Storytelling With a Day-in-the-Life Shoot

by Skip Cohen

​​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. While much of this post is from the SCU archives, that doesn't change the importance and potential increase in revenue by the concept I'm writing about: a day-in-the-life shoot.    November and December are the perfect times to capture this kind of story.

Plus, everyone is working hard to increase revenue and customer support this time of year. There are just two months left for 2025. A session like this has so much potential for you to show your skills and build stronger relationships with your clients.

• Storytelling:  Like capturing a wedding, a Day-in-the-Life shoot is event-driven and all about building an album.
• Album Designs: Creating an album to tell the story adds to the season's excitement and anticipation. 
• Your Skills: 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.
• Standing Out: It's a unique offering and can be an ideal revenue producer. It's also perfect content for social media and blog posts.

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 among family members or employees, if it's a business story.

For example, it's November, and family members are going to get together to make Thanksgiving dinner. It's one of the few holidays when younger family members often get to help create the 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 where every subject is likely to be most comfortable. While the holiday season is a natural time for on-location shooting, the concept is perfect for almost any situation. 

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, aiming to create 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 exceed expectations and make yourself habit-forming!

P.S. And if you're looking for some great albums that are both stunning and cost-effective, check out Marathon's Bella Albums...you'll never be disappointed. Click here to see the entire line.