Tips for a Relaxed Family Portrait Session with a Toddler

As a photographer, working with toddlers during a family session can be both challenging and rewarding. The key is patience, flexibility, and engagement. Here are some photographer-specific tips to ensure a successful session for families with toddlers!

Pre-Session Tips

Schedule a consultation to get a feel of the children's personality and needs, and relay realistic expectations.
Consult with the parents in advance in order to understand their child/rens unique personality. Every toddler is different. Some are shy, and some are wild. Some children have unique needs and or fears that are helpful to know beforehand as well. Discuss parent expectations for the session, and make sure parents know that toddler sessions can be unpredictable. It is okay if things don't go perfectly. Often, when toddlers are most themselves, do we get those gorgeous candid images!
It is also important to discuss the time of day for your session. If it's in the studio, schedule it so that it works around the little one/s schedule. If your session is outdoors at golden hour, it's important to prep parents on the steps for a successful session. Late naps are recommended. Making sure their little one had a filling dinner beforehand is also key to success.

Session Day

1. Engage with the Toddler

Creating rapport with the little ones is key to success at your session. Talk with them, play, and have fun!

When photographing the little ones, get down to their level for more natural, engaging shots. This helps you connect with them in a way that feels more authentic.
Also, encourage parents to hold, hug, or swing the toddler. The more fun they're having, the more natural the expressions you'll capture.

Natural-looking toys, and fun props and chairs, etc, can be super helpful to motivate and encourage throughout the session as well. They look great in photos, too!

2. Be Fast and Flexible

Toddlers are often on the move, so keep your camera settings quick—fast shutter speeds and wide apertures (for more light and shallow depth of field).
Also, because they're unpredictable, shoot from different angles to capture their spontaneity.

3. Avoid Forced Poses

Candid moments capture toddlers in their element. Toddlers are often at their best when not being asked to sit still or "pose." Let them run around, explore, and interact with their family members. A few posed shots are fine with the family, but go for natural posing and be flexible to rearrange if the toddler wills it. They often rule the roost, and they know it!

4. Encourage the parents to let go

Parents are concerned throughout their session about how their images will turn out. Sometimes they can be high-strung and want the kids to behave so that we can get the photo. It's important to reassure parents throughout the session that you are doing well and capturing beautiful images. If the toddler/s are not behaving, etc, help the parents turn those moments into joyful ones. When they see you are flexible and patient with their child, it will help them to be too!

In the end, flexibility and patience are the most important tools in your kit. Every toddler is different, and the more you embrace their natural curiosity, the more genuine and joyful your photos will be.

Check out out this beautiful family session from this spring! With three year old twins and a one and a half year old it was a busy session filled with laughter, toddler antics and a bit of chaos. We did wonderfully capturing this family at this stage in time. Images the family will cherish for a lifetime!