There is one comment that I always seem to hear from people who are not professional photographers: "I can't take good pictures because I don't have a good camera." Well, I'm here to tell you why this comment is not entirely true.
I will say that camera technology has come a long way from the days of film. Every 6-months to a year, camera manufacturers seem to come out with bigger, better, more expensive cameras that have higher megapixel rating or faster shutter speeds. They strive to stay ahead of the competition in what they can offer consumers. But do you really need a 36-Megapixel camera with a super-telephoto lens to take good shot. The Answer is most definitely NO!!!
Believe it or not, cameras have very little to do with the quality of a photograph. Sure, more megapixels will yield a more detailed image. However, what many people don't realize is that it is the composition that is the most important to an image. Being able to convey the story in a scene or give it a sense of "flow" makes a huge difference in an image. iPhone or DSLR, anyone can take great picture by setting up the shot.
One movie that had an awesome example of this concept was "Dead Poet's Society" with Robin Williams. In one scene, he has all of his students in his class take turns standing on top of his desk and looking out at the classroom giving them a different perspective. We become so accustomed to what we see every day from "our vantage point" that we forget that there are so many other ways to look at something. You can get lower, get higher or even get a different angle on something and you will start to see the beauty of the object and begin to explore the "roads less travelled" when looking at something.
The next time you are taking pictures, take a moment and mentally set up your shot. For instance, if you are taking pictures of the kids, don't just stand them in a line and have them face you. Instead, have them stand back to back or lay on the floor and take the picture looking up at them. Maybe you are at the beach or the playground, get some pictures of them AT THEIR LEVEL so you are not looking down on them, but you instantly become their equal for the shot.
The thing to take away here is that EVERYONE can take great photographs. Just remember to think before you shoot and to practice, practice, practice! Set up your shot, get a different angle and enjoy taking the picture. Trust me, you will be pleasantly surprised with the results.