“Put that camera down so memories can come back with the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and the feelings of those exact moments.”  - Justin DeMers (8:34 - 8:42)Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club  How to make memories last forever. Are you positive that you’ll remember everything special about today?  You’d like to think you would. After all, how could we ever forget the memories our kids constantly create as they grow up? The signature smirks? The trademark dance moves? Sadly, the reality is our memory is incredibly fallible.  No matter how long the day may feel the year will fly by. And we forget. This is why taking photos is so incredibly important. Our camera can be like a digital brain to capture those precious memories in strong and meaningful ways before they vanish! “Let’s not leave the remembering to our already overcrowded and frankly overworked brains. Let’s take a win with our cameras and allow it to help us remember all the details of our kiddos childhood.” - Justin DeMers (2:55 - 3:08) Before you repeatedly holler, “Say cheese!” slow down! Our main philosophy at Parent’s Photo Club is to be more intentional, proactive, and less reactive in photography.  It shouldn’t be a reflex to whip out our phone, snap some shots, and promptly shove it back in our jeans pocket. Here are three steps to ensure you’re pulling your camera out for the right reason. #1. Understand the What. Ask yourself what makes your kids awesome in this particular season of life. What makes them uniquely them? Is it their sense of humor? Their obsession with trains? Their need for a night light? Jot down whatever you notice that represents who they are as kids right now. This list can serve as a trigger to help us know when to take the camera out and to know what we most want to capture. #2. Move on to the Why. With a clear understanding of what you want to capture, dig into the why. Why do you want to capture this particular moment of your kids? What is the purpose? For us, the answer is that we want to capture who our kids are, not just what they look like. Hang further back with your camera to get a better perspective on how you can transcend portrait mode and make a memory come to life. #3. Great! Now Put the Camera DOWN. It sounds counterintuitive, we know. However, when you’re behind a camera lens you’re just looking and clicking a button. All you’ll remember is what your eyes see. Take some breaks and put your camera down. Pay attention to the surroundings. Engage with all the senses to lock in a stronger memory and stronger story with each photo you snap. “When you make sure to take those breaks and put your camera down, you’re more apt to bring those memories and senses to life later, when you do revisit these photos. ”  - Michelle DeMers (7:35 - 7:42) Choose to be present. Set a clear intention with a clear purpose before you pull out your camera. Otherwise, keep it tucked away. Play, explore, laugh an

EP7: Looooooong Days, Short Years

“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

EP6: Passing Memories Down to Your Kids

Don’t Let This Happen To Your Photos… PLEASE   “Plan. Write out your process. Be thankful that you can sleep at night knowing that the next person who loses their priceless family photos will not be you.” - Michelle DeMers (10:50 - 11:00)Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club  How to keep your photos safe and sound.   If you were to lose your phone, would you lose all your photos too?   It’s a question no father or mother should have to panic over. Yet there are countless cases where years of priceless family moments are lost forever simply because of the improper use or lack of photo backup.    We understand that accidents happen. But this is an entirely preventable situation. Make sure your photos are safe and sound regardless of whatever life throws at you!   “We have the most amazing cameras on us, all the time, 24/7. These little cell phones are absolutely incredible. We’re taking tons of photos. But at the end of the day, it’s easy to take a photo and trust that the magic that is the ‘cloud’ is happening in the background to make the photo safe. When in reality, it’s not.”  - Justin DeMers (3:45 - 4:04)   Living in the 21st century has some serious perks. Crystal clear imaging can be produced from a camera the size of a pea. Photos can not only be duplicated but quadrupled and quintupled. However, many individuals aren’t utilizing technology effectively.    For example, let’s pretend that your phone was just stolen.    Would you...   Be able to easily access all your stored photos without touching your phone?  Be able to access all your stored photos, while also ripping your hair out? Be unable to access any stored photos and cry yourself to sleep?    Hopefully, you answered A.    But if not, then here are three steps to ensure the safety of your photos even in the worst-case scenario.    Plan and Prepare. The truth is your phone could disappear at any moment of the day. It could be dropped in the toilet or stuffed behind the couch. You need to prepare yourself for anything and everything! Make sure your photos are being backed up - whether automatically or manually - every single day. Even 24 hours can make a difference.      Simplify the process. If you answered B, then take a step back. Is there any way you can simplify downloading photos from your phone? Perhaps a new software, application, or automation tool? Figure out the least complicated process and then write it out. Keep the steps visible for you and your partner to avoid further stress and panic in the worst-case scenario.     Be thankful this is all hypothetical. If you answered C, then take a deep breath. You have the opportunity (as your phone rests soundly in your hip pocket) to explore why you couldn’t access any of your stored photos. Identify any possible breaks in your photo safety chain. Is there an issue with your backup system? Do you not have enough storage space? As you answer these questions you will be emp

