Smile, shoot, send. These days, everyone’s a wannabe Leibovitz.

In her new book, Photographing Your Children ($23), Jen Altman shows you how to slow down before pressing the shutter button. You’d be wise to take her pointers: When she’s not taking dreamy photos of her daughters, she contributes to the likes of Martha Stewart Living and Kinfolk magazines.

Learn to capture the moment as they are living it, not as your mind is willing you to see it. 

Forget the flowerpot. Keep your environment as natural as possible.

Give baby space to move. The middle of a large bed is great, as you have time to get to them when they start inching toward the edge.

Most kids go through a make-a-face-at-the-camera phase. Try not to reprimand them. Instead, fire off a few shots. You can both laugh over them on the camera screen.

Embrace the moments. They do not need to engage the camera every time, and you’ll treasure the natural, candid photographs as they get older.

Use textures as a compositional element. They can add visual interest without taking the focus away from the star.

Always speak in a soft, warm voice so they stay relaxed and comfortable. If at any point your child shows discomfort or irritation, use your parental instincts and put your camera aside.

As your baby gets a bit older, try holding a toy — or something that makes noise — just to the side of your camera or above your head.

Involve them in the process. Altman photographs her 7-year-old daughter’s self-styled outfits for her daughter’s blog, All About Eve. Focus on something they love and start your own photography project with them.