You know when you convince your spouse that you NEED a real camera because you’re going to take beautiful photos of your children, document their entire childhood, take your own family photos, and really, when you think about it, this purchase is practically SAVING your family money? And then six months later it’s sitting on a shelf with a dead battery while you take 4,000 photos on your iPhone? Yeah. Let’s fix that.
Because if you bought a camera because you wanted to document your family, I don’t want the camera itself to become another barrier between you and actually doing it. So today we’re talking about how to make taking photos easier, how to make your camera fit into your everyday life, and how to actually become the memory maker you pictured yourself being when you bought the thing.
Barrier #1: Your camera isn’t ready
Let’s start with making sure your camera is accessible and ready to go. When something happens that you want to photograph, we don’t have time to dig the camera out of a closet. If you’re camera isn’t accessible and ready to go, you simply wont use it. I like to leave my camera somewhere near the heart of the home, but high enough it’s safe from tiny curious people. That way when life is happening, I am steps away from the camera, not digging it out of a closet or bag. Keep a battery charger nearby, and make sure you haven’t left your memory card in your computer.
Barrier #2: Carrying a camera is annoying
Now one of the other biggest things that stops me from taking my camera places is that carrying a camera while also carrying everything my children apparently require to survive for 90 minutes is super annoying. Especially depending on how huge your camera gear is, sometimes it just takes too much brain space to figure out how to safely nestle a camera around wipes and diapers and crumbs and still make it accessible like we talked about. If it is buried inside a bag, I am probably not going to take the time to un-bury it when we’re at the zoo, it’s just going to stay there.
So, what I have found works for me is this particular camera bag that doubles really well as a diaper/mom bag and comes in multiple sizes to accommodate whatever stage of motherhood you’re in.
At the time of this recording I am in a potty training era with my youngest, so I use the smallest size which comes in a fun lilac color. If you’re in your “gotta have three changes of clothes for diaper blowouts era,” then you probably want a larger size. But what I love about it is that I can put all the kid stuff and my wallets/keys in the top, and then my camera goes in the bottom, and is accessible via a side zip, so it’s actually really fast to sling the backpack off one shoulder and un-zip it to grab the camera.
(Other handy items)
Alright then in terms of keeping the camera on your body, I prefer a wrist strap for my Canon because the lenses I use are pretty heavy, so it’s kind of obnoxious to have it around my neck, but a good neck strap is always an option. It’s nice to be able to really let go of the camera in an instant though and know it’s only going to drop a few inches.
The other thing I use for my big camera is actually this bag clip, and this is a favourite option when we are hiking or sight-seeing and I know I want my camera really readily accessible, and need to be completely handsfree and without things dangling from my neck. Unnecessary for smaller cameras, but an awesome option if you feel like yours is heavy and awkward to hang around your neck or wrist.
Barrier #3: You’re bringing too much crap
Another thing that may be secretly overwhelming you is just bringing too much crap. You don’t need to pack for every theoretical photograph you might encounter. If changing lenses, choosing gear, packing a giant bag, and worrying about what you left behind makes you less likely to bring your camera, simplify.
The best camera setup for documenting your life is the one you’ll actually bring with you. I have two L series fancy schmancy Canon lenses, but when I am out with my kids I am actually usually using this little $300 pancake lens because it’s WAY lighter and I am more likely to bring my camera if it isn’t so huge and heavy.
Barrier #4: You’re treating photography like another activity
On that note, don’t “make time for photography.” Bring photography into time you’re already spending together. You’re going to the zoo or playing in the backyard anyway. You’re baking pancakes then going on a walk or building an insane couch fort anyway. You don’t need cute outfits, golden hour, a special location, or a planned “photo shoot.” Attach photography to rhythms that already exist instead of creating additional photography activities. Photography is down for the life you’re already living.
Barrier #5: Now you have 9 billion photos to deal with
Now if the digital clutter is what stops you from photographing, here’s my advice. You don’t need to download every time you use your camera. Have a large enough reputable memory card that you’re not constantly forced onto your computer. When you do download, try to do it when you actually have time to deal with the images. I hate knowing I have a million photos on my computer waiting for me to edit, so I try to just leave them on my memory card until I am ready to deal with them. Now if any other professional photographers were watching this they would be breaking out hives right now imagining not immediately downloading and backing up photos but for everyday life, everyday routines, that’s just too much to ask and creates another barrier that stops us from photographing.
On top of that, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the best way to reduce the overwhelm from digital clutter is to give yourself less to deal with in the first place. Slow down while you’re photographing. Don’t take 47 nearly identical frames if you don’t need them. And:
“The more you can get right in camera: your exposure, focus, shutter speed, composition, the less fixing you’re giving yourself to do later which saves time and energy.
But I don’t know how to do that.”
And if you’re sitting there thinking, ‘Okay Megan, that’s great, but I don’t actually KNOW how to get those things right in camera,’ or every time I try the camera acts a fool, that’s exactly why I created Manual Mode for Moms, my online photography course just for moms! I teach moms how to confidently use their cameras so you can spend less time guessing, fixing things later, or just leaving the camera on the shelf because it feels overwhelming. I’ll put the course below, and there are also tons of free beginner tutorials on my channel as well. If you have any questions for me drop them in the comments, and good luck setting up your home base today!