Hey there mamas and dads! Whether you have a “nice camera”, you’ve hired a professional or you’re simply using your iPhone, you can get great photos of your child on any day. Disclaimer: I know firsthand toddlers and babies sometimes do whatever they want, but at least we can get the rest right! Here’s a few of my go-to tips:

1. Get the Lighting Right

The chances are HIGH that if you don’t like a photo, it’s because of the lighting. You want light on faces. This means if you have natural light coming through a window, be sure to position yourself with your back to the window while you’re taking the photo of your child! If you’re outside, try finding some shade and then have your child face the sun while under the shade. If there is no shade, it’s best for your child to be facing their own shadow as you take their photo. This means their face will be shaded from the harsh sunlight!

2. Crop Out Distractions

Anybody else not a fan of including those neon toy colors in their photos?! If there’s something bright in the photo, try to move closer so you can avoid it. Get up higher and point the camera down (best for small kids) so the background is more of the floor which is one consistent color.

3. Try Out Some Presets

Shameless plug.. I sell mobile presets that I use every single day on my cell phone photos of my kids! Every preset purchase includes instructions on how to install them and use the FREE Lightroom Mobile App. My go-to is the Autumn Living preset! PRESET SHOP

Lastly.. have you decided what you’re going to DO with all those photos?! I’m guilty of leaving my precious memories to live forever on my iPhone wallpaper instead of actually printing and getting them in my hands. “Which photos do I choose?! Which frame? Or do I want an album? Or maybe a digital frame? Or maybe I should do a holiday card, too??”

And then I just do nothing.

Sound familiar??

Join the challenge with me to PRINT PHOTOS IN 4 EASY STEPS // JOIN THE CHALLENGE.