Personal Projects: 5 photos to take of your OWN kids right now!

Hi guys! Kate here. My daughter, Madelyn, is 3 months old now & I can count on ONE hand the number of times I’ve taken my REAL camera out to take photos of her. I’m AWFUL at it! And to be honest, my 2.5 year old Grayson doesn’t have a ton either! Our phones are amazing because they’re basically always in easily accessible, and the cameras are really pretty good! But let’s face it… we’re photographers! We should be taking epic photos of our families ALL OF THE TIME. This blog post is geared toward photographers with kids (stay tuned for one geared toward photographers without kids!). Here are 5 easy photos to take of your own kids right now.

1. Bedtime routine: This might be more appropriate for parents of babies & toddlers than parents of older kids, but how cute are bathtime photos??! Tonight, bust out your camera during bath time. Take some cute, playful bubble bath photos. Afterward, grab some candid shots of your kids brushing their teeth. And lastly, some jammie shots of you guys reading bedtime stories together, or them laying in bed clutching their favorite stuffed animal. These moments are precious and fleeting… definitely capture them!
2. Baking or cooking together: Kids LOVE to help in the kitchen. Let them help with dinner tonight, or bake some cookies before bed. Take fun, candid shots of them focusing on cutting vegetables, or licking the batter off the spoon.
3. With their favorite toy: Toy preferences change SO much over time, but most kiddos have that one toy that stays with them for a really long time. Like Woody & Andy. One day, that toy will be in storage and you won’t see it every day. Take a photo to help you and your kiddo(s) remember their favorite childhood toy!
4. Not smiling: I know this sounds weird. But so many of us focus on getting our kids to smile WAY too much. They look so happy & we just can’t resist it. But some of my absolute FAVORITE shots I ever take of kids (both my own and other peoples’) are of their serious faces. Something about a serious face lets you focus more on their eyes, and is more authentic than a cheesy, smiley face.
5. Running around: Stick your shutter speed on high and grab some shots of your kids running. Around the house, through the sprinkler in the yard, on the sidewalk… wherever! There’s a pure joy on their faces whenever they’re running that won’t last forever (trust me… I don’t smile when I run anymore, haha!). Capture it before they stop doing it!

Take your camera out of the bag now & set it someplace safe but visible in your home. Maybe on your kitchen island or your fireplace mantle. If you see it, you’re more likely to use it. I hope these tips inspire you to take more photos of your kids!