Other people’s photos are a great source of inspiration for me. There is such a broad range of experiences and points of view to discover through photography. When thinking back on the last year, there are a handful of photos that really stood out for me. Yes, I saw thousands of beautiful photos of gorgeous children and stunning landscapes, but most did not stick in my mind. A few did, they seemed to leave an imprint on my mind, because they told stories.

I should explain a little more. I tend to place photographs into three basic categories. The first category is documentary photos — these photos are simply a record of something you don’t want to forget, like your child’s first winter concert at school. The second category is beautiful photos — in these photos the subject or the composition is visually pleasing; maybe the model is undeniably beautiful, or the subject is a gorgeous delicate bouquet of flowers. The third category is narrative photos — these photos tell a story or seem like excerpts from one. News photos are a typical example of this category, imagine a photograph of protesters facing off with police officers. By far, my favourite photos are those that tell a story, because the images are rich and deep in meaning, conveying a message that goes beyond being an aide–mémoire or an object of beauty.

I’ve collected four of my favourite photographs from the past year from people I follow on Instagram. They are beautiful photos, but they also seem to tell a story. When photos combine technical skill, great composition, beauty and storytelling, they can be truly remarkable, as these ones are.

The Saxophone Player

The first photo is by Nicole who lives in New Jersey and is known as @nicolebianchi_ on Instagram. When I saw this photo for the first time I was enchanted. It seemed to me like the cover of a fantastic book of adventure. I asked Nicole to tell me how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her children. Here’s what she had to say:

“I strongly believe that being surrounded by nature allows children to be creative, curious and explorative.  Nature instills a sense of beauty and respect for all living things and gives the children a special love for our Earth and the environment.  Imagination comes into play as children create special hide outs (such as teepees, forts, tree houses) and use natures’ findings (sticks, roots, tree trunks, leaves, pinecones, acorns, etc) to make toys and create their own stories.  

When we were hiking at Harriman State Park in upstate NY, my son Tyler (age 8) and I were photographing a beaver dam and a tree trunk that the beaver had eaten, when Ava (age 6), was off exploring in the woods.  Ava came running over so excited to show us what she had found.  In her hand was this beautifully detailed root which wasn’t a root to her at all.  Ava said, “Mommy, I have found the most perfect saxophone!”  And there she went dancing to her own beat, playing her saxophone through the woods.  Everything our children need is right in front of their magical eyes.  They just need the freedom to explore and the patience to observe all of nature.  I love that both my children are inspired by the outdoors and do not need a ton of materialistic things to be happy.  

When I take photos of Tyler and Ava,  I want to capture the joy of being a child, getting dirty, exploring and being free.  I want my children to have this beautiful storybook for when they get older and share their adventures and memories of their childhood with the ones they love.”

The Forest Fairy

The second photo is by Michelle, the artist and doll maker behind @danceypantsdisco. Michelle lives 30 miles out to sea on the tiny island of Nantucket. When I saw this photo for the first time it looked like a still from a fantasy film. Odin, her little boy, looks like a forest fairy, wise beyond his years, who will soon be called upon to save the forest from destruction. I asked Michelle to tell me how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her son.

“Many of the photos I take are sightly planned, based on weather or season. On a very foggy morning I might want to head to a large field to play and bring my camera along. On a cloudy day, we tend to head to the woods. On a brighter day we may go to the water, whether it be beach or pond. This is the way we plan our days activities anyway and it always seems to set a magical environment for photos all on its own.

This particular photo was brought about much more casually, I didn’t even bring along my DSLR. We had a friend visiting and after a late night, I thought it would be nice to take a walk around our neighborhood with Odin to allow our friend some extra time to sleep in (Odin loves this friend very much and tends to want to wake him straight away with kisses, bright and early). It was warm and foggy and we rushed out the door so Odin was only wearing his pyjama pants and no shoes. I like to keep my hands busy almost constantly so I picked some ivy from our yard and wove a crown while we walked. Near our house is a dirt road rarely traveled, Odin was instantly drawn to it and turned as we passed. I followed watching him walk and stop every so often to pick tiny flowers that were growing along the edges of the road. He heard a bird singing her morning song and stopped in the middle of the path to listen, which is when I snapped the photo on my phone! I see a lot of magic in him and I think he allows me to see a lot of magic in the world and I’m always so grateful for that insight.”

The Bird Whisperer

The third photo is by Leah @sangthebird, who lives on a rural rainforested property in Northern NSW, Australia. When I saw this photo for the first time it was so heartwarming. It seemed to me like a snapshot from a beautiful story of friendship. I asked Leah to tell me a bit about how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her children.

“We live surrounded by nature, wildlife and our 31 chickens. I spend most of my days at home being a mama and working on my new business Oh Sunday. I am so grateful that I get to live and work in such a beautiful place. I love spending time with my family and noticing the ‘little things’.This photo is the result of a little serendipity. My daughter is 8 years old and has always had an affinity with nature and animals, being outside with the chickens is her happy place. This li’l chick, Lavender, has always loved sitting on her shoulder as we go about our outside chores. This one Saturday morning in winter we were collecting the eggs when I heard giggling. She was giggling because Lavender had flown up onto her head and it was tickling. It was only 30 seconds or so and they became quiet and still, they both looked so natural and comfortable together. I took a quick shot of the moment and continued collecting. That evening as I edited the photo I realised they were both looking in the same direction… I never found out what they were looking at, but that doesn’t really matter, this photo will always make me smile.

I love taking portraits of my kids. I think that they are so used to me photographing them that they don’t ever feel the need to pose and (fake) smile; sometimes they don’t even seem to realise I am photographing them. I try to capture photos of my children doing everyday things, and the things that they love. Mostly that is being in nature, adventuring and making and playing. It is in those little moments where they are engaged and I am just silently watching them that I am able to capture their true nature. I also love those precious moments when you see the love between siblings, even a blurred shot can hold a beautiful memory.”

The Sleeping Beauty

The fourth photo is by Dieny, known as @dibonjo on Instagram. Dieny lives in Scotland, she is a “mother, homemaker, lover and friend.” When I saw this photo for the first time I was stunned by its beauty. It seemed to me like the cover of enchanting story I had to read. I asked Dieny to tell me about how this photo came to be and the types of portraits she seeks to capture of her son. Here’s what she said:

“I am never so full of awe as when I watch him sleep.  All of the beauty of his wakeful hours crashing to the fore.  He is a true treasure.  As they all are.

What you saw in this image is very much in tune with my feeling at the time. My son, as I was, is a great lover of fairy tales. In fact, tales of any sort. The folktales of my childhood, told from memory and mostly faded from my own, were joy-filled, enchanting and oftentimes foreboding. Their little warnings rang in our ears as we roamed free and far. My son isn’t able to enjoy the physical range to explore as frequently as I did but his imagination is far reaching and I hope I encourage this. When he woke from his nap, I told him his dreams sprang up around him as he slept. “I was dreaming of flowers Mama”, he beamed.”

Thank you Nicole, Michelle, Leah and Dieny for sharing your photos and words.