"There are reasons why we miss moments. At the end of the day, just take a breath. The worst reaction you can have is to say, 'Do it again.'... it becomes a forced act."

- Michelle & Justin DeMers (2:55-3:11)Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club

You want to capture the special moments when spending time with your family, whether it's their first steps, their first time riding a bicycle, or any other milestone. Capturing the moment is one of the essential joys that come with being a parent.

But sometimes we miss those moments. With photography, it's hard to capture spontaneous moments no matter how ready you might be. As children grow older, they achieve new milestones that bring parents a sense of pride, wonder, and happiness. But it's frustrating when you miss a perfect photo opportunity. You miss capturing the look on your children's faces when they overcome obstacles and develop the confidence that serves them later in life.

"If you miss your children's moments, ask them a prompt that doesn't turn them into a performance or an act. Let them be who they are so you can capture that moment in an authentic way." - Justin DeMers (7:50-8:02)

If you're using a photo app on your smartphone, slow loading times make it hard to capture your child's special moments. You may also get other people in the background, ruining a perfectly good photo opportunity.

So what's a parent to do when you miss the moment? Although there are many reasons why we miss these moments, there's really one thing that all parents should do: Take a deep breath.

Capturing the Special Moments

Knowing that other moments are just around the corner makes it easy for you to deal with the missed opportunities. But many parents tell their children to do something again for the sake of getting a photograph of the event. This only forces children to put on a performance. Spontaneous moments become forced, which can interrupt the flow of their imaginations.  

Kids do things because they're fun. They're less concerned about taking the perfect photograph. So parents need to be careful not to force kids to do something again after they've missed a chance to photograph them. Doing it a second time around isn't the same.

As the parent, it's your job to stay calm when you miss a milestone moment. Don't tell your children you missed a moment and want to capture it. Instead, know that you'll always have a chance to see them do it again. The best thing you can do is stay engaged with your children.

Learn to be curious and ask questions that prompt your kids to continue their exploration. This gives them an opportunity to create new moments and gives you the chance to capture those moments when you're ready. The right questions can get them to try something new on their own without feeling like they're being forced.

"Be curious, be engaged, and ask questions that are prompts for kids to explore and find the answers." - Michelle DeMers (4:56-5:04)

Using the right prompts, parents can compel children to ask if they want to see something again. Tell them you really liked something they did. Ask them what would happen if they did it a little differently. These and other questions help you stay in the moment.

Children are always doing new things. So if you miss the moment now, there are plenty of others you can capture. Don't get hung up on the moments you've missed. Come up with a few key questions and prompts that support their imaginations. This approach lets you stay engaged even when you feel you've missed a special moment. More importantly, you let your kids be kids.

How to Get Involved

If you want to learn more photography tips for parents, subscribe to the Parents Photo Club podcast and be sure to leave a like or review on iTunes. You can get tips and strategies on capturing amazing moments with your family.

You can also join the Photography for Parents Facebook group and connect with like-minded parents.

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