You've gone to a lot of trouble to make your child's party a big hit -- don't forget to preserve the memories.

There are a couple of different ways that you can go when it comes to taking pictures. You can use a camcorder, a digital camera, a plain camera, or disposable cameras.

Camcorders

Movies of your party can be a lot of fun to watch, but not so much fun to record. In fact, if you are trying to record your child's party, a recorder is more likely to get in the way than actually get any quality footage. The kids will act different when they know they are being filmed, and it really sucks to view the whole party 'live' through a lense.

Instead of trying to film the entire party, I suggest that you find a quiet place that's out of reach to set up your camera and then let it run unattended throughout the party. We usually do this for Christmas Parties. We put the camcorder up in a bookshelf and aim it to where all the action will be. Then we turn it on and let it run. People don't know or forget that they are being filmed and the party gets recorded naturally. It works great!

Digital Cameras

Digital cameras can be a lot of fun at a kid's party because the children will get to see the pictures immediately. They've come such a long way... now you can even get photo printers that will print your photo directly out of your camera.

I got to thinking about this new technology... What a great party favor that could be. Send each child home with a picture of themselves at the party. In fact, you could set up a cardboard stand with silly bodies where they poke their heads in the holes and take their pictures. It would be a great momento of the party! In fact there are all kinds of things you can do with a digital camera.

Polaroid Cameras

Polaroid cameras are a lot less expensive than digital cameras and printers, but you can still use them to send home a picture with each of your party guests.

The most important point here is that you don't forget to take some pictures of the party. If you forget, you will really regret it. In addition, try to get a friend or babysitter to take the pictures for you so that you can enjoy the party and also be in some of the pictures. Just make sure that whoever you choose to take the pictures is capable of doing a good job.

Disposable Cameras

Disposable cameras are great at any kind of party. If the children are old enough to take reasonable pictures, pass out some disposable cameras and turn the loose with the kids. They will have a lot of fun taking the pictures and you children will have a ball sharing the developed pictures with all their friends later on.

You can purchase single-use cameras in 4 packs so that they cost less. In addition, watch out for sales to further cut down on the expense. Disposable cameras are well worth the added expense when it comes to the memories that they create.

There's one other kind of disposable camera that I recently came across -- is was an underwater single use camera. If you were having a pool party with a bunch of teenagers, these would be a big hit because they could take pictures under water, in the pool, etc. without worrying about the camera. I wish they had these when I was a kid!

Anyway, I put links for both kinds of disposable cameras in the left hand margin so that you can get more information about them.

Final Thoughts...

When the party is over and you have all those great pictures of your child's party, don't forget to do something special with the prints. You could work with your child to create a mini scrapbook just for the party. You could find one special picture of each of the guests and present it to them in an inexpensive frame. You could take a picture of each guest and send it along with a thank you note to each guest. The point is, don't just throw the pictures into a shoebox and forget them. Do something special with your party memories.