When you bring a little bundle of joy into the world, you immediately have the desire to capture every moment you can to preserve it forever.  We all know that babies grow up so fast – it is important to cherish every given moment.  

If you have a child, I’m sure you can look back at the first few months of life an remember all kinds of details. And there are also just as many aspects that are gone forever – without a visual representation, you simply forget.

Posing a baby may seem like an easy thing to do. They are little and can’t do much, so how can it be that difficult? Yet the key isn’t in snapping a few images; its knowing what images are important.

With a baby, proportions matter most. A picture of your baby sleeping on a blanket, or cuddled up in dad’s arms is important. But don’t forget relationhips. Baby’s hand wrapped around mom’s finger. Baby’s hands next to dad’s hands. Baby’s feet in the palm of your hand.

And while you should be photographing all the time while your baby is young, don’t forget about relying on a professional as well. When you are looking for the perfect photographer to capture cherished memories of your baby, there are some important questions you should ask.  These questions can include:

1. How long have you been photographing newborns?
2. Have you ever attended baby-posing workshops?  If so, how many and for how long?
3. Can I see pictures of your past work?

You want to pick a photographer who has prior experience in taking pictures and posting newborn babies.  You do not want your baby to be the first one he has photographed for obvious reasons.  You do not know whether or not he will be successful in getting the best poses for your cherished moment photos.

It is also a huge plus if the photographer you choose has trained in the art of posing newborn babies for cute pictures.  These classes, workshops and educational sessions offer photographers a vast amount of knowledge when it comes to babies.  If a photographer chooses to specialize, it means they will be more prepared for all types of situations when dealing with your newborn.

Finally, any photographer with past experience in the field will be glad to show you a portfolio of his past work.  Be sure to pay special attention to the poses of the babies.  Do they look natural?  Do they look happy?  Alternatively, do they look uncomfortable and unhappy?  A past portfolio can tell you a lot about the quality of pictures you will get.

All parents want to capture and treasure every moment of their children being babies.  If you are looking for a photographer to help you capture these memories, follow the tips and advice provided above and you should have no trouble finding the perfect photographer and poses for your baby.

If you want a portrait at the beach, they can make any beach an inviting backdrop. If one situation doesn’t work, they can turn and shoot from a different direction, getting you picture perfect results every time.

That’s why it is so important to view an entire collection of images from a range of clients the photographer is using as examples. A gallery of 10 great images can simply be a photographer who is showing off his one great image in a thousand. But if you see consistency in everything you look at, with great images again and again, you can be more confident with your selection of a photography company.

Pros won’t stop when the image is created. They can also help you with display options. They make a commitment to be the best they can be. So they read trade publications and attend seminars to learn how to improve their craft. And they find a variety of great ideas that can help you turn your desire for a snapshot into a memory you’ll love and cherish forever.

7. Help them understand their place in your family. Toddlers are beginning to understand the natural order of things. They are learning trust and reliability, and how the family dynamics work within your home. Consider displaying a family portrait of your immediate family, and with your extended family, to teach your toddler about who is important in their lives.

Instead, now is the time to upgrade you camera equipment and purchase something that will give you great images and great memories for many years to come.

Many of the cameras today come equipped with both still and video capabilities. Which mean you can capture a variety of things with only one camera to worry about. While you might not want a whole lot of photographs of you, you’ll probably be photographing everything baby does. When dad holds her for the first time. When grandma and grandpa sneak in for a peak. When she has her first bath.

And with video, you can capture sights and sounds, getting the first “ooh’s and ahh’s” from every visitor.

There are many great point and shoots on the market. The brand doesn’t matter as much as the capabilities. Some love Canon, some love Nikon. And of course there are several other brands that can do the job just as well. While many manufacturers use megapixels as a selling tool, in today’s world its almost a moot point. Most cameras today are at 10 megapixels or more, all which will give you excellent quality in the print size you are most likely to create. Instead, focus in on lens focal length.

Marketing materials will state lens information like this: 3x optical zoom, 24-72mm focal length. Look to the focal length to guide your purchase, not the x optical zoom. You may end up comparing two cameras, both with 3x optical zoom. Yet one may offer you a 24-72mm focal length, while the other may be a 36-108mm. The first would be better suited for shooting in tight spaces, the latter will have a longer telephoto reach. Choose the one best for your situation and what you are looking for in a camera.

If you are ready for more options, now may be the time to invest in a DSLR. A DSLR will give you the opportunity to buy a stand alone body and many different lenses, giving you a variety of options in the coming years. For an entry level DSLR, you can’t go wrong with the Canon Rebel line. Then start with standard lenses and grow from there. A great first choice can be a prime lens, such as a 50mm f/1.8, with a fixed focus length (fixed meaning it doesn’t have zoom capabilities). A second choice would be a 28-105mm f3.5-4.5 zoom. This should give you everything you’ll need for those first memorable shots at the hospital and as you are bringing baby home for the first time.

