Ok let’s face it….  In this day and age almost every mom and dad owns a digital camera and loves taking photos (especially of their kids)  If your kids are anything like my brother’s kids they tend to tell YOU when YOUR PHOTOSHOOT IS OVER…, then all you get out of them is funny faces (especially if you have little boys)  So the solution to this is to photograph them when they are doing something they love like going for swimming lessons for instance.  Don’t be in their way or ask them how to pose, rather take a journalistic approach and just photograph what they are doing.  If your camera handles low light conditions well I would also recommend turning the flash off (as this distracts them and the whole class)  Swith your camera to sport mode (the little running man) and snap away.  Try different anlges like sitting on your bum (which might get a little wet, you’ll know what I’m talking about if you’ve ever tried this, but a good photographer will do anything to get that perfect shot)  I had the pleasure of taking my brother’s twin sons, Frans and Gerhard, to indoor swimming lessons some time in the summer and boy was I amazed at how much they have learnt!  They were always scared to have their heads go under the water, scared to jump into the pool and now they were almost completely at ease.  I think taking your child to swimming lessons (or getting them comfortable and accustomed to swimming by yourself) is a very important part in raising any child.  Prevention is better than cure…  If you look at the boys expressions these lessons are really hard work but also tons of fun…  Can you remember when you have such seen such concentration on a little one’s face, it’s just too cute   Gerhard and Frans is now so confortable that they dive underwater(with some help of their instructor) to retrieve a little rubber fish which lies on the bottom of the pool!  As a parent your children are probably your models most of the time (which is cool cos they kind of have to listen to you) but never misuse this privilege.  Respect them when they tell you they don’t feel like taking photos anymore.  Sometimes you will get that perfect shot and sometimes you won’t, be happy for the little things in life… :-)

Riani