The Runaway Toddler: Here’s How I Handled It
You prepare in every possible way, and the day of your shoot finally arrives. You’re excited, a little nervous to be photographed, and just want everything to be as near perfect as possible. Inevitably your little one skips her nap, or something along those lines. You arrive with a toddler who’s interested in just about anything but cooperating to make some beautiful photos. What to do?!
First, take a deep breath. This will not stress me out! In fact, I’ve come to expect it. We really can have an amazing session even when the toddler won’t stay still, refuses to look at the camera, or any number of other such factors. In my near-15 years as a family photographer, I’ve encountered all kinds of temperaments, personalities, and day-of-shoot circumstances. I understand that these small humans are full people, with legitimate feelings and zero understanding why this whole picture thing is such a big deal. As a mom of four myself, there is no chance here of judgement or impatience from me. I get it! This is once reason I always schedule to allow more than enough time for each session—there’s wiggle room to pause and works things out.
One of my biggest pieces of advice is for all parents involved to remain calm and positive. Our little ones feed off of our energy. Even if they start out cranky, apathetic, emotional, or uber-energized, if you and I keep an upbeat outlook and roll with it, they’re nearly guaranteed to shift modes within our 90 minutes together. I like to think of anything a tiny person is doing not as uncooperative but as an authentic expression of what they’re feeling. If they’re struggling at first, let’s give them time to trust me and warm up to the whole thing.
Remember what you first loved about my portfolio. It probably wasn’t static, posed images. With each family I photograph, I want to capture something of their essence and story. The emotions of all kinds, the shyness or exuberance, the energy or sleepy snuggliness—it’s all part of that and worth documenting.
In this Riverbend Park session in Jupiter, Florida, 2-year-old Brooks was on a mission from the moment he was unbuckled from the car, to explore everything in this beautiful park. My camera was of almost zero interest compared to endless trees, sticks, giant anthills, paths and fences. Here’s how his awesome parents and I made it work:
Up, Up!
Holding your child up to your level for brief moments can help to contain them for a shot, and then we can let them get down and move again. When little one just wants to be on the move, I’ll probably prompt you often to pick him up for a moment, lift him in the air, try putting him on your back or shoulders, etc. If he’s squirmy, we can roll with that too. #reallife - right?
Keep it Active
All of us grown-ups can thank the toddler for the workout we’ll get during the shoot! To keep interest and match his pace, we’ll move a lot and definitely get plenty of action shots.
Follow Their Lead
With a shoot like this, I try to spend at least a good portion of our time allowing curious little ones to explore, while following and documenting it. I try to see the location from their perspective. It makes for such candid shots of the wonder-filled way they see the world, and also makes them more likely to indulge our agenda for a few shots once they’ve been given some freedom first!
Quick Containment
When we do get the chance for a resting type of pose, I’ll work fast because we probably won’t have long. I’ll probably ask you to keep interacting with your child, and I may act completely ridiculous to grab a second of their attention! Don’t stress—we can get a surprising number and variety of great shots in a tiny amount of time!
