camera gear for moms who want better photos of their kids
Before we start, let me be clear—the BEST camera gear for moms wanting to take better photos of your family is the camera you have in your hands at the moment.
Capturing ANY image of a special event or a silly everyday memory is always better than not having one at all. Sometimes that may be your cell phone, and that’s okay! Current day cell phone cameras are top notch. Other times, you might want something that gives you a little bit higher quality or even just some flexibility to play around with settings.
camera gear for moms: navigating the overwhelm
So you want to find the best camera gear for moms, but you don’t know where to start. I wish I could say it’s as simple as a quick google search, but you can quickly get overwhelmed by the sheer number of options, which brand is best and don’t get me started on all of the technical jargon.
Luckily, there are some great resources out there to help! Here are a few of my personal favorite resources to learn the basics.
- Courtney Malone does a fantastic job outlining the difference between DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
- I also LOVED Courtney’s Frame-Worthy Photo Course and cannot recommend it enough. It was the best investment I made at the start of my photography journey. If you want to get a sense of her teaching style, sign up for her free email course first.
- These YouTube videos from Rebecca Rice are a great watch to start learning the basics of manual mode.
As far as brands go, you really can’t go wrong with any of the big names like Nikon, Sony, Canon, etc. Professionally, I’m partial to Nikon because it’s what I started with, but on a personal level I do own a Sony a6000 that I LOVE. More on that line of cameras below 🙂
the best camera gear for moms
Let’s dive into my personal recommendations for the best camera gear for moms. All of my recommendations below are mirrorless cameras, which is the direction technology is trending. There are two categories most moms fall into when looking for a camera, so let’s dive in.
THE DIAPER BAG CHAMPIONS
Are you looking for a step up from your iphone, but don’t want to mess around with interchangeable lenses? Then the below options are for you.
Compact in size, these cameras are the perfect addition to your diaper bag. Featuring multiple modes, you’ll have the flexibility to both turn on and quickly start snapping photos in auto OR spend more time learning the basics of the exposure triangle in manual mode.
Sony RX100 VII
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
FOR THE PROFESSIONAL HOBBYIST
Are you looking to step up your photography game and invest time in learning manual mode? You’ll want something that will grow with you, which means venturing into the land of interchangeable lenses.
The below options are my favorite camera bodies and lenses for moms that are both budget friendly but can deliver quality, near professional looking images. Bonus? They’re still small and lightweight enough to toss into the diaper bag.
Nikon Z fc
Sony a6700 (you can’t go wrong with the entire a6000 line and can find older models of used for less)
Pair either of these camera bodies with the Sigma 30mm f1.4 lens (select Nikon Z of Sony E for each model respectively).
I personally own a used Sony a6000 with the Sigma lens above. It’s always within reach while at home or when on the go and I’ve been able to document some great memories with this camera in hand.
