I’m back again with more adventures of the Amazon to tell you about! I just woke up about an hour ago and had an amazing session of group meditation with some of the other tourists here. My first home and lifestyle shoot here last week was nothing short of incredible and I really got the chance to learn more about the Amazonian culture.

Definition of a Lifestyle Photographer

A lifestyle photographer specializes in the art of capturing uninterrupted moments in a creative way. They seize the moment and allow the events in front of them to unfold beautifully so that they can display a different story every time. Lifestyle photographers have the advantage of capturing people in their natural environments. Instead of worrying about setting up the shot or directing the individuals in the shot to act a certain way, a lifestyle photographer can shoot their clients while they do normal everyday things which adds to the main element of this genre. The simplest thing, such as a woman standing on a chair and adjusting her wall clock, has the potential to turn into an intriguing story. Similarly, a shot of a middle-aged man carefully adjusting the arm of his rustic old record player can be a powerful image.

Because everyone has a different lifestyle, it really helps to diversify what the lifestyle photographer shoots and eventually what ends up in his portfolio. Take me for example. Although most of my work is based in the US and the UK, I still have opportunities to shoot lifestyles that are beyond the norm of traditional standards. Another element that defines a lifestyle photographer is the component of shooting the entirety of any and every emotion that decides to show up at any given time. It’s pretty common to assume that this particular genre only captures the happy times full of laughter and love, but it’s important to also be aware of the fact that there will be some shots captured that portray the darker side of life that can sometimes grip the viewer in an intense way. In a nutshell, a lifestyle photographer embraces the full spectrum of life.

Definition of a Photojournalist

A photojournalist ventures more into the current events that happen within society through the eyes of human experience. Although they can tell a compelling story similar to lifestyle photographers, they have a different angle to what they are trying to portray. The main element that they operate from is to make sure that the story they create through their images delivers and confirms facts. Like lifestyle photographers, a photojournalist also has the freedom of shooting events in their rawest forms, with no need to pretend or set up a shoot. Their angle, however, is unique in that one of their main focuses are on capturing the aspects of life that most may not be aware of, such as wars and desolate conditions. To take it even further, photojournalists are responsible for shooting facts in action so that the visual story they create helps the many readers and viewers connect with human experiences different from they’re own. Recently, this genre of photography has transcended its original role and has started to evolve into more multimedia and film mediums through the press and newspapers.

So there you have it folks! Although lifestyle and photojournalist photography can sometimes have a thin line of similar definition, both genres contribute to society in an incredible way. It’s now time for me to jump back on the horse and start to set up for the next lifestyle shoot session. I better move fast; the rain clouds are swiftly approaching!