Is it possible to take amazing (and authentic) family photos of your children using just your phone? We’re joined by Rosie Borgese of Mums Photo Academy who’s here to share her top tips for taking better photos and creating beautiful memories.
Looking for fun activities with your baby or toddler? There are thousands of classes and groups on Happity. Find one you’ll love here.
Did you know that you can take stunning photos of your children without costly equipment or a professional photographer? With only the phone in your pocket, you can produce professional-quality photos of your own family. Let me tell you a secret. It’s not about having an expensive camera but how you use it…and guess what? Your phone is more powerful than you think!
So read on for tips that will help you take better photos and become your own family’s pro-photographer.
How to Use Your Phone to Take Authentic Photos of Your Kids
1. Recognise The Camera Settings on Your Phone
First things first: familiarise yourself with the camera on your smartphone. The majority of contemporary phones are loaded with capabilities that can greatly improve your images. Examine options like HDR, composition grid lines, and manual exposure adjustment. Knowing how these operate can significantly enhance your photos.
2. Master Lighting – Better Family Photos Using Your Phone
Lighting is essential in photography. Natural light is your best friend when ,specially cloudy sky is the best and in the UK we are lucky! On a cloudy day the light is diffused and soft and creates soft shadows.
Steer clear of the intense midday light since it can create unattractive shadows. Instead, look for softer light in the early morning or late afternoon. When indoors, choose spaces with lots of natural light or, if needed, diffused artificial lighting.
3. Get the Focus Right – Take Better Photos Of Your Kids
It’s important to keep your subject in focus. Make sure your child’s face is clear and sharp by using the focus lock feature on your camera. To simultaneously change focus and exposure, tap on their face on your screen. When relocating subjects who might be running around, this is really useful.
4. Use Composition to Play – Better Family Photos Using Your Phone
An ordinary shot can be transformed into a beautiful one through composition. To make your picture more dynamic, use the rule of thirds and position your youngster off-centre. Try adjusting your viewpoint by lowering yourself to your child’s eye level or playing around with angles. Creative cropping can also have a significant impact.
5. Appreciate The Honest Moments
Although prepared photographs are appealing, candid photographs convey your child’s genuine personality and unfiltered emotions. Encourage them to be themselves, laugh, and play. For more genuine moments, take pictures of them moving or focused. In this way you can take meaningful and intimate pictures of your daily and seemingly mundane moments that will tell your own family story beautifully.
6. Have Fun – Take Better Family Photos Of Your Kids
Try to keep the photographing experience enjoyable rather than directing your child to say ‘cheese,’ which might make them grin unnaturally. Tell a joke, sing a song, or play a game. Their genuine personality will come through when they are at ease and enjoying themselves, and you will be able to get beautiful natural smiles.
7. Make Use of Advanced Features – Better Family Photos Using Your Phone
Utilise functions such as portrait mode to highlight your youngster in the picture and create a stunning depth-of-field effect. For action shots, burst mode is great because it makes sure you don’t miss any quick moments. Using time-lapse and slow motion techniques can give your photos a unique look.
8. Edit Gently – Take Better Photos Of Your Kids
Your pictures can be enhanced by editing, however make sure to preserve their true beauty. You may want to adjust the contrast and brightness, along with using a light filter. Your phone is equipped with a basic feature that lets you make small changes to the original image. Bear in mind that we are only improving already existing beauty.
9. Print and Treasure Your Photos
Don’t let your phone’s amazing photos of your kids remain hidden. Make photo albums, print them, and display them on your wall. Print these moments, hold them in your hands and share them with your loved ones. They are your family’s story.
Some Last Words of Encouragement For Taking Better Family Photos
Remember you don’t have to be an expert to capture your family’s beauty. Your love is your primary tool. So grab your phone, embrace the chaos and preserve those everyday moments. Your family will love to look back at these wonderful memories you’re creating by taking better photos of your children.
