Words and images by Adriana Sinke
Between the chaos and calm, magic and mess, imperfect and utterly perfect, motherhood is full of moments we never want to forget. When my son was laid on my chest for the first time, I memorized every detail from his squishy newborn face to his perfectly dimpled hands. I swore I’d never forget anything about him. I promised myself that I’d study his every detail, every day, and store it away in my mind for safekeeping. Despite my good intentions, my memory became hazy somewhere between the sleep deprivation and the never-ending diaper changes. This became evident when I went to fill out the first pages of his baby book (three months late, whoops!). “I first smiled on….” his book requested. I had made a mental note the first time he flashed me that perfect gummy smile, but here I was, unable to remember the date. Thankfully a quick look at my camera roll gave me the information I needed and an adorable photo to boot!
Photo documentation takes on a new level of importance when you become a parent. Capturing moments in a way that does justice to the stories they tell is simpler than it might seem. Here are five practical tips to help you capture the big, little, and in-between moments that make motherhood so special!
Tip 1 - MAKE ROOM FOR YOURSELF
When you become a parent, your baby becomes the center of your world. It is easy and natural to pull out your camera to take photos of your favorite subject. Don’t forget about yourself though! Get in on the action and make room for yourself in some of the shots. Even if your hair is unkempt, you haven’t worn makeup for days, and there are bags under your eyes (motherhood can be oh so glamorous!), I promise you won’t regret it.
There are many methods you can use to get in on the action. Selfies are a quick and easy way to capture yourself with your little ones. Most kids tend to flash pretty great smiles when they catch a glimpse of themselves on a phone screen. They’ll usually look straight at the camera and give you some good emotion to work with. Another way to include yourself in your photos is to use a tripod. Set up your camera or phone, frame your shot, check your settings, and then capture those moments! You can make use of the self-timer mode on your camera/phone or use a wireless camera remote for shooting. Don’t have a tripod? No worries! You can simply balance your phone on a ledge or object about 12 feet away. Finally, don’t be shy about asking others to take photos of you. Enlist your partner, a friend, or even a stranger to capture sweet moments of you with your little ones.
Tip 2 - FOCUS ON CANDID
There’s definitely a time, place, and purpose for perfectly composed photos. Most would agree, however, that the candid shots are the ones we hold dearest in our hearts. Some of my favorite photos are ones my husband took unbeknownst to me or ones I snapped of my son just going about his day. It’s the candid photos that capture the true joy of motherhood.
The wonderful thing about candid photos is there’s no need to overthink them. Just grab your camera and snap away at life’s simple moments. When shooting candid photos, focus on daily activities that evoke some sort of emotion. Capture your kids being kids. Sneak photos of them playing, laughing, eating, dancing, or exploring. Try to focus on the feeling in the moment, and freeze it with a photo. Remember, the goal is to capture a moment, not force it or disturb it. Take a couple of quick shots and then put your camera away and enjoy being present.
Tip 3 - BE PREPARED
Kids are unpredictable. When photographing them, much rests on their attention span, mood in the moment, and patience level. If you are looking to capture specific photos (perhaps you are going on a special family outing or maybe you have a vision for some photos at home), prepare as much as you can ahead of time.
Start by taking test shots before bringing children into the mix. Ensure that you like the way the photo is framed. Next, look for distracting elements in the shot and eliminate them if possible. Sometimes this is as simple as moving the rogue toy on the ground or kicking a blanket to the side. Sometimes it means repositioning your camera for a more ideal angle. Finally, aim to perfect your camera settings ahead of time. Pre-adjusting settings such as white balance and shutter speed allows you to capture the moment seamlessly. This makes the experience short, sweet, and more enjoyable for everyone. You will be left with the photos you envisioned and your kids won’t feel burdened by the process!
Tip 4 - EMBRACE MOVEMENT
It’s no secret that kids are always on the move. Learn to embrace that movement and capture those special moments. Photographing children on the go can be challenging. I have my fair share of blurry photos waiting to be deleted. There are a couple of tricks you can, however, use to ensure you end up with frame-worthy captures.
If you shoot with an iPhone, make use of the burst mode (just hold down the button and your phone will capture multiple photos in sequence). This allows you to document a moment as it unfolds. It also increases the likelihood that you will have at least one photo where everything is in focus. If you shoot with a DSLR, use a fast shutter speed to help you capture quick movements. Most DSLRs will also have a continuous shooting mode that allows you to capture frames simultaneously. Don’t be afraid to get in on the movement either. Not only will it help you shoot in a more organic way but it will allow you to stay present and in the moment, which is what truly matters!
Tip 5 - SHOOT LOTS BUT KNOW WHEN TO STOP
In the case of capturing motherhood’s moments, less is not more. It’s always disappointing when you return from a special outing only to find that the photos you snapped are too dark or out of focus. Between blurry movement, closed eyes, and unexpected photobombs, the photos worth keeping are often few and far between. To ensure you don’t miss any treasured moments, shoot lots, and then shoot some more! That might sound time-consuming, but it doesn’t have to be! You can use some of the tips I mentioned previously (ie. preparing your camera settings ahead of time and using burst mode) to keep your photo documentation fast and effective.
Although taking lots of frames is key, it is of equal importance to know when it’s time to stop. Try to anticipate the moments you’d like to capture, shoot smartly, and move on quickly. While it is wonderful to have our favourite memories saved as photos, nothing replaces actually living them. And remember, some moments are simply too precious to interrupt. These moments are better documented in our hearts than on camera. And of course, once you have documented your memories don't forget to create some prints so you never lose your precious memories. I recently created some Square Prints and Photo Strips with Inkifi and they are beautiful. You should also take a look at their Mother's Day Photo gifts to create something unique for Mom.
