No More 'Pakuha Pics, Please': Moms, Try These 5 #TakeYourOwnPhotos Tips

“Pa-take ng pic, please.”

I can't count the number of times I've uttered that line in my almost-decade of being a mom. I've asked it from my husband, my mom, my friends, even strangers. While I'm grateful that they've obliged me at that moment, I still can't help but feel envious whenever I browse my photo gallery and see the candid, unstaged photos I've captured of my kids with their dad. The ones where my kids jumped onto their dad's back with glee evident on their faces. The ones where they were feeding each other fries, cheeks flecked with powder flavoring. Everyday photos with our kids are great for documenting our lives with them, and there will come a time when we'll be empty nesters or our kids will have families of their own, and such photos will be all that's left to remind us of these full days.

Here are a few tips that can help you take better and more photos with your kids. And the best part is, these will allow you to capture beautiful moments on your own, without worrying about having a double chin.

Claw clip hack from TheBabyChick

How to: Get a claw clip (or shuk-shak), preferably one with a square-type handle. Place it facing up and clamp it at the bottom of your phone. The claw clip now functions as a phone stand, enabling your phone to face straight up. Place it on top of a table or on the floor to capture your shot.

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Video to photo hack from ByChantelleKerr

How to: Set up your camera on the table or floor facing you. Place it in cinematic mode so that the background is blurred. Take a video of the moment and screenshot from the video clip. The plus point is you will have both a video clip and still photos of the moment.

@bychantellekerr I wish I started doing this when he was younger but better late than never!! #photoshoot #takeyourownphotos #motherson #familyphotos #photosathome #photoideas #motherhood #toddlersoftiktok #momsoftiktok #momlife #momtok #fyp ? original sound - chantelle

Voice control hack from YWMFamily

How to: For iPhone users, go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control > Customize Commands > Create New Command. Enter an easily speakable phrase or word such as "smile." Click Action > Run Custom Gesture. Under Applications, choose Camera and Save. Now, you can take photos of yourself and your baby more than your arm's length away. Just set up your camera in front of you, say "smile," and it will take your photo automatically.

@ywmfamily Best Photo Hack! #lifehack #photohack #iphonehack #familyphotos #iphone #momhack #summer #todayilearned #learnontiktok ? Jiggle Jiggle - Duke & Jones & Louis Theroux

Lens Buddy App from GrowingBabyGalati

How to: Download the free app, Lens Buddy. Once you've done that, open the app, choose the Scheduling Mode – this captures with a fixed delay. Pick the number of seconds or minutes per shot (i.e., a 2-second gap per photo capture) and the number of photos the app will take for the session (i.e., 10 shots or until stopped). Now you can set up a quick photo booth-type session using just your phone.

@growingbabygalati My fav way to take photos #momsoftiktok #momtok #firsttimemom #photohack #contentcreatorhack #contentcreationtips #momsbelike #travelingfamily ? original sound - Jen | mom life

Don’t pose tip from KylieKatich

And lastly, this mama shares a perfect tip for moms and babies: Do not pose; instead, interact with each other.

How to: Think of activities that you and your baby love doing together, such as reading a book, playing with blocks, or cuddling. Set up your phone with your claw clip, use the video + cinematic mode or the Lens Buddy app, relax, and have fun with your child.

@kyliekatich POSING 101 ???????? Don’t pose. INTERACT! #posingtips #capturingmotherhood #tipsandtricks #motherhoodunplugged ? original sound - Kyliekatich

So go ahead and take that photo, mama. Do it for the day when your kids will pull up the albums/photos themselves. Show them the little people that they used to be. Show them the parents that you were in their childhood.