Start taking BETTER PHOTOS OF YOUR KIDS NOW!

[@nathanjimenez1562]

Being able to photograph the mundane and still make it interesting is a mark of a great photographer.

[@Michael_Robinson]

OMG, your description of Grandma telling kids to look at the camera when you're trying to capture a cute, candid moment. I can relate. I hate that!!

[@Paul_Rohde]

Arrrghh!!

[@ogonzilla]

haha...every time.

[@tomzooner]

Funny how it is international "problem". Cheers from Czech republic

[@woprdroid]

We need more of this. Thanks Omar!

[@bastian.michel]

Man, these tips are pure gold! My favorite: your child doesn’t have to look at the camera. I’ve always wondered about photography KZbinrs-they cover almost every topic under the sun. But one of the most shooting scenarios, family photography, gets almost no attention. That’s why I was especially happy to see you addressing it. Great job

[@jackjericho]

Love the tips, nothing I love more than capturing natural, candid shots of them in “their moments”. One thing I’d add, which I have to keep working at myself: don’t forget to be present in their moments too. Sometimes I feel like I’m behind the camera too much and am more of a bystander than a family member. Don’t want to look back years from now and wish I’d been more present.

[@ogonzilla]

Good point...sometimes I force myself to drop the camera.

[@stephencifka4629]

What a wonderful reminder to document our children (and grandchildren) by looking for moments, rather than having them posing for a moment. Great stuff, thank you!!

[@ogonzilla]

Makes me feel good that you enjoyed it!

[@stefanbadass5357]

You are the Real Thing Omar. God Job and God Bless

[@StayFun85]

This is what photography is all about. Capturing moments that go by SO freaking fast. Thank you Omar.

[@sam.kirwan]

Omar, I’ve been watching your videos for a few years now, and the quality of your content is just so consistently engaging and entertaining. You are educational and inspirational, and I really enjoy watching your videos, thank you for everything! I have a 10-month-old now and I am just so excited to capture all of her ‘mundane moments’ as she grows up. Also in terms of the sharing and trust, our approach to date has been to keep them off social media, but also to not share 100% of the photos with friends/family. Some (many!) of the shots are just for us.

[@mje1625]

Omar, you have an uncanny ability to create a video JUST when I need it! I look forward to the "settings" video!

[@JECiappetta]

Love the message and reminder to document life naturally! Also very timely for me as I just had my first little guy this past year 😊

[@coryirvin6651]

Always appreciate the family documenting content you post. This is great. The last point about not embarrassing them is super important and something I've been thinking of as well. Having the family album for everyone to see instead of just family would be the last thing i'd want as a kid.

[@SriRamMallik]

These pictures are pure gold ❤ love the tips and love the pictures even more.. thank you for another spectacular video as always, Omar😊

[@Pysees868]

This is great advice. And great pics of your beautiful kids.

[@cider999]

So many great advices. And as always, You are so entertaining to watch Omar 😁 Cheers from Poland!

[@christopherbgriffith]

💯 to all of this - especially the sharing on social media part. I don’t post any pictures of my kids online anymore as I want them to own their identity when they’re on those platforms some day. My kids are about the same age as yours, Omar (my daughter turns 18 in a week 😮), and my favorite shots are the ones where I can manage to be a fly on the wall. What I’ve found is that sometimes in a group setting this may mean whatever activity we’re doing takes a back seat for me and I’m a bit less present in the moment but it allows me to capture that memory. Something else my kids started to do when I’d have the camera out is to pull a goofy face. Other adults might admonish them for this, but I always say I’d rather capture them genuinely being silly than stilted and fake. What I found is after I let them get it out of their system, they either give me a smile or go back to what they’re doing and allow me to document it.

[@ogonzilla]

that's great!

[@williamcarter6374]

Packed full of fantastic tips! Thank you for sharing!

[@kilometerfresser2220]

So true Omar, time passes so quickly and doesn't come back…

[@uddinrabi]

Thanks for the great content. I’ve been learning a lot from you. Appreciate you man. Peace!

