How to Take Professional Photos of Your Kids

As a parent we want to capture special moments that we can treasure forever and to frame around the house. Hiring a professional photographer to actually get good quality photos can be quite expensive.

I want to share with you some wonderful tips I’ve learned from photographer friends on how to capture these special moments yourself without having to pay ridiculous prices to hire a good photographer. Disclosure: this post contains some affiliate links. This means that when you click on a link to make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only post links to products I use and recommend.

All you need is a few simple things and you will be on your way to capturing beautiful photos.

The good news is that you can get wonderful photos on your phone thanks to all the good quality cameras that our cell phones have today. This eliminates the need to purchase an expensive DSLR camera.

If you do chose to invest in a great quality camera then I highly suggest a mirrorless camera. I personally use a Sony a6000 and I couldn’t be happier with that choice. I spent months researching DSLR cameras and mirrorless camera before I went with my Sony. The photos I get from it alway amaze me! I suggest going with a mirrorless over a DSLR for one major reason…. the size! Comparing the two you will quickly notice how the mirrorless is so much smaller and light weight compared to a DSLR. Being a mom that carries everything but the kitchen sink in her bag, the smaller size is an absolute win for me. I get the same amazing quality photo but don’t have to take a second camera bag where ever I go. Every time I use the camera on a trip while traveling I am always thankful for the smaller size of my camera.

If you choose to use only your phone then I highly suggest checking out some awesome photo apps to help give you more control over the picture. We always have our phones near us so it can be the easiest and fastest way to quickly capture a special moment in our child’s life.

There are so many wonderful apps that you can download to help edit photos.

No matter how expensive the camera you are always going to want to give your photo a quick edit. My favorite photo editing apps are….

ColorStory- By far my absolute favorite and most used. I find the layout simple to use and there are a lot of editing options. They have a lot of great filters to choose from as well as many editing options.

Framatic- A wonderful app for creating collages of your photos. They also have a large selection of filters.

PicFx- There are a bunch of different filter and elements you can add to your photos. My favorite is to add the booked filter (little light dots) to a photo. I do find the layout a little messy. You need to really take the time to explore all the options available.

Facetune- A favorite by many celebs since it can edit photos such as getting rid of an annoying blemish or some fly away hairs. Great for closeups where this little detail matter most.

Photoshop Free – Great app for editing photos. It’s not as wonderful as the actual full computer version but it does do the job. This app does seem to be made for a more advanced user.

Another great tip for capturing get photos is to get help! It really helps to have two people taking pictures of the kids. I love it when my husband lends a hand. He’s got a great eye for taking photos but it’s also super helpful to have someone help get the little ones attention. If your kids are really little then I suggest using a squeaky toy or rattle to get their attention and to get them to look at the camera.

When taking photos of kids I prefer the non staged poses. Capture them playing and just having fun. That is what will create the most magical photos. It doesn’t have to be the standard type photo and pose. When you capture them while playing it just feels more natural and real. Personally I find it even more beautiful that way.

Get low! Don’t be afraid to get down on the floor to get the perfect shot. Angles can add such a great artistic touch to the photo. Get low or get high. Play around with it to capture the perfect photos.

Remember to not over do it. Try and aim for 20 mins max before the kids are over it! Let the kids play to help make the experience more fun and real. A big factor for creating a fun and successful photo shoot is not to stress. If the kids can tell your stressing then they won’t be comfortable and it will only make it harder to capture the perfect pictures. Relax and enjoy this moments. You are capturing memories so make it fun for both you and your kids!

Last but not least, get in on the fun! Set up a tripod and use a remote to capture pictures of you and your kids playing and just having fun. These are the memories you will treasure forever.