Summer is here and as a kid, that’s when the best memories are made! Swimming in your grandparents pool, eating icey poles to keep cool or even just running around the backyard sprinkler.

You can take amazing summer photos using just your iPhone (or any smartphone) to preserve those summer memories for when you and your kids are older.

Here are my top tips.

1. Using negative space

Negative space is the emptiness that surrounds an object. If you’re at the beach or a park with an abundance of sky, that can help create images with negative space.

Frame your kids or the beach umbrella at the bottom of your camera frame and let the top be filled with sky or water.

2. Use lines to guide your eyes

Walkways to the beach or even the ladder into the pool can be used to help guide your eye to the subject. Make sure whoever (or whatever) your photographing is at the end of where the lines are.

3. Everything is a photo moment

You might not think that a picture of bub cooling off in a small tub of water is photo worthy – but trust me when I saw it is! When your kids are older reflecting on those funny moments will absolutely warm the heart! Always take the photo, as you only regret when you don’t.

4. Props help tell a story

I’m not talking backdrops or weird outfits. Something as simple as an ice cream or slice of water melon can help tell the story that it’s summer, it’s hot and messy and cute as hell! The more ice cream or juice on the face, the better!

5. Try a different perspective

Rather than always standing and taking your photos, get down to a different perspective. Sit down, sometimes even lay down to get a really great shot of the kids playing in the water or with lovely tropical trees behind them.

I’d love to see the photos you take this summer, please share them with me by posting on my Facebook page.