Sure staged photos are great but it's that instant right before or straight after that composed shot, when everyone has abandoned their 'photo face' and stopped putting on a show, that can often times deliver the most stunning results. It really does pay to stay connected and have your camera at the ready.

Today's photo shoot, gorgeous wee Erin and her parents Dave and Caroline.

As a footnote to a previous post... I'm happy to report the frost cloth draped over the windows worked really well to diffuse the light in this daylight studio. Their bare floorboards and plain walls made set up for the in-home photo shoot really easy, no need for a back-drop or props! Thanks guys

Next time you're out and about on a partly cloudy day watch the shadows on a companions face. When the cloud covers the sun a natural diffusing effect occurs which reduces contrast (Lightens shadows and darkens highlights), softens the sharp edges of shadows and lightens the dark tones of the shadow areas. In effect it's turning a small bright light source into a larger softer light source. 
Photographers do this in the studio by bouncing light off white surfaces or by shining the light through big diffusion screens made from transparent white material. 
The best form of diffusion I've found for a natural daylight studio is the sheet foam that many appliances come wrapped in. I use it to cover the windows when I set up a daylight studio in my clients homes, it creates the softest light but doesn't alter the intensity or brightness of the light. It also serves to simplify reflections in shiny surfaces like the eyes. 
I'm about to try a roll of frost cloth on a newborn shoot tomorrow, I'll share the results soon.