From there, its all up to you. Have fun and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Discover entertainment standards - If your child loves video games, be sure to find out what games are acceptable for your child’s play date before they get there.  You don’t want to offend another child’s parents by allowing their child to play a game they do not approve of. Also make sure they are playing games where both children can play. Too many games these days are set up for 1 player, leaving the other bored.

Plan a varied menu - You might feel obligated to serve carrot and celery sticks at snack time to keep the other parents happy.  While this is an excellent snack, if the kids won’t eat it, it won’t do any good.  Talk with the other parents to determine any dietary or allergy problems. Then mix it up. Try popcorn, veges, fruits – and occasionally cookies and milk.

Know the family setting beforehand - Families take many different shapes these days.  Some children come from split families, while others come from families with step parents.  To avoid embarrassment, and to keep your child from saying anything that might offend, learn a bit about the child’s family life before the play date.

Keep close - While your child may be old enough to stay home alone for brief periods of time, now is not the time to be running errands and leaving them home.  Either take the kids with you, or wait to go out.  You would hate to have something go wrong without you there.

Each child is different and they will potty train on their own schedule – not yours. Don't worry if your child seems to be taking her time while your sister's child is already in underwear.

Keeping the process exciting will help encourage your child to train. Instead of making it seem like a chore – "Ugh, guess we better take you to the bathroom" – make it an adventure. "Yay! You finished all of your juice. In a few minutes we will go to the potty, just like a big girl!"

It might sound easy, but it's not. Make sure your child is ready for the process. This includes being able to work her own clothing. If your little one struggles with her clothing, she may need a little more time to prepare.

It is harder for your little one to hold "number 1" than "number 2". In simple terms, the muscles around the bladder are more impatient than the ones around the bowel.

Girls usually train faster than boys – so don't be discouraged when your little man doesn't catch on right away. It's just the way nature tends to work.

Expect your little one to train in this order (usually, but not always) – bowel control at night, bowel control in the day, bladder control in the day, and bladder control in the night.

Never let anyone tell you that your child needs to be trained. You are the parent; you know when your toddler is ready. This doesn't mean to wait until they are in middle school to start the process – just avoid pushing and pressuring your child.

Stay close to home the first few weeks of training. Nothing can be more comforting than being able to run in to a familiar place and knowing right where everything is. Venture out for small trips as your child seems ready.

Start preparing early. You can never be "too ready" for your new addition – and your little ones need to be ready, too. Start prepping them for the baby's arrival as soon into the pregnancy as possible. Answer their questions and concerns. Consider signing them up for a sibling birth class. This will give them a chance to learn about babies, taking care of babies, and discuss their feelings in a neutral setting.

Keep things as normal as possible at home.  As the big day draws near, try to keep the routines in line at home. Your child needs the routine – he needs to know that his life is not going to be completely uprooted because of the new baby. Let your child help make plans for when you are in the hospital. For instance, does he want to stay with Grandma or his best friend? Make your child a part of the process so he will feel included and loved.

Do not try to force interaction. Once baby comes home, give your child a chance to adjust. Let him help when he wants to help – encourage it. However, if your child keeps his distance from baby at first, do not try to force a bond. It will happen over time.

Talk. Your child is going to have thoughts and feelings about the new baby. Talk about them. Make sure he knows that, no matter what he says, you will always love him. He needs some reassurance right now, so do your part to make sure he knows he is loved and important.

Spend time alone. Instead of spending your days interacting with your child while baby is in your arms, carve out time when you can play one on one. Your child needs to feel like they are important too. Depending on the age, they won’t have reasoning skills to understand their new place in the family. Work them into it slowly, while you keep reassuring them your love will always be there.

High resolution images offer more details

When you shoot with your phone or camera, the resulting file is what we call a high resolution image. Many people simply take these images and load them up to Facebook to share. Yet anytime you post a high resolution image, the viewer can zoom in to look at the image in more detail – sometimes in extreme detail. In order to keep your privacy and keep people from learning too much about you, re-save your images in a low resolution format, usually 800 pixels or less on its longest side.

When you release an image, the world has access

Any photograph you share can be downloaded, stolen, shared or sold. If someone has access to it, they can use it. Only publish images you would be happy to share with family, friends, and complete strangers. If you would be embarrased to see it on a billboard, leave it off Facebook.

Think “delete” actually deletes your image? Think again

Once a photo exists online, assume it is there permanently. Forever. Even if you take it off your account, it can still exist in a vareity of formats through online tools. Which means even if it isn’t there today, it may come back to the surface at some point in the future. The only way to protect yourself is to think smart as you upload your images. Only post images you’ll be happy to look at again and again, decades into the future.

A daughters first love