Chubby Cheek Photography is easily becoming one of my favorite children’s photographer. You’ll love their ability to capture moments that tell a story on top of their clean and minimal photography style.

Shalonda has shared some wonderful tips on how to photograph your own children with your “fancy” camera.

From Chubby Cheek Photography: Having been in business for four crazy years, weekend after weekend of session after session, I have been burned out and back so many times.  My normal everyday relationship with my camera was not a pretty one…dare I say it…yes I will…I began to hate my camera.  when we were playing in the backyard I didn’t want to fiddle with it so I wouldn’t get it.  when we went to the zoo, aquarium, museum I wouldn’t take it, it was too cumbersome, bulky, in the way, just too much to handle with a 2 year old and 4 year old.  Plus, if I’m being honest, I do not own a backup so if something happened to it while we were out, it was bad bad news for me from a business perspective.

But earlier this year I realized that I was not being fair to my own kids or to myself.  I spend so much time capturing moments for strangers and totally missing moments for myself…I vowed to no longer rely on a cell phone or point and shoot cameras, yes I had this camera for my business BUT I also had it for myself!  I paid a lot for it and all of the bells and whistles, I spent a lot of time learning how to use it properly and by golly, I deserved to capture my own memories with it!  So that’s what I have been doing and I haven’t looked back.

Tips for improving your relationship with your camera and shooting for yourself:

1.  Live and shoot for today.
While photo a day projects are fun, they are also difficult to commit to and keep up with.  So just set a goal to take your camera out to capture everyday moments of your own children once a week.

2.  Don’t shoot as a business owner shoot as a mom.
Just shoot for yourself and for your kids.  Trust in your ability as a photographer.  These images don’t have to be technically perfect or perfectly edited, in fact you may never edit them but at least you have them!

3.   Shoot the unexpected, spice it up.
Take your camera with you to one unexpected place that you regularly go to.  I promise this is addicting!  If your family goes to a favorite restaurant every week/month take your camera.  We all go to the grocery store every week, if your kids go with you like mine do, take your camera.  Maybe yall go to home depot every sunday after church, yep you guessed it take your camera.  The point is be creative, try new shooting or editing techniques.

4.  Don’t take your camera or your “moments” for granted.
You have been given a gift and the knowledge of how to use it, do it!  Our kids are so lucky to have moms/dads who are photographers, but I think so many of us have found that we are so busy with other peoples shoots that we are lucky to get in a yearly shoot for our own kids, me included.  Stop that!  Stop it today!

Remember it doesn’t have to be the perfect lighting or a perfectly set up shoot…playing in the playroom, reading books on their beds, bubbling up in the bath, helping with chores….it doesn’t matter just CAPTURE THEM BEING THEM, you won’t regret it!

// By Chubby Cheek Photography // Follow on Facebook //