Photographing kids is a real adventure. They are very fast, mostly bouncy, often busy and sometimes grumpy. As parents, you want to capture every moment in your sunshine's life but it's not always that easy. Follow our 10 tips, and you are going to take amazing pictures of your little ones in no time.
1. Get a little closer. Especially during vacations, we tend to put our kids in front of some beautiful landscape or monument and reach the exact opposite of our goal - we get a posed scene with a kid smiling as cheesy as a gameshow host. When taking pictures of your kids, make them the star. Go for close-ups and make sure to focus the camera on your child's face or better still, on their eyes. This is where the emotion is shown. This is what makes your photo special.
2. Nobody is perfect. When taking a picture of our kids, we mostly have a perfect smiley portrait in mind - but the real perfection comes with the kid itself! Don't only go for posed portraits in fine clothes, capture all those everyday moments that make life with your little one so special. 
3. Look for different angles. Photographing your little ones from an adult's perspective can make them look even smaller. Get down on your knees to be on their level. This way, you will see the world from their perspective and you and your camera will be less frightening or overwhelming. Your photos will also look much better than the ones from above as they don't skew proportions. Also, move around with them and get a great choice of pictures by taking them not only straight on, but also from behind or from the side.
4. Use the right light. Try to avoid harsh lighting. Especially if you are using a digital camera, you want to avoid direct flash or backlight as it produces deep shadows and unnatural shades of skincolor. The best time to take pictures is during the golden hour, when the sun sets and dips everything into warm light. Overcast days are also good as the natural light is soft and doesn't cast dark shadows.
5. Follow their lead. You will rarely get a good photo if you place the child where you want them and ask them to smile. Let them run around or do somersaults if they like and catch some photographs of your kids in action. Set your camera to its fastest shutter speed to freeze high speed movements and create some spectacular images.
6. Make it fun. If you want to get a great portrait photo of your child or just capture a special moment, then you have to really engage your kids. Make it worth their while and don't forget that this is supposed to be fun, not duty. Don't be afraid to make funny faces, sing silly songs or jump around. If you want them to look into the camera, try wearing funny reindeer antlers or put a sticker on your camera. It is more likely to get a natural and happy expression when they are actually having fun!
7. Go for authenticity. Ban the word "cheese" from your vocabulary, at least during photo sessions. Children tend to put on their picture face when they are aware of the situation and this makes the picture look very stiff and posed. Give them something to focus on and then be a little sneaky, take pictures without them noticing it so much. Ask your kids to gather flowers or to play in the fallen leaves. They have a wonderful array of frowns, grimaces, grins, innocent looks and funny faces that really show their personality. To get an authentic expression or pose from your child, you could also ask them to think about something like: What does the world look like when your upside down? What are clouds made of?
8. Have patience. You might get a whole lot of nothing for a while when photographing your kids although the light is perfect and the situation great. Some kids are a little shy in the beginning, so don't be frustrated, just focus on making them feel at home. Play and interact with them and eventually, they will come around. Don't put the camera down. Every moment with kids is an opportunity for a great shot. Keep watching, keep shooting, keep having fun.
9. Know when to stop. If your child isn't enjoying the shoot and gets grumpy or upset, it's time to put the camera away. Don't force it. We don't always want our picture taken either and might sometimes feel a little shy, so respect your child's wishes and try again another time.
10. Pimp your pictures. Even if you tried to take a photo with the right lighting, some colors might not look as fascinating as they really were. If your child's expression is still great, don't waste that picture - cheat a little. Use photo editing software to smoothen harsh contrasts and revive colors. There are tons of free downloads available so nothing stands in the way of your perfect picture.