Photo tips for parents

Photographing funny, quirky or lovely moments of your child is one of the most important parts of being a parent.

Whether you’re like Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and partner Clarke Gayford and are about to be parents, or you already have kids, here are some tips to make sure the photos of your children are the best you ever take.

Because you want these photos to last forever, make sure you’re taking high-resolution images.

This means buying a camera (a compact is fine, you don’t need a fancy DSLR), or a smartphone with a high-quality camera.

If you use your old phone, you’ll one day regret the low-quality images it produces.

Also, learn how to take a good photo. There are lots of videos online that will teach you simple composition, lighting and how to capture fast-moving subjects (kids move quickly).

Photos are great for capturing a moment but videos can reveal more detail. A short clip of everyday activities will bring back a flood of memories when you’re older.

Make sure you take high definition video (1080p) so in the future it won’t look like video tapes do now.

And if you are the family photographer, don’t forget to include yourself in the photos too. Your kids will one day want to see what you looked like when they were young.

However, while research shows that taking a photo or video helps you remember the moment, you don’t need your camera out all the time. Just watching your kids is fun too.

Once you’ve taken your pictures, try to be restrained when sharing images with friends or online.

It may sound harsh, but not everyone wants to see every ‘‘cute’’ picture of your child. Share all you like with your child’s grandparents but most other people are happy to just see the occasional image.

Also, limit the photos you share on Facebook or other social media platforms.

If you do want to share, then post the occasional picture that shows them at their best or use email or a text and send them to trusted (and interested) friends and family.

Try to be restrained when sharing images with friends or online.