Photographing Toddlers

A Guide To Your Session With the Energetic Child

If you have a member in your family that falls in the age range of 18-30 months, you might dread thinking of scheduling a photo session to capture their pictures or worse- trying to get the entire family in a shot. You might think it could never happen and even the idea of getting him or her ready , trying to get them to smile while chasing them around and praying for no melt downs makes you stressed out.  I totally know the feeling. I have four young kids, and my youngest falls right into that magical age of toddler hood. There are many days I spend running after him, wiping away tears and in constant anxiety about him getting hurt. But you know what, he is so darn cute..and curious, spunky and well… entertaining. All awesome qualities that look so great on camera.

I often have clients “warn” me before hand of their rambunctious little ones. I can feel the stress and anxiousness in parents during the session when their toddler?isn’t looking straight ahead and smiling. I am very quick to reassure them that their pictures will still look great and will capture who their child is…a little person with so many fantastic qualities (and I am well aware that not many of them posses the quality of sitting still, posing and smiling on cue:)) Many times I tell my clients I only need 1/1000th of a second to capture a priceless photo. Photographing toddlers is actually pretty fun!

Like I have mentioned earlier, I have four young kids of my own. So photographing toddlers comes easy to me. I have also worked with many toddlers during family and child shoots and was an early childhood special education teacher for many years. First hand, I have witnessed of all the shenanigans that go along with being a toddler, and you know what, that is what makes them so fun!   I’ve seen it all and have so much patience working with children this age.  A few easy thing I do to engage them are:

• Have them move!
• Get them to run, jump, dance or whatever makes them happy!
• Try to get them to laugh (toddlers are not too critical of simple jokes!!)
• Give them something to hold onto (sticks, flowers, stuffed animals, blankets)
• Ask them to be silly!
• Kids always like permission to have fun!

So if you are hesitating in scheduling that photo session because you don’t think you will get any great shots, believe me you will! They may not?always be as traditional as you might envision, but the will capture your?child for who they are.  So don’t stress! Have fun at your photo shoot and relax.  Let me do all to hard work and your photos of your toddlers will come out great!

Emily

emily@cozyclicks.com