EP5: Don’t Let This Happen To Your Photos… PLEASE

“As parents, the meaning we derive from photos is radically different than the meaning that our children can derive from them.” - Justin DeMers (5:29 - 5:36)Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club Why you should print more photos of your children.   If your phone and computer are anything like ours, they are filled with snapshots of your kiddos. Laughing. Crying. Playing. Sleeping. Snuggling. Fighting with their brother. Building sandcastles, or forts, or playing tag. They are all there. Glowing on the screen.   In this digital age we’re living in, almost our entire lives are uploaded online, and the photos of our kiddos are no different. We take pictures of all the precious moments that we share with them, we post some on social media, and others remain on our online storage accounts. Digital photos can be accessed at any time, and they are convenient to share with friends and family.   In the midst of the convenience, are we missing out on some benefits of printed physical photos?   “Bring your photo memories to life in a physical form, whether they are photos for display, or in scrapbooks or collages.” - Michelle DeMers (9:04 - 9:12)  As your kiddo gets older, you can help foster healthy connection to your family even during those more independent moments. If you have printed photos of your family, your children can carry them around and feel connected to their family at all times. They can have a picture of their sibling when in school, or when feeling lonely at night as they’re falling asleep.   They can also use the photos to recreate special memories, like when they built a sand-castle at the beach with their sibling, or when they were cuddling with you on the couch. Having printed photos of such special moments can provide them with warmth and comfort that digital images can’t. And the best part is that with some of the printing apps offered by Amazon and other companies, printed photos are now incredibly affordable.   3 tips for printing photos of your children.   Print more photos - The more photos that you print, the better. Go through your phone, or your online storage platform, and pick out all the images that you think might be fun for your kids. You never know which photos they would connect with, or for what reason. You might assume that they’d be more interested in pictures of themselves, but in reality, they could be more interested in their sibling’s snaps. With the prints being as affordable as they are, you can always discard the ones they don’t connect with.   Get the kids involved - Include your kiddos in the process when you pick pictures to print. If they choose the photos, they’re more likely to want to use them. Maybe they want different pictures printed for various purposes. One that they can take to school with them, photos to display in their room, and others that they simply think are fun. You might be amazed at how deeply they connect with some of the photos of their family.  

