3 Everyday Activities That Can Turn Into A Fun Photo Op!

Do you think it’s important to capture everyday images of your children? Do you take out your camera for the ordinary moments?

Don’t feel bad. I’m just like you. And it’s my job to take pictures! It’s not that I don’t feel everyday moments are worthy of capture. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I just get busy. Or I forget. Or I feel pressure to edit all of those personal photos. If I have to edit them, they end up in a folder along with client images and it takes forever for me to get through them!

The problem with excuses is that nothing ever gets done. When my kids are grown and they look back on their childhood, I want them to remember the little things. Those everyday moments make up the story of our lives. It’s important to value them.

I totally get it though. Sometimes, when your kids know there’s a camera involved, all of a sudden they become uncooperative. Well, if they’re like mine they do.

If the goal is to document the ordinary, the best thing you can do is become an observer. Be a ninja with your camera. Never let them know it’s there. Be intentional about the shots you want to take and then put the camera down.

One of my goals in the new year will be to take out my camera often, not just at birthday parties or holidays. Don’t wait for the big events. Even a trip to Target can turn into an excuse to pull out your camera. I want to share with you a few things we’ve done that turned into fun photo ops.

A TRIP TO THE PARK

This is one of my absolute favorite parks to visit with my kids. The Willowwood Arboretum in Chester is so gorgeous (which is why I decided to host my holiday mini sessions there!). One day over the summer, I brought my camera with me while we explored the grounds. Every now and then I took it out to try and capture snippets of our day. I didn’t want my kids to think we were there to take pictures or else it would have turned into a disaster. I had no expectations, but I definitely kept my eyes open for opportunities to create beautiful images. I even brought my camera in to the diner we went to for lunch.

QUICK TIP: At the park, I made sure to look for areas of shade for nice, even light. In the diner, I asked the waitress if we could sit by a window. Also, using a wide aperture allowed me to blur the background enough that the girls stood out.

AN AFTERNOON AT THE POOL

The girls and I like to hang out at my sister-in-laws pool during the summer. There was nothing special about this particular day except that I had just found these fun floaties at Five Below. I knew that they would look awesome in pictures. The tricky part would be getting the girls to wait before diving in the water. My secret weapon – Coca Cola. They were happy to sit for a few minutes while sipping on the sodas.

QUICK TIP: I intentionally waited until later in the afternoon to try this. We’ve been to my sister-in-laws pool a million times so I know it gets shady later in the day. Had we been there at noon, the pictures would have looked very different. Plus, my girls were cooperative because their was a reward at the end. They got to swim in the pool, play with some new toys, and have a Coke!

A DAY ON THE FARM

These are some of my favorites pictures from an ordinary day at the farm. We thought about skipping because of the fog, but it ended up being amazing in the photos. I love these shots even more because of the fog. Lighting can help you convey a certain mood and the fog adds some mystery and drama. Because the clouds created nice, even light I was able to shoot anywhere without worrying about harsh shadows. I wish I would have been more prepared for how chilly it was so that my oldest wasn’t draped in my oversized sweat jacket, but it’s more authentic this way. Lol!

QUICK TIP: If you can, try to time your trip in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky. Always keep the sun behind your subject so no one is squinting. Remember to take details shots when you are out and about. Those are the things that help tell the story of your day.

What are some of your favorite everyday activities to take pictures of?