Do you ever see photographs of other people’s children and think ‘I wish I could take photos like that of mine?’
Well you can. And I’m going to show you how.

You don’t need a fancy camera or expensive lenses (although once you do go down that route your photos can step up a whole new level).

But photographing your children is all about capturing ‘them’ – being able to look back at that photo in years to come and for it to transport you straight back to when they were little. www.myfamilyclub.co.uk shows you how.

Step 1: Make Taking Photos a Habit.

My two children are used to me walking around with a camera attached to my hip; they've grown up with it and are pretty cool about me pointing a lens at them now.

Put them totally at ease when a camera comes out – even involve them by getting them to come up with ‘poses’ or taking them themselves - and they will just be themselves.

Step 2: If You Can, Set Your Camera to 'continuous' Mode

Children by their very nature are all over the place so you need to be quick to capture a moment. You could take 15 photos of one thing and find that 1 is perfect and captures the moment perfectly. But at least you got that 1! It's also a great way of capturing a series of shots such as blowing a bubble/running/trampolining.

Step 3: Use Natural Light

Avoid using the flash as much as you can and get outside. Or if you're in the house, sit your child by a large window, sit the other side of the window and use the light from there. It's far more flattering and nothing says I'M TAKING YOUR PHOTO than a flash going off in their face.

Step 4: Get Down to Their Level

It’s such a simple idea, but if you photograph a child from their point of view you get a much more interesting and intimate picture.

Step 5: Think About the Background

If you take a cracking photo but there is a mass off stuff going on in the background, you're going to distract from the subject matter and your eye will be drawn to the bin/lamp post/door frame behind them. Just be aware when framing your shot of background and if it looks unsightly, change your angle slightly to compensate. Or zoom in on one area; make your photo slightly quirky instead.

Step 6: Photograph Them in Their Natural Habitat

You will get the best photos when you leave them to do what love because they will be totally natural. If they're grubbing in the dirt or playing with friends or just reading, snap a photo – and DO NOT say ‘look at the camera’ or you will totally lose the moment.

Step 7: Don't Just Photograph the Happy

Step 8: If You Have One, Use Your Long-distance Lens

Then sit in the background while they play and snap away; they won’t even know you’re there.

Step 9: There Is Beauty in Detail

Don't just photograph 'moments'. What about that curl of hair in the middle of your toddler's forehead, or their long eyelashes, or their toes or a favorite toy?

Try to think outside the box and the 'details' that make your child who they are.

Step 10: Never Say 'smile'

I have a trick I used to use with my daughter when she was little because she had this awful 'fake' smile she would plaster on her face whenever I was about to take a photo.

So I would yell at her in mock anger: “Mia, STOP smiling. No I mean it, stop it. You’re being too cute. STOP IT NOW!” Works every time.

Finally I would say the best thing you can do is experiment. Take lots and lots and lots of photos. Try quirky things, strange angles. In this day and age you can delete delete delete, so just snap away and get creative.