"Taking pictures allows me to capture not just events, but moments in time." 

- Jeremy Wayland (8:54 - 9:00)Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club

How do we capture more than just a photo? 

Have you ever found a photo of your children that grabs your heart? A photo so much deeper than composition. One where you feel can almost feel the laughter that was bubbling up that day, or the warmth of joy that filled your soul in the moment of that captured embrace. 

That's exactly what happened to father, Law Enforcement Officer, and avid Photo Club member, Jeremy Wayland. We asked our community of parents to share a favorite photo they had recently taken at home. 

As Jeremy scrolled through his seemingly endless library one photo caught his eye. Now he'd like to share how EVERY parent can be on the lookout for those one-of-a-kind moments that create particularly touching photos!

"If you try to take a perfect picture and miss an opportunity, you have no picture. Use what you have, and capture the moment. You get to keep that forever." 

- Jeremy Wayland (13:34 - 13:47)

It was July 4, 2017.

As Jeremy's three-and-a-half-year-old daughter and wife watched from the front steps, he shuffled back and forth to light fireworks. Casually, he picked up his camera and snapped some photos. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But he had no idea just how spectacular the results would be.

One image perfectly portrayed the awe and wonder of Jeremy's daughter. As she glimpsed up at her mother, her face was lit by streaks of color against the night sky. It was an image every parent dreams of. 

Raw. Sweet. Effortless.

How can we, as parents, ensure moments like these don't slip through our fingers?

Jeremy's approach to capture memories of our children is simple.

 

• Time disappears fast. 

 

The role of being a parent is both the greatest and hardest responsibility. Weeks and months fly by as our babies spring from our arms and walk into Pre-K. 

The goal is to not spend all our time behind the lens from afar but to also engage.

 

• Kids will be kids. Snap away! 

 

There is always something exciting and camera-worthy going on every day in the life of a child. The first time down a slide. The fifth attempt to tie a shoe. The millionth (but entirely unique) performance of "Frozen." 

Prepare for anything and everything. Those little moments of play and curiosity in a child's natural environment are pure gold.

 

• Remember, photography is a magical portal for time travel.

 

 One day our photos will be in the hands of our kids. They will be grown, and long for the simpler days of sticky popsicle fingers, and blanket forts. 

We have the magical ability to catch moments, glimpses that will become time machines of the best moments and memories spent together. 

"These photos, after all, will one day be in the hands of our kids when they're grown. We take these photos in the hopes that we'll capture their childhood and give them an opportunity to see themselves grow up." - Michelle DeMers (10:02 - 10:15)

Enjoy the moment with your child. 

The best way to ensure that you are capturing the precious moments of every day is to not overcomplicate the process. Grabbing a touching photo is all about engaging in your surroundings. Be aware of the sights, sounds and emotions. 

Get down to your child's level for the full experience.

Don't just end the day with a spectacular photo, but have the beautiful memory to go with it.

How to Get Involved

Listen to the Parents Photo Club podcast! Subscribe. Rate. Review. Help us spread the word to help empower more parents to take photos that are worth keeping forever.

If you want to dig in deeper and get more tips, tricks and strategies on capturing the everyday magic of your family's life, join our thriving community of parents in our Photo for Parents group.