"Oh you are so lucky, you get to have amazing photos of your daughter any time you want." 
"I just have to live with my little snapshots that I take from my phone."

These are a couple of things that I hear all the time when talking about photography.  First, let me say, yes, I am very lucky that I can have the images I do of my daughter.  I love every single one of them and they are proudly displayed in my home.   Want to know what's displayed right next to them?  Snapshots.

Here's the thing about snapshots.  Pretty much everybody has a camera on their phone nowadays, and consequently it is always on their person.  This makes it easy to capture memories as they are happening.  The beauty of a snapshot is not the composition, the clarity, or the "wow" factor from an artistic standpoint.  The beauty of a snapshot is the ability to capture a raw emotion, or a special moment when you don't have a photographer around.  Let's face it, the paparazzi are not interested in following most of us around, so we get to be our own paparazzi.

I love the camera on my phone.  No, it's not the best.  And most times, the quality is not great.  What it does, is it enables me to participate in that memory, but still document it.  I don't have to spend time fumbling with a camera, and taking time away from being absolutely present to my daughter and experiencing the wonders of life with her.   I can just pull it out of my pocket, snap a photo, and not  miss a beat.  These photos are some of my most cherished.

Here's how to get the most out of your snapshots:

• Most phones have a white balance setting.  Check it!  If you are outdoors, use that setting.  If you are indoors, use either the tungsten or florescent...whichever is appropriate. 
• If you are photographing children or pets, get on their level, or close to it.  It will make for a much more personal photo. 
• If your photos turn out a bit dark, it's ok.  You can use some simple edits (most phones have an "effects" option) to fix the color.

There is absolutely a time and a place for professional photography, but there is also a time and a place for everyday family snapshots, and they should not be overlooked.  Remember that the only bad photo is the one you didn't take.   So keep snapping!  You won't ever regret it.