EP4: Why You Should Always Print Your Photos

“Our kids are so much more than what they look like. They are their quirks, charm, and all of their messy imperfections.” - Michelle DeMers (0:45 - 0:52)Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club  Let your child’s real personality shine in photos. Our children are a lot more than what they look like. They are their quirks, their charm, and all of their messy imperfections. It’s how they interact with their siblings, the things they find hilarious, and how they can turn almost any little activity into the most fun thing in the world. We love to remember them by their adorable personalities, which is something that is difficult to capture with planned photographs. “When we’re capturing photos of our kiddos, it’s really about them just being them.” - Justin DeMers (7:02 - 7:07) Your kid’s true personality won’t come through when you ask them to put on a fake grin and pose for the camera. You need to let them be who they are, and let them play and have fun without a care in the world. It’s during those spontaneous moments that you’ll be able to capture their uniqueness. You can start by redefining how you think of a perfect photograph. In this article, we’ll take a look at three things you can do to make sure that the photos you take let your child’s real personality shine. Three Ways You Can Redefine the “Perfect” Photo of Your Kiddo Ditch the flat photos. When you ask your kids to stand a certain way, look in a specific direction, and smile unnaturally, you’ll end up with flat photos that fail to capture their personality. What you should do instead, is let your kids have the freedom to be who they are. Your role is merely to be ready with a camera in hand to capture them in action. You can even take a break from playing photographer and join in the fun with your kids. The point is not to prompt them and create forced expressions, but it is to have fun and be spontaneous. Let go of the milestone mentality. One big trap that many parents fall into is the milestone mentality. They only want to take pictures of the big moments like the first crawl, or first birthday. While those moments are indeed significant, there are countless moments full of life and joy in between each of these big days. It could be the mischievous look on their your child’s as they do something they know they shouldn’t, or maybe it's the sweet smile on their face when you tuck them into bed at night. You don’t need a reason to take pictures of your kids. Just have a camera ready at all times, because you never know when those special moments will strike. Keep it real… and messy. If your family consists of a couple of kids, busy parents, and maybe even a furry friend, it’s unlikely that your house is picture-perfect at all times. Maybe the beds are unmade, and the living room floor is covered in half-folded laundry. Some days your child may decide to smear your makeup, or a bright blue marker, all over their face. There’s also a r

EP3: Photos that Capture Your Kiddo’s True Personality

“Next time you pick up the camera, don’t just focus on the last shot. Document the entire process of your kids playing… Get creative. This is your chance to explore as a photographer.” - Michelle DeMurs (6:15 -6:36)   Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club  It’s not about the end result, it’s about the fun in the process. We’ve all had those rainy days, when the kids are stuck indoors as the puddles under the swingset overtake the backyard. And then in a moment, you have a fantastic idea to save the day. Out come the paintbrushes, the color tray, and the piles of construction paper. There is no better way to spend the day then creating new paintings to don the already covered fridge! As your kids get started on their next masterpiece, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to get started on yours. Grab your camera and start capturing the story of your kids as they are immersed in play. “When we capture photos through an entire process… we end up with a full story that has a beginning, middle, and end... We have the making of an art piece, not just the art piece itself” - Justin DeMers (2:19 - 2:50) For most children, activities like painting aren’t focused so much on the end result. They are looking to be creative and have fun with the process. That’s precisely how you should approach capturing the process with your camera. Don’t look for the perfect picture or a specific outcome. All those moments from the beginning to the end give you a chance to play with your camera and capture moments you otherwise might have forgotten. Have fun along with your kids as they play, and let the spontaneity of the moment guide you. Three Lessons to Learn from Spontaneous Photo Sessions An entire story - Since you’re capturing the full process, you’ll end up with a fun photo storyline that you can enjoy for years to come. In the painting example, you can take photos of your kids picking up the brush, mixing paints, experimenting with compositions, and more. You can also capture different expressions as they contemplate, get stuck, and have moments of creative breakthroughs. You'll find incredible little moments that tell a much bigger story than just a painting session. Whether your children are playing hide-and-seek, drawing their hundredth dinosaur, or playing tag with a friend, there are beautiful, candid moments to capture of their growing personality. Moments you can piece together to tell the story of these magical, childhood days you will look back with fondness. Authentic moments - Throughout the entire process, you’ll have many opportunities to capture entertaining and naturally authentic moments. As you’re just hanging out with a camera while your kids do their thing, they’ll soon forget that you’re even there. As they get lost in their activity, their performance mode will disappear, and they’ll give you plenty of candid moments that can be so much fun. You’ll get to capture their emotional ebbs and flo

EP2: When They Play, You Play!