[@NTXMarcusS]

I love this, and I didn't do nearly enough of it while my son was growing up! I have been looking for a project for 2025. I have considered trying to shoot a roll of film each week, and I think I can incorporate this concept, just capturing our daily lives, into the project. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@buckturgidson9666]

Cannot agree more to all the points. I really liked you mentioned privacy and trust. I find it easy to just ask my kids once they are around 6 years old if i should share this picture with grandma or grandpa. If they don't want that, I won't do it.

[@jabumabaya]

Thanks for sharing this, reminded me of why I started taking photos in the first place, to capture memories and relive moments.

[@van-gabondramblinrose6398]

I think this is my thing. Capturing people in candid moments. I've never been into the 'happy snaps' type and always look for something genuine, in the moment, emotional (for the viewer) and sometimes poignant. My Granddaughter has a way of looking right into the lens with the most enigmatic look on her face, so I love to capture her in this way. These are the shots I'm most proud of and that I look at again and again. Good advice Omar, thank you.

[@pepper6253]

These are the best tips thank you Omar . Grandma here, I never ever do the kids " here and smile" hated that when I was growing up in Bklyn had an Aunt she was that person. Love doing books with my family photos we have even done a few re-dos of earlier photos taken at the same spot years later with my sons and their kids it's a fun little get together and share the moments journey . Happy Blessed New Year Omar and family filled with love , laughter capturing more moments It does goes by so quickly.🙏🏼❤💫📷

[@dhlininger3159]

How serendipitous, I just went down the rabbit hole looking at my son from infant to adult yesterday. I’m about 50/50 looking at camera and those great moments when they’re just being kids. You may ask why because I am finally going to make a book. Thanks for all you do on one of my favorite channels. All the best in the New Year.

[@ogonzilla]

It's never too late to start!

[@paperboy4you2]

I loved this video and your candid photos of the kids are great! I look forward to your video on settings for low-light shots indoors. I’ve been using a 40mm f2 to capture enough light but I often wish I had a wider lens. I’ve also been playing with raising my ISO over the years. I’m now bothered less and less by a little graininess. No one goes pixel peeping with family photos.

[@matthewparriott]

Another benefit of shooting film-- you get to stay in the moment because you're not stopping all the time to check the results. Drives my mother-in-law (who's totally a "pose for the cameraaaaaa" person) crazy!

[@OliverR-eh1im]

Omar, I am following you for a long time, and I rarely comment anything anywhere, but these 5 minutes where just outstanding. One of the best videos you made. Your, to the point, advise as well as the simply great emotional photos of your kids that illustrate exactly what you said. 😊

[@ogonzilla]

thanks a bunch!

[@johnodriscoll3078]

This is a great reminder to take loads of pictures and videos. Always have a camera or phone ready to go. Dont sweat the settings, just grab the moment. Life can be over in the blink of an eye, which happened to our family. We lost our son 4 years ago, and the photos and videos are even more precious to us. Reminders of the joy and happiness he brought to our family. I wish everyone a joyous 2025, filled with love, happiness, and memorable moments, captured in photos and videos, with family and friends

[@ogonzilla]

I am so sorry for your loss. So true. I did one event with a child that had cancer. He passed sadly. I think about him often.

[@johnodriscoll3078]

@@ogonzilla Thank you very much. We lost our son in an auto accident on his way hoe from work. We have loads of photos and videos of him and his brother. The are at times both a source of comfort and pain. Most importantly they help to trigger so many beautiful, happy memories. If I didn't have them, I believe my struggle would be even greater still. So it was very refreshing to see your video promoting this. It is something we can take for granted. And on the other end of the spectrum when we pass, it will leave a record of memories for our children of their upbringing, memories and how we saw the world through our eyes.

[@pilarpsp127]

Like this video a lot. One remark, sometimes you can more less ,,predict the future” so look for the moment that is about to come like a child blowing his cheeks to blow the candle on birthday. Great video Omar.

