What equipment does Hilary Erickson recommend for capturing family memories effectively?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse.

Based on what I’ve shared on my blog, I’m actually a bit anti–fancy camera for most busy families. I’ve owned an SLR, but I mostly pull it out for planned “portrait” sessions, because it takes time to learn, shoot, and then edit.

For everyday family memories, I usually recommend:

• A small, easy-to-use camera or a good smartphone camera
• Something with a solid optical zoom rather than tons of megapixels
• Gear you’ll actually carry in your bag or pocket, not leave on a shelf

What kinds of moments are you hoping to capture most often—everyday life, vacations, or more formal portraits?