Documentary School Photography

Aozora Gakuen in Brooklyn

Here is a glimpse into a day at Aozora Gakuen, a Japanese-English bilingual preschool in Brooklyn. From the time I first visited them, almost four years ago, I’ve become a big fan of their progressive philosophy, the dynamic curriculum, and most of all, the diverse community. It was so nice to visit them again, this time with my camera!

So when I work on photo projects for schools and educational organizations, I take an entirely different approach to the standard ‘pose & say cheese’ portraits. To capture how children learn and grow everyday, I gravitate to a documentary style. I look for moments when the children are their pure selves, immersed in doing what they love. I also eye for details that portray the school’s philosophies that shape the children’s daily experiences. I use natural window light and the available room lighting, so there is no extra equipment or distracting flash.

I arrive with no fixed agenda and quietly navigate myself through the various activities the teachers have planned for the day. I like to move around the classrooms and shoot without disrupting what’s happening so everyone’s just going on about their day as usual. The result is beautiful and genuine documentary photographs.

I also love Aozora’s approach to food education (食育ーshokuiku, which literally means “eat and grow”) and spent a bit of time shooting during lunch time. Not only do they have a dedicated chef that cooks fresh seasonal meals everyday, they spend a lot of time teaching the children about where food comes from and who makes them. I think it’s wonderful that children take turns serving the food to the entire class, and how they also help clean up after themselves. I say they are lessons that will last a lifetime.

So after my visit, I create a unique set of images that portray the essence of the school as the teachers and children interact throughout a typical day. My aim is to provide beautiful environmental photography that reflects the true atmosphere of the classroom. Please let me know if you know of schools or groups in the Greater NY area that may be looking for a curated photo session like this!