If you would like additional advice, grab my ‘Top 5 Tips for Capturing Real Moments with Your Kids’, a simple guide with tips on how to take photos that feel authentic, without the frustration of posing or missed shots.
I hope you find this article helpful.
Thanks To Rosie Borgese – Mums Photo Academy
Rosie is a professional photographer and mum of two with a passion for turning everyday family moments into timeless stories. As the founder of Mums Photo Academy, she empowers mums to capture emotional, authentic memories of their children using their phones. Rosie believes photography isn’t just about taking pictures—it’s about storytelling, celebrating messy, real moments, and cherishing life’s fleeting phases. With a background in teaching and a warm, relatable approach, she’s here to inspire and guide mums on their journey to preserving family memories beautifully.
Want To Get Out And About, Have Fun With Your Baby Or Toddler, And Meet Other Parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
Are you a big fan of Instagram or Tiktok but sometimes need a reminder to take a reality check? We all know that scrolling through reels and posts can be fun, but if you’re finding it’s beginning to affect your mood or day-to-day life as a parent, perhaps it’s time to take a step back. So check out our mindful reminders for next time you’re scrolling through social media.
Looking for fun activities with your baby or toddler? There are thousands of classes and groups on Happity. Find one you’ll love here.
Six Mindful Reminders If You’re Actively Wanting To Scroll Through Social Media:
1. I’m Looking For X, Y or Z
Try and be mindful in the way you use Instagram and Tiktok. If you’re looking for something specific (maybe a funny parenting meme or piece of parenting advice), try and stick to it (hard, we know). If you can’t, set a timer, or a wellbeing control on your phone that limits your social media use. Try the Digital Wellbeing app for Android or Attentive for iPhone and Apple devices.
We’ve all done it. Set up the ‘perfect’ shot of our house or children by angling the camera away from anything we don’t want to appear on screen. Step out of shot and you’ll probably find that large washing pile, stacks of baby toys and books and crumbs that have been kicked under the counter. Remember what you see online is only a small part of actual ‘real life’.
Unless you live in a showhome or have a cleaner everyday, it’s unlikely that what you see on screen is what you would actually get if you were round there in person.
Remember this meme from a few years ago? Exactly that.
3. I Value Who And What I Have In My Life Already
Remember there’s no need to scroll or post constantly for validation from others who aren’t your closest friends and family (and actually may be strangers). Take everything you see online with a pinch of salt, and remember people are showing you what they want you to see about their life and family life.
We can all post holiday shots which make our life look absolutely fantastic. But for every ‘picture-perfect’ moment, there are probably ten more that didn’t make the cut. And photos can be edited nowadays to make them look even better. Trends come and go, but your family is yours for keeps.
Here’s a realistic mum vlogger for you to check out.
4. We All Have Good Days And Bad Days
Life is never predictable, perfect or the same when you have children – and that’s the beauty of it. Give yourself a break and remember what you’re seeing online is probably the best of the ‘good days’. Mess is OK and a ‘good enough’ day is also OK.
No two children are the same. So try to resist the urge to compare your children with the reels and posts you see online. Chances are the parent caught a funny moment. Either that or the parent is probably filming a well-established party trick!
6. It’s Just A Bit Of Fun
Of course there are influencers out there who make a living from their TikTok reels or Instagram post and they may be trying to promote a lifestyle, brand or product. But for the majority of us parents, social media should and can be fun. Try and find posts and reels which align with your beliefs, needs and make you feel good as a parent. Steer away from the negative, ‘fake news’ and posts which make you question your parenting style.
Two Mindful Reminders For Parents If You’re Not Really Sure You Want To Keep Scrolling Through Social Media:
1. What Would I Rather Be Doing?
Ask yourself this question from time to time as you’re scrolling. If the answer is ‘scrolling’, then keep scrolling! But if the answer is read a book/go for a walk/play with my kids, then time to close down those screens and go for it! Or maybe check out some more of our parenting, wellbeing or activity blogs right here on Happity.
