by Courtney Blury
Remember that fancy camera you bought, with dreams of capturing every smile, every muddy adventure, every quiet cuddle. But somehow, life got busy, the camera manual felt overwhelming (who reads manuals these days!), and your phone became the go-to for everyday snaps. And your fancy camera now resides in a cupboard somewhere collecting dust.
I get it. As a mama myself, I know that time is fleeting, and the days feel short. And the camera confusion is real! Like, which mode should you use, which buttons do what, where is the best lighting?! I have good news: photographing your little loves doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few simple steps, you can start creating frame-worthy photos that you’ll treasure forever. Let me help you put your big ol’ DSLR or Mirrorless camera into “Easy Mode” and start creating art from the everyday moments.
Step 1: Put Your Camera into Easy Mode
Let’s start by putting your camera into Aperture Priority mode—just turn the dial to “A” or “Av” depending on your model. This ‘easy mode’ gives you that dreamy, professional blurry background while keeping your child in sharp focus. Set your ISO to Auto so your camera can adjust to the light, and choose a fast shutter speed of 1/250s or higher to capture every little movement without blur. Because, let’s be honest, they’re never still for long. If you’ve ever taken a photo and wondered why your little one looked fuzzy mid-giggle, it’s probably because the shutter wasn’t quick enough. This simple setting change ensures you catch every twirl, jump, and belly laugh in crisp detail.
Step 2: Find the Best Light
Lighting is your secret weapon. It can transform an ordinary photo into something magical. When you’re outside, look for open shade—under a tree or beside a building—to avoid harsh shadows that can make faces look too bright on one side and too dark on the other. Indoors, place your child near a large window with soft, natural light spilling in from the side. This side lighting creates beautiful dimension and soft shadows that add depth to your photos. Skip the flash; natural light always wins and gives skin tones that lovely, true-to-life glow.
Step 3: Keep the Background Simple
A simple background helps your child shine. You don’t need a fancy backdrop or a Pinterest-worthy space. Choose clutter-free spaces like a plain wall, a cosy bed with soft blankets, or a quiet park corner. Outdoors, step away from trees or bushes for a naturally beautiful backdrop. Even in your backyard, a simple fence or a corner of greenery can work wonders. Remember, the goal is to have your child be the focus, not the pile of toys in the corner (unless that’s the real-life chaos you want to capture—because that’s beautiful too).
Step 4: Get Natural Smiles (Don’t ‘Say Cheese’!)
Getting natural smiles is all about fun. We’ve all been there… asking our kids to “say cheese” only to get that forced, awkward grin. Skip that and try something playful. Tell them a silly joke, make a funny face, or ask them to tell you a secret (they’ll giggle every time). Play a quick game like “run to me and stop right before you reach me” to capture genuine joy in motion. Get down to their eye level for photos that feel intimate and connected. Shooting from their perspective makes them the star and adds a sense of closeness to your images.
Not only will you get those real life emotions that you will LOVE to look back on, your kid will be excited the next time you get your camera out.
Step 5: Edit to Make It Pop!
Finally, editing adds the finishing touch. Taking a great photo in your camera is the goal, but editing brings out the magic. I’m often asked which editing app I recommend, I say get the free Lightroom Mobile app and play with brightness, contrast, and warmth to make your images pop. Adjust the exposure for brighter photos, tweak the warmth for that golden glow, and add a touch of contrast for more depth. For an effortless polished look, one-click presets can transform your photos from lovely to breathtaking without spending hours editing.
Photographing your children doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With these simple steps, you can start capturing everyday moments beautifully and join the milliions of mums taking charge of documenting their family, artfully. These moments pass quickly, but the memories you capture will be loved until infinity.
So, mama, dust off that camera. You can do it!
Author’s Bio:
I’m Courts! Your photo taking buddy and founder of Mamastalgia. Helping mums find community with like-minded, photo snapping mamas, and improving their skill not only so they can capture beautiful photos of their kids, but fill their cup.
By removing the tech-speak that camera nerds usually resort to, I focus on simplifying things and only teach the settings and techniques which you actually need to understand. This is made available around Australia in the 7 week Online Beginner Photography Course for Mamas – “Don’t Say Cheese”.