Being a parent has its joys and its challenges. Photographing your child's birthday party can be both. With a little advance planning, however, it can be more a "joy" and less a "challenge." Here's a few tips that will make your experience a pleasant one while giving you quality mementos of your child's big day:

#1: DESIGNATE A PHOTOGRAPHER AHEAD OF TIME

"What? I thought you had the camera!"

"You were supposed to bring it! I was supposed to get the film!"

"Yeah? Where is it?"

(Feeling in pockets) "Oh no..."

This scene can be avoided by deciding ahead of time just who will be "Party Photographer." Although pricey, a professional photographer may be a worthwhile investment if advance planning is not your thing (in which case, you may as well stop reading and pick up the yellow pages right now). If you'd rather not shell out for this, designate someone well beforehand  - yourself, the spouse/S.O., Grandpa, Uncle Barney - and make this his/her sole responsibility for the entire party.

#2: GET THE CHILDREN'S POV

Get this straight, right now: this is your child's big day, and his/her friends - not yours. Bend down - take low-angle shots at the childrens' eye levels. Make records of the party from the child's perspective.

#3: MIX IT UP (YOUR SHOTS, THAT IS...)

There are times that it may it appropriate to take shots from "on high," or far away. This is in the case of "group shots" (which are impossible to get otherwise).  That said, take your pictures from a variety of distances and angles to add variety and interest when you take folks through the family picture album in years ahead.

#4: ADJUST WHITE SETTINGS

This is a little more technical. Most parties happen indoors, and lighting can be a contentious issue. Make sure your color calibration is true and learn how to use white balance controls. You'll probably need to experiment and practice ahead of time in order to be able to use this control skillfully.

#5: GET THE LITTLE DETAILS

Here's where you might learn a few things from master film directors like Coppola, Bergman, and Mamet. The best films are, as much as possible, stories told through images.  Find little things - sprinkles on ice cream, the flame of a candle, a balloon - and take closeups. These may look a little abstract, but these details - unique to every party - will tell volumes about the day.

#6: USE A BOUNCE FLASH OR DIFFUSER

This is related to the lighting issue. Indoor parties will require extra lighting, usually in the form of a flash. No doubt, this brings up visions of "redeye" and death-like complexions, so either bounce the flash off a wall, or use a flash diffuser.

#7: PLAN AHEAD

Spontaneity is a good thing, but probably not for a young child's party - to avoid planning is to invite chaos. Know ahead of time when everyone is sitting, what games are played when, the time of blowing out candles, opening gifts, etc. that way, you - or your designated photographer - can be in place and at the ready when the moment comes.

The Sony Alpha DSLR, soon to be released as the Sony Alpha 100,  will be a 10.2 megapixel camera with an amazing number of new features. These include EyeStart Autofocus, Depth of Field preview, one-touch selection of exposure shooting modes, High Speed Continuous Advance Shooting (up to 3 fps), Built-in Flash plus support for multiple flash modes, and more.

 All of this is contained in a package measuring 94.7mm x 133.1mm x 71.3 mm - a bit wider and larger than a tin of Altoids, and only twice as thick. The unit weighs in at 545 grams - a little over a pound - has a MemoryStick DUO adapter, and includes Image Data Converter SR v.1.1 and Picture Motion Browser software.

This won't come cheap, and won't be available in the U.S. right away. It's scheduled for release in Europe next month, with a price tag of 775 € (about $1000 USD).


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If you're in the market for a digital camera that packs a lot of photographic power in a small, attractive package, you might take a look at the new EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z5 by Casio. With 5 megapixel resolution, a 3X optical zoom and a 2.5" display, it appears to have all an experienced shutterbug could want. On the other hand, it also features a number of handy "fail-safe" mechanisms for the novice.

Among these are the "Easy Mode," which prevents the user from accidentally changing settings (if you've ever taken a close-up picture with the long-distance lens or forgotten to set the flash, you'll know what this means). This camera also features an "Anti-Shake" Digital Signal Processor, so if you're trying to take that perfect shot without a tripod, you won't have to worry too much about a blurry image. The Auto Macro function keeps your pictures in focus, and - for those of us who have forgotten to remove a lens cap or open the shutter - the  Quick Shutter function.

One of the neatest features of the EX-Z5, however, is its ability to literally restore old and faded photos. This instrument has its own "Revive Shot" function that allows the photographer to capture old photos straight out of an album and use the EX-Z5's own digital restoration capabilities to bring old favorite snapshots back to life.

The EX-Z5 will be available in Europe and North America starting at the end of this month.