Toddler Family Photos in Denver: You Don’t Have to Make Your Kids Pose
If you’re thinking about booking family photos with a toddler, there’s a good chance you’re already imagining how it might go.
“Okay, buddy, look at the camera.”
“Can you smile?”
“Just one more!”
And five minutes later, everyone is over it.
Here’s the good news: your toddler does not need to cooperate for your family photos to turn out beautifully.
In fact, some of my favorite family photos happen when we stop trying so hard to get the perfect pose.
Let your toddler be a toddler
Toddlers are curious. They want to explore, run, pick things up, investigate every stick they see and generally have somewhere else they’d rather be.
That’s not a problem to solve during your Denver family photography session. It’s part of who they are right now.
So instead of asking them to stand still and smile, we might run down a trail, look for something interesting, snuggle with Mom or Dad, play a little game or take a break.
And while they’re busy being a toddler, I’m watching for the moments you’re going to want to remember.
But I’m not just standing there with my camera
“Unposed” doesn’t mean unplanned.
There’s actually a lot of direction happening during a session, it just doesn’t always look like traditional posing.
I’m watching your child’s personality and energy, finding good light, giving them little things to do, moving your family into the right spot and knowing when to step in and when to back off.
Sometimes I’ll give your toddler a simple prompt. Sometimes I’ll get you interacting with them. Sometimes the best thing I can do is follow along and be ready.
They don’t have to know they’re being photographed.
What if your toddler is shy?
That’s okay, too.
Some kids need a little time to warm up. I’m not going to walk in and immediately expect them to smile at a stranger with a camera.
We can start slowly. Let them hang onto Mom or Dad. Explore the location. Get comfortable.
Usually, once they realize this isn’t a big performance, they start doing their thing.
And that’s when we get the good stuff.
The little hand reaching for yours. The serious concentration while they inspect a leaf. The laugh you get when Dad does something ridiculous. The way they still want to be carried even though they absolutely do not need to be carried.
Those are the things that make this particular season yours.
Family photos don’t have to be a production
My goal with Denver family photography is not to make your toddler look like a tiny adult who has mastered sitting still on command.
I want your photos to look and feel like your family.
So come ready to play, explore, snuggle and probably chase your kid around a little.
You don’t have to make them cooperate.
Just be with them. I’ll be right there making sure we get the photos you’ll want to remember.
