How to Take Beautiful Photos of Mum This Mother’s Day: A Simple Guide for Dads
My friends and I all joke about our camera rolls showing that our partners are doing such a wonderful job with our children as single Dads. We joke about how handsome they look and how the children look so lovely, and how there are so few pictures of us mums. As a a mum of two, and a Hampshire family photographer, I naturally take a lot of pictures and make sure when the light is good my partner takes a picture of me with our babies. I also make sure to take pictures of my friends with their little ones. Maybe the light is landing just perfectly or there is a moment that they are sharing which is quietly beautiful, wiping that ice cream off their face or running with them on their shoulders, unposed, just natural.
With Mother’s Day approaching, I’ve written a short guide with five simple tips to help capture those moments. You don’t need a camera, your phone will work but if you want to make this feel more gifty you could think about getting out a film camera (if you have one) or a disposable. With film there are only a limited number of exposures and they will feel more exciting and gifty when they arrive. What could be a better treat other than lovely photos of the mum in your life for Mother’s Day.
A Hampshire family photographer shares 5 simple tips to help dads take beautiful, natural photos of mum with the kids this Mother’s Day.
1. Look for Natural Light
"I am forever chasing light. Light turns the ordinary into the magical." — Trent Parke
Lighting makes a photograph. March can be grey here in the UK so make sure your photos are being taken near a window, the garden or somewhere with soft light. Soft natural light helps create flattering, warm photos and avoids heavy shadows. Turn Mum so the window light falls on her face rather than behind her.
2. Think About What’s in the Frame
Before you take the photo, quickly check around. Is there anything distracting? A tree coming out of anyone’s head, just reposition yourself.
You want to direct the eye to the main subject of the photograph. Perhaps you can position your family in a window frame or a doorway. Focus attention on the moment, not distracting elements.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Zoom In
You can capture a beautiful detail, such as a hand on a cheek or a kiss on the head which will feel more emotional and intimate when close up.
Think: smiles, hand holding, heads resting on mum.
4. Step Back and Capture the Whole Scene
Remember that the context of where you are is part of the story too. You can capture real life and where you are, so if you are out walking in the woods step back and show the greens of the trees and the path mum and kids are walking down, or the whole bed with a crumpled duvet if reading in bed.
5. Capture the in-between moments
As a family photographer and a mum of two I find the magic often happens between the posed photos. Keep your camera, or phone at hand while doing these photos and stay present with what is happening so you notice smiles, whispers and cheeky giggles.
These candid moments often become the photos families treasure most. Embrace imperfection!
These everyday moments with our children pass so quickly, and it means so much to have a few photographs where everyone is there together. If you enjoy capturing these moments at home but would love a set of relaxed, natural photographs that include you too, a family photography session can be a lovely way to do that. I’m a Hampshire-based family photographer and I genuinely love documenting families in the middle of their beautiful, ordinary chaos. If you’d ever like to chat about a session, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
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Lots of love,
Libby x
