A great souvenir photo is to document the hours your child spends each week engaged in a favorite activity. Create a photo scrapbook of the many aspects of the hobby.

*  Shoot candid portraits of the child

*  Extreme close-ups can highlight the specific skills required.

*  Take still lifes of the related object to the hobby. For example, for a music instrument, include keyboard and the sheet music.

Capture the fascination your child has toward a special token or an animal with a photo. To get this moment of absorption and awe that characterizes the constant learning of childhood, you should go with these tips:

• Don’t ask them to say cheese.
• Try a profile shot.
• Show interaction with the subject of interest.

Nothing is better than a spur of a moment photo type! It is often at that time that the subject looks at its best.

Don’t forget to crop out unrelated elements and to be patient!

Patterned clothes can make great photos! Stripes, polka dots and checks bring energy. Train your eye to spot graphic patterns in clothing and props. When using patterns, don’t overload the image. Here are a few tips for a successful patterned photo:

• Let the main accents pick up the color of the pattern.
• Use a single color to unify different designs.
• Set off bold props with solid backgrounds.
• Fill the frame. Patterned outfits have all the excitement you need!

Wear yellow and you will bring sunshine in your surrounding! This is why it is the official color for kid’s raincoat, school buses, smiley-face stickers, taxis and some street signs. Yellow is a jumping color. When you have this color in your photo, here are a few tips to help you have a successful photo:

• Photograph yellow against a plain, dark background.
• Emphasize contrast by limiting the number of colors in your picture. Yellow should be the dominant color.

If we say the color red, what comes to your mind? A for apple, B for the tiny berry on a lonely branch or even M for your favorite red M&Ms! Capture the bright red color to catch the difference between an ordinary photo and the one that holds your attention, providing a bright focal point without overwhelming the picture.

A list of things that can be red are: cherries, tomatoes, watermelon, roses, autumn leaves, hats, gloves, casual shoes, stop signs, fire hydrants, toy wagons and much more!

We believe the most wonderful natural photo props are flowers. Plan a visit to a local botanical garden or public garden for a stroll and a photo session. The photo can be classic such as holding a bouquet, casual as a child bending over to smell the flowers, unconventional as taking a photo of your child wearing a flower in her hair or pinned to a hat, or ceremonial when a child is being asked to be the flower girl in a wedding.

Being young and full of talent, does it ring a bell? This is what is basically Ariane with her blog, Focus Exquis. Her two passions are writing and taking photos. Her blog is divided in two, one is mostly for blog text entry and the other one is for photos. At Notes and Photos, we have enjoyed both of her blog versions. Pay her blog a visit and you will be amazed by her blogging talent.

People always photograph babies in their crib but why not taking snapshots of your older kids with a sleeping setting? Lots of children cherish their bed as their own special territory.

• Get in close and fill the frame with decorative sheet patterns.
• To catch a pillow fight in action, pre-focus and use fast film.

Fluo colors, chlorinated water, and warm sunny day. Pool gear pops! Everything is in place for a sizzling photo opportunity!

• Be sure to protect your camera from the water.
• Strong midday sun can wash out subtle shades but make strong colors come out more easily.
• Early morning or late afternoon sun deepen the blue color of the pool.