Is it possible to take amazing (and authentic) 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.
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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
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
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 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
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 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.
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