Creative Ways to Get in the Picture with Your Kids

Photos capture more than just smiles—they preserve memories, emotions, and little moments that tell your family’s unique story. But if you’re tired of being the invisible photographer behind the lens, here are some creative ideas to make sure you’re not just in the background, but an integral part of every picture.

⭐️Use your watch trigger or get a remote for your phones camera app.  This alone will help the pictures not feel like a basic selfie.

⭐️Try moving the phone around.  You can experiment with different camera angles to naturally include yourself in the frame.

Go over the shoulder and  let the camera see your perspective as you watch your kids play.  Get a bird’s eye view of your child sitting in your lap. Put the phone on the floor under a glass table and play a board game.  Try a side view angle.  When you stand  beside them or lean in, you’ll create a dynamic composition where you’re a part of the scene.

⭐️I love using creative reflections, and not in mirror selfie way.  Look for yourself in their sunglasses, or let your child take a picture of their own reflection in yours.  Puddles, the waves going back to the ocean, or the pond where you are feeding the ducks will give you amazing mirror like canvases to take non boring selfies.  Do you cook together?  Can you set up the camera to photograph the toaster, tin foil, even a glass with the light shining the right way.   Notice your silhouette as you play in the park or during a sunset stroll. It’s a delicate, artistic way to show you’re there without dominating the picture.  It’s so fun to add an artistic twist while showing your presence in an unexpected way.

⭐️Another favorite that I call “The Essence” is great for moms who are camera shy.  All you have to do is get little bits of yourself in the frame.  Let your child walk ahead of you holding your hand.  Set up the camera at their eye level and dance with them or have them hug your legs. Hold the camera at your eye level and snap the pic as you go in for the kiss and your hair falls on theirs.  

⭐️You don’t have to be the focus to show you are there.  Have your child at a different depth from the camera than you.  Then they can be the focus of the picture but you are still there.  I use this one a lot for children who are in the separation anxiety stage.

None of these have to be perfect to be perfection.  Just documenting you are there will speak volumes about your presence in their childhood.

Including yourself in family photos isn’t about being perfect—it’s about capturing the spirit of togetherness in creative and fun ways. Whether you’re experimenting with angles, finding all the mirrored surfaces, or simply letting your hand speak for your presence, these creative ideas ensure that your role in the family is celebrated and remembered. So next time you’re snapping photos with your kids, think outside the box and let your creativity be as present as your love for them.