photographer knows how to boss a camera around so that it takes a picture that is in line with what your eyes are seeing.
make sure every member of the family is represented in the photos. if you own your own camera, chances are one or the other parent is the one who uses it the most, which can sometimes mean that the one parent is rarely in any photos his/herself. but when a professional comes in to do photos, even that parent will certainly be included in the images.
own and maintain a camera that can handle low-light situations without getting blurry or orange. the cameras i carry cost quite a 