a business story.

For example, November is coming up, and family members are going to be getting together to make Thanksgiving dinner. It's one of the few holidays that younger family members often get to participate in creating a holiday meal. For example, Mom and Grandma work together to make the menu, and the kids get to help with the preparation. It's a family event, and so often a full day of work comes down to the first thirty minutes of serving. Even setting the table is a special event, which often looks like a war zone once the first slice of turkey is cut! 

Just like a wedding, it deserves its own album. The wedding party is the team of chefs creating dinner. The detail shots cover everything from cooking utensils to the centerpiece to the table settings. The reception is the dinner itself. Throughout the day, it's about capturing the memory of everyone working together on recipes that have often been in the family for generations.

If you haven't offered a Day-in-the-Life shoot before, consider it seriously. Nothing helps to tell a subject's story more than photographing them in their natural environment. It's the location that every subject is likely to be most comfortable in. While the holiday season is a natural time for on-location shooting, the concept is perfect for just about every type of situation. It's an ideal way to tell the story of a child, a family, a pet, and a business. 

Remember, too, if you're not comfortable with the concept initially, start with your own family. Pick a day and a topic and capture images that tell the story, with the goal of creating a complete album. It might just be the perfect gift for Grandma this year.

As professional photographers, you're in a word-of-mouth industry. Imagine the reactions as people see an album you've created for a client that captures a complete story. You only need one of these projects to help start building more brand awareness.

Don't forget your goal...to always exceed expectations and make yourself habit-forming!