by Michael Carroll

Created on: August 29, 2011   Last Updated: August 30, 2011

Imagine, a hot summer’s day, the kids and the dog are fooling around with the hose in the back yard, cooling down and having a great time. Hey, what a wonderful photo opportunity, something for the album, right? Assemble the camera, chose the right lens, think about shutter speeds and apertures, and then ask the gang to "hold it for the camera." 

It doesn’t work does it? It isn’t spontaneous. The kids look bored. The dog doesn’t understand. The sun has long since disappeared over the horizon and when you ask them to smile for the camera that is exactly what they do, smile; dutifully perhaps, and almost certainly artificially. The sheer joy and exuberance of the moment has melted away as surely as ice cream left in the sun. 

Lasting memories with soul and meaning are a lot easier to capture than pin sharp, pro quality pictures. Those cute spur of the moment occurrences that happen to all kids and pets can be captured as quickly as a happy child can smile. Caught as they happen with no studied poses (or sullen pouts), anyone can photograph those magical moments to cherish through the years; and the good news is that with a reasonably inexpensive digital camera, it is a breeze. 

In fact, those cumbersome SLR monsters, with a confusing range of interchangeable lenses, are actually detrimental to capturing great candid shots. Fine for professionals and keen hobbyists, people who know what they are doing and how to achieve the effects they are after. Not so hot for the quick snap. Your kids and pets are going into your album. Hot shot photographers can call their work art and submit it to exhibitions. 

A family album is full of intimate memories. Does it matter if someone’s head was cut off, or if the picture is slightly blurred? The image is just an aide memoire. It helps to recollect the day, to freeze a moment of time, to act as a reminder of happy times. Family members fill in the gaps with words. Have you ever been shown someone’s personal photos without a running commentary? 

The differences between professional single lens reflex bodies and lenses and compact cameras are rapidly disappearing. Most people have access to a relatively efficient compact in their cell phones, and everyone has seen dramatic news footage caught by amateurs on their phones. If it is good enough for major news service archives it is certainly good enough for the family album.  

Kids are so used to seeing adults

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