Embarking on the journey of family photography often begins with a deep appreciation for capturing the essence of familial bonds and a keen eye for meaningful moments. Family photographer and Tamron brand ambassador Marcie Reif epitomizes this sentiment. Ever since she discovered her passion for photography, Marcie has been drawn to the genuine connections within families, embracing the joy, love and unique dynamics that unfold during her sessions.

“My family sessions don’t turn out great because I have an expensive camera and amazing Tamron lenses. They turn out great because of how I am able to make everyone feel. I want everyone to feel comfortable, beautiful, confident and happy,” Marcie shares in her story.

Her commitment to preserving these precious family moments goes beyond the lens. Marcie strives to not only document the visual narrative but also to make her clients feel like active participants in the storytelling process. “I love for my clients to really enjoy their session and forget that they are actually taking those dreaded family photos,” she emphasizes.

If you’ve ever considered delving into the world of family photography, Marcie’s insights in the interview below are sure to ignite your inspiration. She sheds light on the origins of her passion, the unique challenges encountered in capturing family dynamics, her creative approach, and the visual language she employs. Additionally, Marcie generously shares tips for those eager to explore the art of family photography, offering guidance on capturing the essence of familial connections through the lens.

Editor’s Note: This is a sponsored post

Can you tell us something about yourself and what you do?

My name is Marcie Reif and I live in Atlanta, GA with my husband and two kids. My first child born in 2010 is the sole reason I became a photographer. I was an elementary teacher at the time but once she was born I became very interested in photography and learning to take better pictures of her. That quickly turned from a hobby to a business and 5 years later I left the classroom to become a full-time photographer and never looked back!

Can you describe your style? How did you develop it and make it your own?

My style is definitely to capture the connection and joy between families. When working with kids and adults my main goal is to bring out their best side and get their most natural smiles and emotions. I love to capture funny moments between families and document what unfolds in front of me. I love for my clients to really enjoy their session and forget that they are actually taking those dreaded family photos! 

As a maternity, newborn and family photographer, do you have a favorite photo? Is there something that makes you smile every time a client books?

Gosh, I love so many photos. I think my favorite all time photos would be those of my own kids that I take. In every family gallery whether it’s newborn, maternity, or family my favorite photos are when everyone is the happiest. I love big laughs and huge smiles from kids. 

When clients book me and totally trust the whole process that makes me very happy. 

What is the most important aspect of being a family photographer?

I think the most important aspect of being a family photographer is being able to work with parents and kids. My family sessions don’t turn out great because I have an expensive camera and amazing Tamron lenses. They turn out great because of how I am able to make everyone feel. I want everyone to feel comfortable, beautiful, confident and happy.

What’s your go-to gear for indoor studio portraits and outdoor portraits?

My go to gear is my Sony a9ii and my Tamron 35-150mm f/2-2.8 Di III VXD Lens for Sony E. This lens rarely leaves my camera.

What’s your favorite lighting — natural or studio — and why?

I have a love for both of them, but if I had to choose just one to live with forever I would choose natural light. My studio has a huge window that gives me amazing natural light and then of course I love the golden hour light.

What are your go-to settings for indoor and outdoor portraits? Do you have favorite lenses for each?

My settings for indoor and outdoor aren’t really too different. I keep my ISO around 400-600, my F/2-2.8 and my shutter speed as fast as I can to balance out with my ISO and aperture, preferably in the 1/400 or higher range.

How do Tamron lenses help you achieve your creative vision?

I have so much versatility with the focal ranges and they are all amazingly sharp. I can solely focus on the light and my subjects and never have to worry about my gear. That is consistently great.

You have a background in teaching, which brought out the photography educator in you. What do you find the biggest challenge and the biggest windfall of being a photography educator?

When I left the elementary classroom I didn’t want to stop teaching. Thankfully I started speaking at conferences and teaching photography before I left the elementary school. This was a great transition for me because I do have a deep down love for education. The biggest challenges can be reaching the photographers that I’d love to educate. Oftentimes we are at the mercy of social media to meet these needs and that can be tough. Overall, I have been pretty successful with this but I would say if anything that can be something I’m always trying to learn more about!

YES! I really love taking photos of my kids even after all of these years. My daughter was 1 when I started photography and now she is almost 14. We still love to do photoshoots and they really excite me. My son plays a lot of sports and I love to photograph him and his team, and make video highlight reels as well. I run his baseball team’s Instagram with photo and videos and it’s really fun for me. 

Where do you see photography in general heading into the future? Where would you like your photography journey to lead you?

I see photography continuing to head in a digital direction where AI is going to play a major role. I hope I can continue to travel and mentor other photographers with my photography in addition to all of the other things I’m doing. 

Lastly, what advice would you give to someone just starting out, or aspiring to become a family photographer?

I would tell them to go for it and expect it to be a journey and not a sprint. There is so much to learn but it’s all worth the time and effort. 

Check out Marcie Reif’s website and follow her on Instagram to see more of his work.

All photos by Marcie Reif. Used with permission.