What’s the best camera for parents & moms to be you ask? The answer depends on what you’re trying to achieve in your pictures. “Mamatographer” is a title we all posses these days. Whether we’re taking snapshots with our smart phones or starting a baby and children’s centered photography business, we’re ALL using cameras and photography in some capacity.

There is truly no wrong or right way to take pictures, but YES, one camera or smart phone can be better then another and offer different features and picture quality.

There’s no shame in the game of our pocket technology! iPhone’s and Instagrams can produce crisp, fun images, especially when the lighting is right. But, I can give you a couple reasons why it’s a good idea to invest in a ‘real’ (not too expensive) camera, specifically a DSLR or Digital Single Lens Reflex.

Modern DSLR cameras produce superior quality photos than our smartphones, which is why you don’t see many professionals working exclusively on Blackberries ;).

A good camera for untrained mom photographers is the Nikon D7100 or the Canon Rebel T5i as seen in the Mamatography Discount Store.

2. Speed

Many of the best (and most important) shots of children occur in the blink of an eye: baby’s first step, first bite of birthday cake, funny baby faces, toddlers momentarily sitting still.  Good luck catching these with the iPhone!

Unlike the iPhone, a DSLR snaps quick pics without a delay. I’m sure you’ve experienced this with a “point and shoot” or your smartphone’s camera. They also boast of a high “Mega Pixel” count and have sensors that are specifically tailored to produce high quality images under low light settings. Smartphone cameras struggle when used in low light and if you’ve ever used their flash, you know what an unpleasing effect it can produce.

Want a little tip? Something fun you can do with your iPhone is choose your focus and exposure points. Just tap on the area of the pic you want to be sharp and brightest (usually a face for a portrait) & voila! You just added a custom touch to your snapshot.

If you decide to TAKE THE LEAP and invest in a DSLR camera, don’t feel overwhelmed. There is an ocean of ways to learn the most basic of photography techniques, first starting with your camera’s settings.

Happy Snapping!