By then end of a session with a toddler, most photographers all agree on the fact that they’re exhausted and glad for it to be over! Sadly, that’s not how any photographer should be feeling after any sort of shoot. Toddlers can be a handful, no doubt, but there are ways to get through a shoot without wanting to pull your hair out. Just listen to this!
First off, if you know there is a toddler session coming up, book it early! I’m talking 8 or 9 am. Why does the time matter, you ask? Think about it, when does a normal toddler wake up? I would say around 7 am. This gives the parent time to give them some breakfast and have them dressed without a fight. A toddler is probably the most cooperative in the morning because they have just conquered a good night’s sleep. This will help ensure you to have a smoother shoot, and not having a run-in with the terrible two’s.
Second, remember that the shutter speed on your camera could potentially be your key to a successful shoot. It’s pretty unrealistic to think that a toddler is going to show up to a session and sit there perfectly still and calm, just so you can get those perfect shots. It’s most likely the opposite. Now the child could be cooperative, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be on-the-go every chance he gets. To avoid motion blur, you need to use a high shutter speed. Personally anytime I’m photographing a kid ages, 2-10, I am always on the setting “continuous shooting,” this way I don’t miss a thing.
Lastly, become a team with the parents! I know it seems like the session is all about the toddler but it can actually fall back onto it being all about the parents. How the parents feel about the session and how you decide to prepare the session with them, means a lot. If the parents come into the session relaxed and ready to be involved, it will make the session go much smoother. Try giving the parents a job, like getting their toddler to laugh by making funny faces or dangling their favorite toy behind the camera. Since the toddler isn’t familiar with your voice (the photographer), have the parents on stand-by constantly, so they can call the toddler’s name at the appropriate time and help you get that perfect shot. Also, having the parents in some shots makes for a great session. The photos with the whole family seem to be the most memorable ones out of all of them.
I hope that those tips and tricks help you for your future toddler sessions! Remember to get in those early shoots, keep a high shutter speed and team up with those parents! Follow that, and by the end of the session, your stress level should be next to nothing.