2. I Can Take A Break
If you feel your social media habits are affecting your family life, try and set a few boundaries for yourself and when you’re around your children. These can be a few simple rules such as no phones at mealtimes and having dedicated times when you put your phone away to focus on what’s going on around you. Turn off notifications (they can be very distracting) and set digital wellbeing timers.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
What are the benefits of singing nursery rhymes to your baby or toddler? Even if you’re not a fan of singing, you can still learn some simple nursery rhymes to sing with your child. From language development to social skills, read on for why nursery rhymes have so many benefits for your under five-year-old.
Looking for fun activities with your baby or toddler? There are thousands of classes and groups on Happity. Find one you’ll love here.
1. Lovely Language Development
As we said in Songs to Sing To Your Baby, all that repetition is so good for your baby’s development. They’ll learn so much about the rhythms and patterns of language and how it works and sounds. There’s a reason why so many nursery rhymes actually rhyme. Then there’s that beautiful moment when your little one begins to join in with the words, or the rhyming words at the end of each line. This can lead to some funny rhymes, nonsense words, or half-rhymes as your toddler repeats what they think comes next. It’s all in the name of speech and language development! See more on our Instagram post here and check here for baby rhyme time classes near you.
2. Creative Connection With Your Baby Or Child
Increased eye contact, facial expressions and actions are so good for your baby’s overall development. Music and movement together can be so powerful. Check out this mum singing nursery rhymes to her toddler as she pushes them on the swing. Before you know it, five minutes at the park can turn into an hour!
3. Fabulous Fun – The Benefits Of Nursery Rhymes For Under Fives
Nursery rhymes give you another reason to have fun with your baby or toddler. Whether you’re gently rocking to Row Row Your Boat, doing the actions toI’m A Little Teapot, or lifting your little one up in the air to The Grand Old Duke Of York, you’ll find it can actually be quite fun. If you get an ‘Again,again!’ it’s all worth it, right?
Mrs Furryboots’ YouTube channel has a library of over 500 songs you can sing along to, with new songs and playlists added every week. So check it out if you want to join the other 5000 subscribers looking for inspiration.
4. Fantastic Fine Motor Skills
Any song or nursery rhyme which is paired with a hand movement will really help your little ones when it comes to improving their fine motor skills. Whether it’s a nursery rhyme you sign along to, or just do some actions, you’ll find so many baby and toddler classes out there which teach hand movements alongside songs. Improved fine motor skills here we come!
5. Splendid Socialisation – For You And Baby
Nursery rhymes are frequently used at baby classes. Not only this, if you regularly attend a baby or toddler class, you’ll meet the same parents and children week on week. Not only will this regular contact with other parents help boost your own mental health, just being around other babies and children will have lots of benefits for your child. They’ll get more used to being in different environments with other children, and may even begin to interact with them. For babies, this can look like something as simple as laying next to another baby, or putting an arm or hand across them. For toddlers, expect some side-by-side play, lots of staring at other toddlers and some interaction or collaboration if the songs involve lifting a parachute or doing actions. With so many classes having ‘favourite’ nursery rhymes, you’ll find it easier to join in the more you go.
6. Numerous Numeracy Skills – The Benefits Of Nursery Rhymes For Under Fives
We’ll bet you can count five nursery rhymes which use counting on the fingers of one hand – 5-4-3-2-1 and go!
Did you get there?
From Five Little Ducks, Ten In The Bed and Five Currant Buns to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer, and Ten Green Bottles, nursery rhymes which use counting are classics – and for good reason too! Counting forwards and backwards from one to five, or five to ten, will set your child up well for EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and is a skill for life.
7. Soothing Sleep – Benefits Of Nursery Rhymes
Music can help calm down adults and children, and it’s the same for children and toddlers. Lullabies developed as a way of helping babies get to sleep. So singing nursery rhymes can help foster that sense of relaxation, sleepiness and feeling of ‘flow’. You may find yourself entering a more meditative state or even dropping off as well! Sweet dreams, everyone.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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