“There are reasons why we miss moments. At the end of the day, just take a breath. The worst reaction you can have is to say, ‘Do it again.’... it becomes a forced act.” - Michelle & Justin DeMers (2:55-3:11)Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club  You want to capture the special moments when spending time with your family, whether it’s their first steps, their first time riding a bicycle, or any other milestone. Capturing the moment is one of the essential joys that come with being a parent. But sometimes we miss those moments. With photography, it’s hard to capture spontaneous moments no matter how ready you might be. As children grow older, they achieve new milestones that bring parents a sense of pride, wonder, and happiness. But it's frustrating when you miss a perfect photo opportunity. You miss capturing the look on your children’s faces when they overcome obstacles and develop the confidence that serves them later in life. “If you miss your children’s moments, ask them a prompt that doesn’t turn them into a performance or an act. Let them be who they are so you can capture that moment in an authentic way.” - Justin DeMers (7:50-8:02) If you’re using a photo app on your smartphone, slow loading times make it hard to capture your child’s special moments. You may also get other people in the background, ruining a perfectly good photo opportunity. So what’s a parent to do when you miss the moment? Although there are many reasons why we miss these moments, there’s really one thing that all parents should do: Take a deep breath. Capturing the Special Moments Knowing that other moments are just around the corner makes it easy for you to deal with the missed opportunities. But many parents tell their children to do something again for the sake of getting a photograph of the event. This only forces children to put on a performance. Spontaneous moments become forced, which can interrupt the flow of their imaginations.   Kids do things because they’re fun. They’re less concerned about taking the perfect photograph. So parents need to be careful not to force kids to do something again after they’ve missed a chance to photograph them. Doing it a second time around isn’t the same. As the parent, it’s your job to stay calm when you miss a milestone moment. Don’t tell your children you missed a moment and want to capture it. Instead, know that you’ll always have a chance to see them do it again. The best thing you can do is stay engaged with your children. Learn to be curious and ask questions that prompt your kids to continue their exploration. This gives them an opportunity to create new moments and gives you the chance to capture those moments when you’re ready. The right questions can get them to try something new on their own without feeling like they’re being forced. “Be curious, be engaged, and ask questions that are prompts for kids to explore and find the answers.” - Michelle DeMers

EP1: You Missed the Moment...and That’s Okay!

“The photos that we look back on that are our favorite, the ones that mean something to us, are not the posed, not the scheduled, not the formal ones... They are the ones that actually tell a story”    Justin DeMers (2:59)    Michelle & Justin DeMersParents Photo Club It’s time to start capturing the magic found in the everyday.   The phrase “family portrait session” probably conjures up all sorts of memories for you. It does for us too. The effort to grab the perfect photo where everyone is looking, Tommy doesn’t have bunny ears over his sister’s head, the baby stops crying, and the sun is glowing perfectly through the trees, can be enough to make everyone’s head spin. It’s too hot or too cold, and the wind keeps blowing everyone’s hair out of place. Even beyond all of the variables that tend to follow Murphy’s Law on photo day, the perfect family photo still tends to fall flat. Why is that, you may wonder.   “Memories captured are yours forever. So together let’s start capturing those memories and never lose another one to time.” - Michelle DeMers (6:20)   There is a time and a place for family portraits, and this can be a wonderful way to have a shot of everyone in one place at one time. But the most beautiful, engaging photos are those that capture the magic of your family in the everyday. The very best pictures are tied to the laughter and the tears. You know the ones. They trigger memories and draw in your other senses as you think back on that day. Twenty years from now, you will want to remember who your children were, not just what they looked like.   You don’t have to have a professional photographer on hand at all times to have photos of all of the special, everyday moments. Our goal for this podcast is to help equip you with the knowledge you need to be able to successfully capture your family and the moments that matter.   Each week will be full of tactical, implementable advice and inspiring stories from real-life families. We will take the time to break down technical concepts into every day, parent-friendly language. You don’t have to have a burning passion for photography to learn the skills needed to be confident with your camera. Finally, we’re going to discuss the human behavior of photography. Why is it important? How does our memory work? We’ll geek out a little bit to dive deeper into the psychology of photography.   Are you ready for a new way to capture, store, and display your families memories, minus the Insta-perfect pressure of social media?   Fellow parents, cameras in hand, the movement starts here.   And the movement is for you.  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 comm

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