Tip #5: Don’t Leave Home Without It

Here’s the fifth in our 10-part series of articles from Sabra Krock, on how to best capture images of your child.

I’m co-opting the famous American Express tagline this week to remind you that no amount of camera tips can make up for no camera at all. Remember to carry your camera with you as often as you can so you don’t miss out on unexpected photo opportunities.

While it’s quite bulky, I often lug my camera with me outside of my home because Murphy’s Law assures me I’ll miss something the one time I decide to leave it behind. If your usual camera seems too involved to take with you, swap it for a more portable model you keep in your car or baby bag at all times. Just remember: even though many cell phones now have reasonably good cameras built in, they are usually too low resolution to generate a decent print, making them poor substitutes for a dedicated camera.

This was Max on his first swing ride

This is Max, me and his dad watching fireworks on the fourth of July when Max was only a few weeks old. It was certainly inconvenient to carry my tripod up to the roof, but I love this little vignette and am so glad I have it.

It was obviously completely dark out beside the fireworks when this photo was taken. Nevertheless, I was able to use available light with long shutter speed. It’s not a perfect image, but for me, it worked more beautifully with the painted sky as backlight than with a flash.

This is the fifth installment in a weekly series of posts by Manhattan photographer Sabra Krock on how to take better photographs of your child. Come back next Monday for Tip #6: Hire a Pro.

If you didn’t get a chance to read the previous posts by Sabra just click here:

Tip #1: Turn Your Flash Off and Use Natural Light

Tip #2: Get to Know Your Camera

Tip #3: Get Candid

Tip #4: Don’t Forget Yourself