[@kevinpeeters6334]

Hi Omar, I just wanted to thank you for enabling the French audio track on your video. It made it so much easier for me to enjoy your content in my native language. I really appreciate the effort you put into making your videos accessible to a wider audience. Keep up the amazing work! Best regards,

[@ogonzilla]

I previewed it and I can listen to it in French. Let me know if it works now!

[@kevinpeeters6334]

@ It worked and it still works. Thank you for this work.

[@binksdave]

Lovely stuff! No kids but 2 amazing nieces who are definitely growing up way too fast! I've so many photos from over the years that need compiling into a book. Cheers Omar, HNY!

[@jamescraig3345]

We took 90% b&w of our three kids growing up, and never regretted it. Eventually put together a huge family book for each of them. If you're comfortable with the camera, and comfortable with the kids (and wife), you wind up with some wonderful stuff.

[@ebouwens]

Awesome, Omar!

[@officerockstar]

Some of my favorite photos of my kids, which I end up putting in a wall calendar, are of them goofing around before or after the posed shot.

[@dipo2000]

Such a great video! I totally agree with you, my little Daughter loves my photography passion and often she takes pictures with me or she asks to me to watch our many family photo book ❤

[@dsalzr]

Holy moly. All of these pictures were fantastic! Really inspiring to try to get more candid pictures of my family. You’re the best ❤ I always look forward to your videos.

[@ogonzilla]

thank you!

[@MrMuralikrishna1982]

Good one bro! One of the reasons which the step count was not so accurate is, I think its still in beta version on whoop. Even I had noticed that.

[@nyomanambara7711]

Street photography helps alot for me to document my family photos, especially my kids, always use zone focus and snap snap, 28mm is the great focal length for this, 6 years with fujifilm X70 😁

[@advokatsvoboda]

Happy new year Omar! i wish you best this year

[@ogonzilla]

Happy New Year! Thanks for watching.

[@DwayneEdwards-x4x]

awesome advice..........most subjects are more interesting when they don't know they're being photographed.

[@hramirezgcr]

Great video, great advice, thanks. I was unaware that I was doing that (setting up pictures) with my kids and losing a lot of great, authentic moments to capture.

[@AnemiaShoes]

Working full time and being a parent makes what I used to shoot a lot harder to coordinate and execute. My family adventures with my 3 year old has become the majority of everything I shoot. 2024 was my dad cam year! Switched to Fuji and been pumping out the daily life SOOC’s for all my family and friends.

[@dean-gxld]

As a new Dad last year, and another one on the way, this a great way to look at documenting fatherhood. Question, where did you get that photo book made?

[@Propaganda_Films]

Thank you for helping me see and try things from different perspective! Wish you and your family only the best for the year 2025!

[@SolomonSpencerPhotog]

I spent a good year learning my camera by taking pics of my baby/toddler. Gets you real used to being flexible

[@ogonzilla]

work those glutes.

[@loganwebb5449]

Would love to hear how you organize these

[@turboplopp]

yupp, me too!

[@StephenRae-u1t]

This was a great video Omar. This is what I have always tried to do with my son. I always try to get candid shots (not necessarily successfully), not posed. I don't just want pictures of him, I want pictures of his life. One of my favourite pictures is taken from behind in a park (he was about 3 or 4) - sitting on the ground. After taking the picture I asked what he was doing and he said "Just thinking" and that became the title of the photo that hangs in my house. I also do the photo books for family, nothing goes on social media.

[@ogonzilla]

awwwww....awesome.

[@LouisLuzuka]

Definitely need this skill 😊❤

[@fredfies]

Thank you for this great reminder! I think it's time to let the camera sleep on a shelf in the living room again to wake it up faster 😊

[@thidnascimento]

Fantastic content, as always. Life lessons in 5 minutes video! Cheers from Brazil!

[@ogonzilla]

Appreciate the support! I need a vacation to Brazil.

[@tonygreenwoodN10]

Omar - really great advice (especially re not posting family photos on social media)! I suppose it's a bit dirigiste to suggest this video should be compulsory viewing for all parents...but it SHOULD!! 😁

[@forgiveness_denied]

Thanks for this!

