Toddlers are so stinking cute but BOY are they FULLL of energy!!! I often get asked “how is it that you get great shots of little people?” I am here to tell you my secret of a photo sessions with toddlers!
Whether it’s a 1st birthday cake smash or a spring mini session, I highly suggest you have set up your session by creating timed zones. What you say ??? If this session is a cake smash, I would have 3-5 areas, a chair to sit in with balloons 5-10 minutes here, a cute sitting area with a blanket/toy that is their favorite 5-10 minutes, some photos of the little with parents, maybe grandparents 10-15 min here. HINT: you want to save the cake smashing for the very end. These zones will keep them interested in what you are doing, what you are asking them to do, and keeps them engaged.
I would really try to keep sessions with littles at 30. It’s great to “sell” a 60 min session but kiddos don’t last very long, which then makes for unhappy kids, parents and yes you are stressed out by not getting the perfect shot. Later on in this blog I will talk about mini sessions. You don’t want kiddos to hate getting their photos taken. When I have sessions like this, they grow up having their photos taken often and get used to being in front of the camera. They will come to realize these aren’t so bad and I can be good and do what mom wants for 30 mins. It’s a huge win for the parents!!!
When I have sessions with littles, I make sure to get there early and set up my zones. Like above for Sophia’s sessions, Zone 1 is: a little play tent, with pillow, a blanket, and her stuffed animals and toys. Zone 2: tea party with her dolls and tea set and cupcakes. Zone 3: pretty party dress with pearls on, you can add fancy shoes, crown etc. Just have fun in your zones and make them special!
Some of the items I have for these photo shoots, some items I have borrowed from a friends, the parents might provide some items or you can rent things like this too! Check out For the Love of Pete they have all kinds of items to rent for parties or photoshoots!!! She even has space to rent too!
With this Emmett’s (yes another Emmett) 1st birthday/cake smash we had him sitting on a family made quilt, his newborn baby pictures, mom brought some initials from his bed room and we had a fun little box & balloons with a pendant in the background. The cake smash photos are priceless!!! Mom made a super cute monster cake and put googly eyes and he LOVED it!!
Let’s talk Mini Sessions! For me, Mini sessions are 15 min small sessions that are set up for 1 day that I book these at one location. One day fast and furious day and multiple client sessions in 1 day, I usually make these a special deal and book the full day. These are super for: Christmas, Fall family, Tulip fields, mommy and me, Spring fling sessions. I have found a great location to be able to do some of these in the bad weather so people can do these more often for less money and time! BONUS!!! See the link to For the Love of Pete above.
Here is a little vlog of me shooting a spring mini session with an adorable 2 year old! We did zones, they might not be quite as noticeable but they are there. We had her sitting on the rug, sitting in a chair, on the booth, behind the booth, dancing, even Easter egg hunting! Click HERE to watch the Spring Mini Session.
If you are a photographer and struggle with little people, let’s connect and talk about how to make things go more smoothly for both you and the customer!
Don’t forget to follow me here on the blog and my social media!!! Now get out and enjoy that sunshine!!!
