We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anthony Thornton Documentary Family Photographer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anthony Thornton below.
Anthony Thornton, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I believe that everything we do can be considered art. I’m sure many people would disagree with that, but I think having this perspective helps when dealing with a creative downturn.
This happens to me a lot when photographing a family for an entire day. There are moments where it feels like there’s no other way to “see” what’s unfolding in front of me. But the truth is there’s always many other ways. I like to think small when the big picture is too much. Focusing on the minutiae in a situation can help snap me out of stagnant thinking. How we think dictates what we make. That seems obvious but when you’re in the thick of a creative slump, it’s important to remember there is always a way out.
Taking walks is another way to help clear my mind and stimulate the parts of my brain that may be on standby. It helps me to be in nature, so walking through the city might not do the trick for me. Although walking through a city with a camera in my hand is a great way to get out of my head and stay in the moment.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a documentary family photographer. That’s a bit of a mouthful, but I photograph families as they live their lives. There’s no posing, and you will never hear me shouting “Say cheese!” to anyone. In fact, I don’t give any direction as far as what people should be doing in the photos. I observe life and document it. I suppose that sounds easy but it’s surprisingly difficult to make compelling images out of everyday moments. Most of the time we don’t think of our regular life as that interesting, which is why so many people set up photoshoots with photographers who can instruct them on how to look “perfect.” I find it even more interesting how people now want to look “natural” in a photoshoot that is completely fabricating unnatural moments to look natural!
Don’t get me wrong. It’s fun to pretend. I like movies just like everyone else. But there’s something strange to me about wanting to create a façade when it comes to one’s real life. I suppose social media has had a big hand in this. But the reality is life is messy at times and beautiful at other times. There are ups and downs. This is obvious, I know, but what’s different about what I do is that all these ups and downs are celebrated with documentary photography.
I focus on how people relate to those and the world around them. I don’t tell jokes to make people laugh as if they are having a great time somewhere. If they’re having a great time, I’ll catch that moment. If they’re in a more serious moment, I’ll catch that too. And seeing those moments side by side is what reminds us of who we are, and how we love.
I spend time with people and get to know them. A session with me is at least two hours. But I often photograph families for an entire day where we spend over eight hours together (known as a “Day in the Life”). It may seem like a lot but it takes time to capture real moments in a captivating way, and the time honestly flies by. This year I am introducing a “Year in the Life” package where I photograph a single family four times throughout the year. At the end of the year, they receive an album designed and printed by me (along with the digital files). That album can rest on their bookshelf or coffee table, ready for a “screen-less” way to reflect on the past.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Experience is one of the most powerful assets in my toolbox. When I was first starting as a photographer I apprenticed for a couple of wedding photographers. It was a great way to grow my skills behind the camera, but it was agony for me. I could write a whole book on the subject, but let’s just say weddings are not for me.
Shortly after these apprenticeships, I landed a job as a staff photographer at a local newspaper called The Vail Daily in Colorado. I had been freelancing for them for a while when one day the main photographer was leaving and offered me her job. I loved my time at the paper, especially how it taught me to visually tell a story within a short amount of time. I learned how to always deliver no matter the circumstances. As much as I enjoyed being a photojournalist, when I moved to San Francisco I had a hard time getting another job at a newspaper. I didn’t have a photography degree, nor did I have any connections.
So I started freelancing as a general photographer who would photograph anything and everything. This experience forced me to face the reality that I don’t like photographing in certain ways. I photographed hundreds of engagements, portraits, maternity sessions, and events. Even though I was behind the camera, what was happening in front of it wasn’t what I wanted to photograph. I only felt like myself when I wasn’t in control of the scene in front of me and was just reacting to reality.
This is all to say that both the experience of being a photojournalist and the experience as a general photographer were impactful for me. I had to be honest with myself about what I was doing and how it made me feel. It’s not easy going down the documentary family photography road. There’s no clear path. But I know that if I want to photograph real life and have a positive and direct impact on those lives, then this is one way to achieve that that feels good to me.
If you’re unsure about what you’re doing or how to get where you want to go, I recommend trying new things and seeing what your heart tells you. It sounds cheesy, but the heart doesn’t lie. Say yes to things even when your mind tells you it’s too difficult or not for you. Fail lots, learn lots. Experience is the best schooling you can get, in my opinion.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Typical clients of mine are loving, adventurous families that enjoy being in the moment. But what I love most about documentary family photography is that it can apply to everyone. It’s photography of life. I work with people who don’t concern themselves with perfection and embrace what makes them unique. These folks put experiences over material possessions, care for those around them, and take life in stride.
These photos aren’t so much for the parents as they are for their kids later in life. The children will be able to look back on specific moments of their lives that include their other family members and all their personalities. These photo albums act as portals to their past where they are reminded of the many ways that they were loved.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.anthonythornton.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthony_thornton_families
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Anthony Thornton Photography.
