Wentworth Castle Gardens in 35mm

Telling stories in beautiful wide angle

Wider lens' can be a bit daunting simply because they let a lot more in. When you've only got a face to focus on, the choice of what to say is made for you, but a 35mm is not so selective and so you must be. A bit trickier, but the results are bursting with character and emotion.

We went to Wentworth Castle Gardens on the Easter Bank Holiday with two good pals, and their boys (Asher, my 14 month old's son's besties). With three almost-toddlers in in play you don't want to miss a single interaction.

We wandered around, and settled on a little patch of grass and from that point the photos just took themselves.

I love capturing their little emotions in action - the smiles, the shock, the intense shark-eyed stares.

I recommend when trying to take photos of your little one just letting the play happen and moving yourself around them to catch all angles and increase the chance of getting a gold moment. Get yourself down to their level, so you can see their full little faces and get the cuteness of how they sit, cruise or stand at maximum.

The candid "live moments" are the best memories

Getting them smiling is good, but getting them earnest is better.

Babies' lack of self-awareness and sense of embarrassment has got to be one of their best (and sometimes most stressful) traits. If you quietly wait in the wings, you can really catch the magic of their little quirky interactions and variety of expressions.

I have found that my toddler's phases have absolutely flown by (the days are long, but the months are short). These little candid shots of very particular faces and gestures zoom me back in time to baby's of the past that I had entirely forgotten.

The power of black and white

Black and white is often seen as a bit of an instagram gimmick - make an average photo look profesh etc etc. This, to be fair, has some truth to it. If the lighting is irredeemable - get it in monochrome.

However, black and white also draws your attention to light and shadow. Babies have big round smooth faces and huge dark eyes, they're often crouching down or hiding underneath things, surrounded by arms, pram frames, high chairs, toys. Black and white highlights the cuteness, and makes the surrounding fabrics and textures look almost painting like.

Once you've taken your shot, amp up the contrast, add vignette (darkened edges) if you can, and let your little one shine.

The mum kiss shot

These shots are just too much. They sing of intimacy and love and it's so unpredictable what your baby will be doing - pointing, laughing, looking lovingly at you, but whatever it is it's completely adorable and captures the mama-baba relationship so well. Problem is - they are hard to get yourself because it's no joke to try snuggle a toddler one-armed while taking a self at the same time.

So - train up your partner to do it!

Get them to zoom x2 on your iphone, or portrait mode. Step back so you fill as much of the frame as the image below with the top of your head about a quarter of the way down and then get them to take loads while you just snuggle with and kiss your baba. They can call out and get them to look if you like. Make sure they are holding the phone vertically, not tilted. Then choose your favourites - or even better, put them together for a little montage to really capture the magic.