How To Choose the Perfect Camera for Mum To Capture Family Moments This Mother’s Day

As parents, we all long to take nice family photos but sometimes our cameras and photography skills simply aren’t up to scratch. It’s true what they say - that the days are long, but the years are short. Before it’s all over in a flash, it’s important to fill up the picture frames, photo books and Facebook feed with your precious family moments.

Holly Brunnbauer, from Motherhood Melbourne is a Mum of two boys. She’d love to share her camera selection with you and help you find the perfect camera. Plus, Holly has some extra tips on how to take great photos of your kids.

If the mother in your life is always reaching for her camera or smartphone trying to capture life's precious moments but is often frustrated by the results, read on to discover the perfect camera and tips to capture great family moments this mother's day.

I personally use the Sony Alpha Range of mirrorless cameras. There are a few reasons that these cameras are perfect for me. Firstly, they are compact and light. As a Mum of two young boys, this makes it easy to pack for family outings. My camera doesn't weigh me down when I’m carrying the baby and nappy bag.

Another nifty feature of my camera is that it has built in Wi-Fi. This means I can instantly share images from my camera to my phone. It saves so much time. But the real winning feature for me is the ‘Fast Burst shooting’. What does that mean? Well, when you hold down the shutter button, you can capture several photographs in quick succession. This is really handy if you’re shooting wildlife but for me it’s perfect for my boys that give the Flash a run for his money.

Image credit: Jess Worrall Photography

1. Let them play

If you wait for kids to sit or stand perfectly still, you’ll probably never get a photo of them. Photograph your kids playing as it’ll make the photo more natural. If you’re going with more of a formal style photo, then a favourite toy will do the trick. If you abruptly stop your kids from playing or yank a toy away for a “quick” photo, there will be tears and tantrums. 

2. Get down to their level

Kneel down or sit on the floor to take their photo. Firstly, they’ll be curious about what you’re doing and also more receptive to instructions. Plus, the photo itself will look better taken at eye-level than if you’re standing up and pointing down.

Image credit: Jess Worrall Photography

3. Get it done quickly

Taking photos can be quite boring for kids. They are much more interested in their surroundings. There’s a very small window where kids will be able to follow instructions and give the obligatory smile. Try to get it done quickly, before they get over it and start pulling funny faces…even when you’ve told them not to.

Compacts, mirrorless, DSLR – oh my! There’s a lot of cameras out there and nobody has time for hours for reviews and research. So camera newbies, it’s time to meet a camera specialist - such as a Ted's Cameras expert.

If you’re visiting in-store, this is when you’ll want to whip out your Pinterest board to show them the type of photos you want to take. Let them know if you’ll be taking photos of fast-moving objects (like a rogue toddler). The more info, the better.

If you need to get this done remotely, visit Ted's website and click on ‘Ask an Expert!’ or hit up the handy articles, such as The Best Digital Cameras.

Want some advice right now? Mirrorless cameras are the best bet to capture top-tier imagery without a steep learning curve. The images far exceed the quality that a smartphone can produce but they are just as user-friendly. If you are giving mum one for mother's day, she will be off firing great shots in a matter of moments.

Here are some great mirrorless cameras that I think will make perfect mother's day gifts in 2025:

Now that mum has her new camera she will be keen to get those happy snaps. Here’s 3 simple steps to help mum find her photography A-game.

1. Understand her photography style

You know when mum's scrolling through Instagram and there’s a particular photography aesthetic she's attracted to? Tell her to screenshot it. Or open up Pinterest (like she needed an excuse anyways) and create a board of the photography style that she adores. Why? Because understanding the photography style she likes will help her when selecting the right camera gear and researching relevant articles.

Wanting shots of your fam at sunrise, running in a field of daisies is a lot different to squishing on the couch and saying “cheeeese”. Understanding your style and the type of moments you’d like to use your camera for will help you take the next steps in your photography.

Image credit: Jess Worrall Photography

2. Practice makes perfect

Encourage mum to get out there with her camera and get clicking. If her main objective is to capture family moments, she can start right now. It can be hard to round up the troops, so mum can start snapping the fam in their natural habitat. Who knows what potential 21st-birthday pictures she can snap up at at this very moment.

The more mum plays with her camera, the more she’ll feel at ease with it. Then next time she goes on a family holiday, celebrates a birthday or just wants social proof that she sometimes washes her hair, she’ll feel confident to capture the moment.

3. Be Confident and Share Her Results

There's no doubt in our mind that if mum spends more time with her camera and follows our simple tips, she will get the results she is after and have a large collection of great family photos to treasure. Now it's time to show the world what she is made of!

Encourage mum to choose her favourite happy snap, upload it to Instagram or Facebook and tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @teds_cameras. Use the hashtag #FeatureMeTeds will get her photo re-shared. We are always keen to see how mum and her new camera is tracking.

If this article has inspired you to spruce up your photography skills and buy a new camera, I’d love to know. Take a happy snap, upload it to Instagram or Facebook and tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @teds_cameras. Use the hashtag #FeatureMeTeds to get your photo re-shared.