Researching for the shoot

Diane ArbusAn American photographer and writer noted for black and white square photographs of the interesting, odd and outcasts, (Dwarfs, giants, transvestites, nudists, circus performers) or of people whose normality seems ugly or surreal.
Diane Arbus was afraid that she would simply be known as the photographer of 'freaks' however many people have been inspired by her works in which that phrase has unfortunately been repeatedly used to describe her.
She was mainly influenced by the work of Robert Frank of whom is also a black and white photographer, who mainly bases his photography on documentry styles of the American street scenes.


Looking into these photographers gave me an insight into ways of photographing children, obviously the way that Mann or Arbus photographed is very extravagant, it sparked of ideas and ways of getting Kira and Anya just to be themselves. I felt the images needed to show them as a character, being able to show what they're like and portraying this across in the image.
Sally Mann is an American photographer, best known for large black and white photographs, at first of her young children then later of landscape suggesting death and decay.inspired by both her own children, the loss of innocence and michealangelos.


These images show her incredibly intimate and abrupt portrayal of family life. Her work has attracted controversy at times but it has always been influential to both photographes and the general public.

Between 1984 and 1991 she worked on what is undoubtedly her most famous series Immediate Family 1992 which focuses on her 3 children then under 10 years.
Whilst the series touches on ordinary moment in their daily lives- playing, sleeping, eating, it also speaks to larger themes such as sexuality and death.