Now that the days are a little longer and warmer, families can squeeze in more family fun time during the weekdays.  As a photographer, this means an opportunity for me to catch my husband and son during that magical time of day…sunset.

Just steps from the edge of my backyard is an amazing dog park…which is also a wonderful place for a toddler to roam safely.  It was one of those moments that made me so happy that I am a photo taking lunatic and brought my camera along on our evening stroll.   In fact, I would recommend this to anybody, no matter their skill level…esp if you are a parent…bring your camera with you whenever possible.  Please don’t wait for special occasions or for your children to be perfectly dressed in order to get that great shot.  Take your camera with you during seemingly mundane trips.  You never know what you are going to stumble upon or if your child will be in a particularly agreeable mood.  Plus, even a mundane trip can be filled with wonder and discovery for a little one.  Try to capture them in the moment…these are the things that you will miss when they are older.  Also, you never know when a moment will become a very special memory.

This trip to the dog park was our first as a family and it will always be a wonderful memory for me…if only I had one of my photographer friends with me so I could get in some of the shots.

Have a favorite place that your family likes to spend time together?  I’d love to photograph some of those special family memories.

Cheers!

Claire