[@SamGrimes93]

Always loved your family photos Omar. I've done a similar thing for the past 6 years since my first was born, always trying to get better at this. Can you give tips for dealing with the sheer quantity of images? I come back from walk in the woods with 500 photos and it feels like a full time job culling, doing a quick batch edit and then picking the ones I want to do something special with 😂 58,000 photos on my Lightroom cloud so far...

[@ChrisBrogan]

This was just an awesome post, Omar. A lot to think about. I'm grateful. Happy 2025 to you, boss.

[@ogonzilla]

Thanks for watching! Appreciate it.

[@HumoraraS]

Omar, great as usual (exept Nikon themed videos haha). Heres an idea: you could make a video about managing photo libraries. For example how do you found these beautiful photos of your kids... i think you get the idea. Great work! :))

[@keyfretter]

Asking for a friend: How can I like this video 10x...?

[@ogonzilla]

don't make me cry.

[@gashead2]

Great photos

[@Luigi13]

Well let me write this here, Omar you are a wonderful father to your children they will definitely appreciate it even more when they have become parents themselves in the future, to know you documented their life candidly. The sample pics you showed on this segment are excellent. Have a great and prosperous year in 2025 Cheers.

[@ogonzilla]

Appreciate that. Making memories. 😊

[@MaxR.]

As I will become a dad in 2025 these advices are just great. Can't wait of more like this. THANKS

[@ogonzilla]

You got this!

[@x100ed]

what a great video!

[@mikeireland2428]

Many of my photos have been not only to freeze a subject in space, but also to freeze a moment in time. When done intentionally, the images can trigger recall of the time and not just of the image. Or so it is for me.

[@craighudson6684]

Beautiful photos. I was still shooting 35mm Fujichrome and Kodachrome when my kids were little (they’re coming up 30 & 28 now). I love the idea of the photo books. Me thinks you have given me a project for 2025 😀

[@avid-ii4vk]

Ah Omar, if only. Cat's in the cradle for me. But there are the grandkids. Nice photos of your kids.

[@garyjzhao]

Omar, what printing service do you use? that photo album looked awesome

[@Zzzde666]

❤ yours content from Thailand

[@ogonzilla]

Soooo...want to go to Thailand. Need a guide maybe next year.

[@Teddy-ne3gd]

Very interesting video.

[@ZachEldridge]

Im glad you included "your" in the title! Happy new year!

[@ogonzilla]

One word can change everything. lol..

[@ZachEldridge]

@ 😆

[@turboplopp]

My biggest problem: my kids HATE any cameras and have really, really good sensors to spot them. I try to be open, I try to be candid... no difference at all. They stop what they're doing and calling me out.

[@ogonzilla]

Hidden cameras. It's your only option. ;)

[@turboplopp]

@@ogonzilla That. Or get a spy lens like the 800mm and ask the neighbour if they kindly let me hide on their roof for a couple of days.

[@ToddPangburn]

Love the topic Omar! Do you have a preferred photo book printer for family albums?

[@ogonzilla]

My first book was from MILK in Australia and looved it. Far from me though. Now I use Miller's with matte printing. super nice.

[@A861967]

The photographer on the net 😊 cheers from Oz🇦🇺 unfortunately I don’t have any kids but still applicable skills for any photographer.

[@ogonzilla]

Cheers mate!

[@jmat8861]

lmaoo the shinning twins 😆

[@AmberHolven3]

I live for pictures of people living! When I shoot portraits, I keep shooting beyond the "moment." I get some of my best shots in between the moments. Last Christmas, my older sister kept "posing" for pictures as I was taking pictures of people being in the moment. I told her to stop, and she was offended! I've literally always been an "in the moment" photographer! She has apparently never noticed!

[@AmberHolven3]

P.S. this is why we have some of the most precious pictures of the kids interacting with cousins!! Yet she has missed the point.

[@ogonzilla]

I hope you got the 'offended' face. lol Timeless...Yes! That's why I go stealthy at times...

