So, your kids won't look at you anymore.

That's tough. Especially because this picture you are *trying* to take is for the annual Christmas card. Baby is crying and cold, toddler is getting into everything BUT picture taking. Here is exactly what you do: You go with it. Instead of making your voice hoarse and your nerves snap, just go with it. It's not going to work every time but I bet it does 99%.
Be sure to have someone with you who can stand behind you and be a distraction. Sometimes the kid will like to look at them instead of you with your camera, especially if your accomplice can make funny faces. It's far more entertaining for them than "Will! Hey Will! Smile! Look over here, smile dude. Why won't you smile?"
Another trick is to tell them to look for something that isn't there. For instance "Hey Keely, who is behind momma?" They look, you snap. Probably not going to get a smile but perhaps she shows her natural beauty which is plenty for the pic. It could even be better, sometimes smiles are cheesy and a serious shot is more captivating.
Finally and lastly, promise them something if they look. It could be a treat, food or a peek at the picture. If they know they are going to instantly see it kids often give a good look for the picture. Whatever look they give is going to have personality in it and that's what you want to ultimately achieve.
Remember to not stress out about it. Kids read into that and feed off of it. If its just not working, drop it. Go play. Go eat. Go somewhere else. Try it again after a few. Or, hire me.

Not The Official Photographer

This is going to sound so odd coming from a wedding photographer... I have photographed close to 50 weddings, yet I have never been invited to one. I know. The first wedding I ever went to was a job. I finally went to my first wedding as a guest. It was awesome. Now, there is a twist to this story. It's sorta of a "that doesn't really count" thing but whatever. I was supposed to be the photographer at this wedding. However, the couples date was 2 weeks after my daughter was born. As much as I really, really wanted to do it, it would have been bad and wrong of me. I had to turn the wedding down. Actually I had to turn down 6 weddings this year because they ALL fell within 2 weeks of my daughters due date. I now know when the peak of wedding season is in Washington. So, my husband and I along with our 2 year old son and 2 week old daughter went to the very first wedding I have ever been a real guest at. With my teeny tiny daughter being hand held against my chest I photographed the whole ceremony with my iPhone. I had to act cool when the real photographer stepped right in my way and ruined my awesome shot of the kiss. It turned out to be okay though. The bride is currently using my picture as her Facebook profile picture while she waits 3 weeks for her pro pictures. That's a win for me. It was fun to watch someone else work. It was fun to not stress about getting the best shot. It was fun using my iPhone. It was a ton of fun watching my gorgeous son dance on the dance floor. It was even a beautiful place to nurse my daughter. So I wasn't the official photographer, I was still damn good and still got some winners.

How To Capture A Moment

This is what sorta kept me going in photography. People said I could just "capture a moment". My dad said this a lot and somehow the way he says it makes you feel so special like you are performing miracles. So I kept it up and really focused on what moment I was trying to capture. It sounds a little odd, capturing a moment. I mean, no matter what when you take a picture you capture a moment. The beauty of the image lies in capturing the perfect moment, that 1/60 or 1/1000 of a second you held your camera open. Honestly and sadly not (most people) everybody can't do it. With me, I foresee the future when watching a scene I may photograph. Sounds freaky but you have to understand how human beings operate. It's like guessing the next scene in a movie and getting it spot on. Capturing a moment is not about taking 10 pictures in a row in hopes you will get "it". It's about planting that eye in the view finder, finger ready to push the shutter and watching until it happens. You really have to anticipate it going to happen because as the moment is happening and you haven't pushed your shutter button, you lost the moment. You are now not good at capturing a moment. I am not going to lie, it is really hard and I do watch a lot of moments go by that did not get captured. Also I have captured moments that were blown because the composition was wrong, someone in the back photo bombed the scene or it wasn't in perfect focus. Also and interestingly enough you can actually create a moment by post production. That's right, sometimes all a regular picture needs is a turn into black and white and suddenly you have this image that stirs the heart. My biggest suggestion though is when you are with your family and you are trying to capture that wonderful, says it all moment. Stop. Put the camera away. Your family is going to remember you behind the camera, not interacting with them. That is sad. So go ahead, take a few pictures and stop. If you can anticipate the moment coming up, go for it, but then put it away and spend your time with them. Those memories will last longer than the pictures, trust me.