What’s interesting about at-home family photography in a Taipei apartment. (A lot!)
There is much more demand for documentary family photography in my home country of the United States than there is in Taiwan (so far). Some reasons for this are a lack of familiarity with the genre, a desire for photos that are more controlled, with a guarantee of everyone looking their best. But I wonder if one of the reasons is the erroneous belief that city life in a small apartment just isn’t that interesting or beautiful.
I follow several photographers who photograph their children living wild, feral lives on farms or in the back country of Australia. Their kids are half naked and having the time of their lives, covered in mud and grass and seemingly constantly jumping into large bodies of water from a rope swing. One of my favorite photographers of all time, Sally Mann, photographed her childrens’ wild childhood in Appalachia. For these photographers, the landscape itself is a character in their family story, and the sense of place I feel from their photos brings a mix of emotions to the surface: admiration for the beauty I see, but also a kind of regret that my kids won’t know this life.
What I need to remind myself is that I will love photos from my own childrens’ childhoods even more—even with the absence of mud and large bodies of water—because it’s theirs. Our story might not include idyllic pictures of my kids lounging in a hammock against the backdrop of an open meadow with mountains in the distance, but whatever pictures we do have will be a direct reminder of the life we lived together and how we felt at the time.
I have chosen to live in Taiwan for the past 20 years and raise my family here. This is the story I photograph because it’s the story that’s available to me. As a result, I’ve grown to love this story and even think it’s beautiful. Here is a quick list of what this Taiwan story, of raising kids in a small apartment in the city, includes and doesn’t include.
What I Can’t Photograph in an At-Home Family Photoshoot in Taipei
Your child building a snowman in your giant backyard.
The entire family feeding the horses in the barn, and then going for a ride on your favorite mountain trail, which is attached to your ample property.
Your children running freely through your private apple orchard in autumn.
A golden-hour picnic on your personal vineyard overlooking rolling hills.
Your dog sprinting across your fenced lawn the size of a football field.
The kids jumping on a trampoline that doesn’t require advance negotiation with three neighbors.
A wide establishing shot of your home that does not include scooters, parked cars, or a 7-Eleven sign.
A quiet moment of reflection that is not interrupted by a trash truck playing music.
What I Can Photograph in an at-home Family Photoshoot in Taipei
Morning routines in a space that has learned to multitask: kitchen, playroom, office, storage.
Bedtime stories read on a bed that also functions as a sofa, trampoline, and emotional support surface.
Window light filtered through neighboring buildings, laundry, and an assortment of plants from the balcony garden.
A living room temporarily reclassified as a racetrack, fort, and stage.
Rooftop moments: watering plants, watching the sky change, pointing out planes and birds.
Walking to the MRT together, including the hand-holding, card-tapping, and last-second sprint when the train is already beeping.
Post-school stops at 7-Eleven for “just one thing” that turns into three drinks, a snack, and a toy no one remembers choosing.
Evening walks past night markets: holding hands, dodging scooters, deciding whether it’s a “buy food” night or just a “walk and look” night.
Final Thoughts
Many of us have internalized the lie that the first list is more beautiful and represents what childhood should look like. I’m tired of should, though. I’d rather focus on what’s beautiful and meaningful about what is. The second list is what my life is, and it’s what I have learned to love because it’s the backdrop for so many happy memories. At the end of the day, that means more to me than horses galloping into the sunset.
If you’re also tired of waiting for what life should look like and just want to remember your story as it is, I’m someone who has lived the story, sees the story, and loves the story of raising a family in Taiwan. Please never think it isn’t a beautiful story or not worthy of documenting. What matters is that it’s your story.
And on that note, here are some beautiful ordinary photos from a recent family photography session in taipei, from naptime to naptime.
