Family photo sessions are a time-honored tradition, a chance to capture moments of love, laughter, and connection that will be cherished for generations. However, when toddlers are involved, it’s a whole new ballgame. Family sessions involve bribing toddlers with snacks, making fart noises to get them to look at the camera, and convincing them that standing next to their sister for 10 seconds won’t actually kill them. That’s the reality, and the families searching for a photographer should know, I am really good with kids and love all the antics that come with them!

Things toddlers will do during family photo sessions that you don’t need to worry about. @studio29photography

Let’s Talk Toddler Antics

Have you ever noticed how toddlers just are? They’re exploring their world with so much curiosity, and they don’t care one bit about what’s “normal.” Their reactions are so pure and unfiltered, and honestly, that’s where the most amazing, heartwarming photos come from. So, I want you to try and embrace those wild toddler moments with me. Here’s why:

1. These moments are real. They capture the true spirit of your child right now, in this phase of their life. You can’t fake that kind of authenticity, and it’s something you’ll treasure forever.
2. All that spontaneous laughter, the excited exploring, and those totally unexpected faces? That’s what brings so much joy and life to your family photos.
3. These candid shots are the ones that turn into your favorite memories. When you look back at them, you won’t just see a picture; you’ll remember exactly how your child felt and the sweet, crazy moment you shared together.

What to Do When Your Toddler Loses It During Photos

I’ve photographed over 500 family sessions, and I can tell you exactly how many had a toddler meltdown, a grass-rolling incident, or a kid who refused to look at the camera for 45 minutes straight: almost all of them.

The families who end up with photos they actually love aren’t the ones with “perfectly behaved kids”, they’re the ones who stopped trying to control the chaos and let me do my job while they focused on connecting with their child.

Here’s what I know works:

Your kid is watching you. Last summer, I had a two-year-old sit down in a mud puddle mid-session, and his mom just laughed and said, “Well, that’s Carter.” I got three of the best shots of the day in the next 90 seconds because everyone relaxed. The session before that, a different toddler almost did something similar, and mom spiraled into apologies and stress… and the kid picked up on it immediately. Same situation, completely different energy, completely different photos.

Redirection beats demands. When a three-year-old doesn’t want to sit on the blanket, telling them to sit on the blanket five more times won’t change anything. I keep a stash of bubbles and small toys in my bag specifically for this, and I’ve found that asking a kid to “show me how fast you can run to that tree” works about ten times better than asking them to stand still. You can do this too… just shift the activity instead of repeating the instruction.

The “failed” moments are usually the good ones. I have a gallery from last fall where the highlight image is a dad mid-laugh while his daughter dumps leaves on his head. That wasn’t the plan. The plan was a nice seated family portrait. But when she grabbed the leaves, he leaned into it, and now that’s the 24×36 canvas hanging in their living room.

Your job during the session is to have fun with your kid. That’s it. You’re not directing, you’re not managing, and you’re definitely not apologizing to me! You’re playing, cuddling, being silly, and letting me capture what’s actually happening. I’ve been doing this for 15+ years, and I promise you I know how to get usable shots even when your toddler is being a toddler.

The photos that families flip to in their coffee table albums again and again aren’t the ones where everyone smiled perfectly at the camera. They’re the ones that feel like real life… the giggles, the chaos, the sticky fingers, the moment right before someone cried. That’s your family right in the moment and that’s what’s worth remembering!

Looking to have your wild toddler photographed? I am your gal! Let’s set up your family session today, visit www.foto-29.com and send me a message!