Out of Auto: 5 Things We Wish We Knew When We Started Taking Photos of Our Kids
When we first got “real” cameras, we had one goal: to take better pictures of our kids. But like so many parents, we stuck it on Auto mode and hoped for the best. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes… not so much.
The blurry faces, dark rooms, washed-out colors—we’ve been there. And in those early days, we didn’t know how much control we actually could have.
If that’s you right now—frustrated, stuck, wondering if you’re even cut out for this—keep reading. Here are five things we wish someone had told us when we started taking photos of our kids:
1. Auto Mode is a Starting Point—Not a Final Destination
Auto mode can get decent shots in perfect lighting… but it can also miss the magic. The truth? You’re smarter than Auto mode. Once you start learning how to adjust things like light and focus yourself, your photos will reflect what you see, not what your camera guesses.
2. Light Is Everything
Before you worry about settings, pay attention to light. Soft window light in the morning or evening? Gold. Midday overhead sun? Tricky. The more you look for good light, the better your photos will be—no matter what camera you use.
3. Blurry Photos Aren’t Always Your Fault
We used to blame ourselves for “missing the shot.” Turns out, it was our settings. Learning about shutter speed helped us freeze motion instead of capturing a blur. The day we discovered that secret was a total game-changer.
4. You Don’t Need Fancy Gear—You Need Familiarity
You don’t need a $3,000 lens to take beautiful photos of your kids. You need to know your camera. The more familiar you get with its buttons, dials, and quirks, the faster you can catch those fleeting moments before they’re gone.
5. It’s Okay to Mess Up (That’s How You Learn)
We’ve taken hundreds of “bad” photos. You will too. But every missed shot taught us something. Over time, those blurry, overexposed, too-dark images became clear, beautiful memories we’re proud to print and hang.
We took this picture in 2011 of our 3-year-old daughter. Notice how she is not perfectly focused. This happened because she was moving too fast for our shutter speed setting. But we still love this image!
Here’s the Good News…
You don’t have to figure this out alone. That’s why we created Our Six Arrows Photography—to help parents like you go from frustrated to confident behind the camera. We believe you can learn this. You can get out of Auto and take the kind of photos your future self will thank you for. We’re here to walk with you every step of the way.
—Jeff & Christy