For many parents, how quickly their children change, develop and grow can come as something of a surprise. But being desperate to hang on to every moment, make the most of everything and provide you and your kids with lasting memories can leave little time for anything else. Even though capturing children, friends and relatives on camera and even on film has become increasingly easy, these moments are often rushed. As a result, they can fail to create the desired lasting memory.

The Perils of Amateur Photography

But taking on the role of photographer yourself can present a couple of difficulties. Firstly, the onus falls on you as photographer/organiser/editor to produce the photos in the first place; secondly, you run the risk of failing to produce a final outcome capable of rendering such important moments in time. By using a professional photographer, you can eliminate these concerns and get truly pleasing results.

How Professional Photography Has Changed For many, the words ‘professional photographer’ may bring back less than fond memories of excruciating school photos and images subsequently banished to the back of wardrobes and the bottom of drawers. But as with many things, professional photography has moved on. Gone are the staid, unnatural shoots of old to be replaced by pictures that celebrate the personalities of the subjects – this is never more important than when it comes to capturing little ones on camera. Working with your chosen professional photographer, you might consider the following ideas:

• Not just limiting yourself to one image of your child, but choosing a selection and turning them into a montage. This might be especially suitable for babies and toddlers as it can capture a truly experimental time in their life when they are learning how to communicate in a range of ways.

• If your child has a particular passion for sport, a talent for performance or maybe even a love of learning, this can be incorporated into a photo shoot. You might even opt for a series of action shots which truly represent your child’s passion for work or play.

• As soon as they are capable of independent movement, it is very rare that children will choose to stay still, so why not make the most of how they look on the move? Even a decidedly wobbly walk is a memory worth keeping.

• Many children have a much-loved toy, a favourite dressing-up outfit or even a treasured pet that they can’t bear to be away from. If this is the case, involving the item (or the animal) can make for a truly happy subject for the photographer to work with.

• Is your child often complimented on a particular feature? Maybe it’s their curly hair or their big brown eyes? Either way, capturing it on camera can be a great way to remember their formative years.

Of course, there will always be a place for everyday snaps capturing fleeting moments, but professional photos really can preserve a memory forever. Whether it’s a particular emotion, a favourite place or even something to embarrass your child with on their 18th birthday, taking the time to find the right photographer really is worth it.