[@csc-photo]

Such a great topic and so many excellent tips here! My daughter was kind of conditioned to the "say cheeEEEese..." approach by her mom and other relatives, which can often in an expression with little or no emotion behind it. So I've gotten good at two things mainly - playing the comedian and breaking through the cheese-smile, resulting in a REAL smile - and, always having a camera on me more often than not to the point where it just blends in / is no big deal. 🧀

[@ogonzilla]

Another great technique. This, unfortunately, is hard to teach. Ya either got it or not! Sounds like you got it.

[@Paul_Rohde]

Nice one.

[@MrRono19]

The pictures of my kids won’t be on facebook…. But they might end up on YT for 10k to view 🤣 jks aside. Amazing pictures and info

[@brianode11]

Any camera suggestions for capturing family moments? I use Canon DSLRs and mirrorless cameras with larger glass for all my work, but I tend not to bring that out and about because of the size. Doesn’t have to be Canon, of course. Thanks!

[@ogonzilla]

Uncoming video...

[@brianode11]

@ Awesome! Looking forward to it.

[@bnwchris]

Nice video as always, Omar. I wish you and your family all the best for 2025🙂

[@larsagren6595]

Great content! I guess this applies to grandkids allso?

[@ogonzilla]

Oh...twice as much!

[@hankarigoldmoody709]

G R E A T 🙏

[@rudomlich6871]

U are superb :)

[@LouisLuzuka]

What focal length or lens do you feel is the best for this ?

[@ogonzilla]

28-50....with an average of 35mm

[@LouisLuzuka]

@ ahh so not like 50mm but not 24mm either, i love it 😻

[@LouisLuzuka]

50mm+ is a bit less intimate like a paparazzi shot and 16mm too wide. Got it!

[@tomwestbrook]

What if your kids are in their 50’s?

[@ogonzilla]

haha...Still applies...except bath time.

[@gcadiz]

Wait, your kids brush their teeth… like, on their OWN? I need a video on that!

[@BadTimeBen]

Favorite photo book printing services?

[@MarcusDolby]

Why do you have a problem with the Grady girls? 😊

[@stefano115tv]

Grazie per L audio in italiano

[@ogonzilla]

Prego! E automatico

[@stefano115tv]

​@@ogonzilla It seems to me that the others didn't have this function though! Anyway it's always a pleasure to see your videos! Keep it up!

[@ogonzilla]

@@stefano115tv it’s new. Only 2 of my. Videos have

[@stefano115tv]

​@@ogonzilla This is great news! It's just a shame that automatic tradition loses your nice tone of voice!

[@abderra18]

Excellent Omar, thanks. Now can you please rewind time back 20 years so I can go back and do it right? ;)

[@ogonzilla]

haha...I have a friend...Doc Brown...

[@sarachesches2864]

Yo Omar, I made 5 strategic thumbnails + titles for this video, because I saw that it's not performing as it should. Can I send them to you if you don’t mind?

[@ragyoti]

Nice "gradma impression"! 🤣🤣🤣

[@ogonzilla]

I tried

[@prios61]

What Nikon was that? Have a nice 2025❤

[@ogonzilla]

just an Z50 I'm borrowing.

[@UweKempf]

Thank you Omar. Wonderful Video. 😊 But please, do not activate that awful KZbin auto translate audio track. Horrible! 😱

[@alvaro5162]

I don't take many photos of my children, I don't want to be the typical "good" photographer "bad" father. I wanted to have children and that does not mean that they have the obligation to be my models.

[@derrenleepoole]

I'm just disappointed you didn't photoshop your face onto the thumbnail with the two girls :)

[@ogonzilla]

haha...next time.

[@rerod7481]

With Fuji? Really? 😅

[@akhyarrayhka4048]

take it but dont post it unless you want ai model of your kids in the future

[@giammy5466]

I don't have Kids... Can I use dogs instead? 😂

[@simianinc]

If I could capture kids like Kubrick, I’d be considered a visioinary genius. Gotta disagree with your thumbnail 😅

[@ogonzilla]

lol

[@indiotizado]

They grow up so fast indeed 🥲