If you’ve been a parent for any length of time, you know that kids aren’t always in the mood to cater to our expectations- they are very much the captains of their own ships. Getting them to get dressed when they’d rather cruise around in a pull-up, or getting them to eat a vegetable when they’d rather have fruit snacks can cause meltdowns of epic proportions (yikes).

So, as you can imagine, posing for photos isn’t always at the top of a toddler’s to-do list.

So, what’s a parent to do? Keep reading, my friend, I’ve got a few simple Do’s and Don’ts to make your toddler’s photoshoot go as smoothly as possible.

Don’t Pressure Them

I know you are very much feeling the pressure when you’ve paid good money for photos of your little darling and they are not cooperating, but trust me- pressuring them will only make it worse. An uncooperative, overwhelmed child will only become more uncooperative and overwhelmed when a stranger is in their face with a camera and their parents are upset at them for not smiling. At best, you’ll end up with photos of your child looking at you telling them to smile instead of at the camera. At worst, you’ll have a full force meltdown on your hands, which usually doesn’t make for great photos.

Do Trust Your Photographer

A photographer who is experienced with children will know exactly what to do with anything your toddler throws at them. They will follow your child’s lead, keep them happy and engaged through games and songs, and will shoot for in-between moments for the best expressions. Fight the urge to tell your child to smile or to get onto them for not doing something correctly. If the photographer needs you to step in and correct behavior or assist in any way, they will definitely let you know. Otherwise, trust the process. You’ll be amazed at what a good photographer can capture when it seems like the odds are stacked against them.

Do Offer Lots of Positive Re-Enforcement

Your child will be looking to you for approval and confidence. As the session begins, maintain a positive attitude, smile, and offer praise when your child shows cooperation.

Don’t Be Afraid to Take Breaks or Reschedule

If your little one just isn’t having it, don’t be afraid to take a pause or reschedule for another day. A good, professional photographer with experience with young children will be more than happy to accommodate this, as it’s very much a part of the job when working with small children. Forcing the issue is never helpful, so taking a 15 minute break or rescheduling for another day is the best option in these cases. Even it your photographer charges a fee to reschedule, the end result will be worth it.

Don’t Feel Embarrassed

Toddlers will be toddlers. Photographers experienced with children know this, and have seen it many times over. If your child has a meltdown, refuses to smile, or won’t look at the camera, I can guarantee they’re not the first one. It’s super common, and nothing to be worried about.

Do Embrace Your Child’s Personality in this Moment

When you book a photoshoot for your little one, you will probably have a vision in your head of how you want the photos to come out. Maybe you saw an image on Pinterest or Instagram and want something similar for your child. Either way, you are probably going to walk in with certain expectations for how the photos should be. Some of the best advice I can give you is to understand that every child is different, and that your child’s unique personality is going to shine through any photo that is taken of them. The best thing you can do is embrace it.

I can remember trying to take a Christmas photo of my youngest son when he was 3, and he absolutely refused to smile, instead giving me the grumpiest, grinchiest, grimace I have ever seen. At the time, I was pretty frustrated, but now it’s one of my favorite photos of him. It just fits his complex little personality so well, and it makes me laugh every time I look at it. The moral of the story is, sometimes you just have to play the game by your toddler’s rules. The beauty of it is, you’ll always have memories of their unique little personality, and it will always bring warmth to your heart.

Hi, I’m Cheyenne.

I’m a homeschooling mom, gardening enthusiast, animal lover, and portrait photographer located in the small town of Belen, New Mexico. I proudly serve the families of the greater Albuquerque Metro area and create beautiful, unique, and timeless portraits for families, children, and pets.

If you and your family love having fun and showing up as your uniquely awesome selves, then I think we are going to get along great. I can help you create memorable portraits that stand out from the rest, and that you will treasure as the days turn to years and the years turn to decades.

Contact Me