I get it, I have had toddlers too! Getting professional family photos can be stressful and with a toddler or young children they can be even more so! Toddlers tend to be unpredictable… a loose canon at times if I may be so bold to suggest. Maybe your toddler is the reason you are hesitant to book a professional photographer for your family photo session. Well, don’t worry! With the right photographer and your cooperation your upcoming family photos with toddlers will be a joy and a memory you will look back fondly on.
I have been taking family photos with toddlers for a decade now and I have learned some lessons the hard way. Being prepared with an arsenal of hacks is the best thing I can suggest for getting happy and cooperative toddler photos, even if they are shy and reluctant. Of course, it’s always our favorite when photographers get a toddler who is social and hams it up for the camera but that is not always the case.
Toddlers have a lot of energy, some more than others.
I wrote a blog post to help families prepare their children for their photo session here but this one will touch on what to do specifically with toddlers during the photo session! So aside from finding a photographer who is patient, kind, and comfortable around toddlers here is my best advice for getting those amazing family photos with toddlers and young children you so desperately desire.
Five ways to get amazing Family photos toddlers
1. Keep a playful attitude
Expect to play! Toddlers do not like to sit still for longer than 5 seconds if they are not occupied with something they want to do. So my best advice is to keep your session playful. Tickles, tag, swinging, rides on shoulders, playing a game of catch and release, throwing the tot in the air, and smelling their “stinky” feet are all great ways to keep your toddler laughing and happy. Oh and their favorite songs help a lot too! Dance Parties make for great photos.
2. Play with Toys
I have a roped basket filled with neutral-colored wooden toys for toddlers that I bring to sessions, even the outdoor sessions. I usually keep them reserved for the end of the session if the toddler is losing interest. Here are my favorites we use during sessions.
3. Let them choose to get amazing family photos with toddlers
Toddlers love to have a say, so let them! Have a few choice shots in your pocket. An example would be, “Do you want to run towards Mom and Dad or away from them?” or “Would you like Mama to hold you or Dada?”. Sometimes they don’t though and this is when the next tip comes in handy!
4. Use Mini-Marshmallows (aka bribes!)
I am definitely not above bribes! Treats are great, but not all treats are created equal. You are going to want something that is not going to be messy and something soft to get amazing photos with your toddler. And so mini-marshmallows are a safe option for positive reinforcement treat during your family photo session that I will use if necessary for the perfect shot. They have allergen and dye-free mini-marshmallows, these are the ones I use (bonus they have protein!). It’s amazing what a little sweet incentive can do for your family photo session.
5. Give them a job to do to get amazing family photos with toddlers
I don’t think I’ve met a toddler who doesn’t like having a job to feel important, helpful, and an integral part of the group. Have them hold something for you while you’re photographing Mom and Dad. Ask them if they want to take a photo of their parents or sibling (with you holding the camera of course). Buttons work wonders.
BONUS TIP: Use Movement to your advantage while taking family photos with toddlers
Use all that young mitochondrial energy to your advantage! Have Dad toss his toddler gently in the air, take your toddler on a shoulder ride or a piggyback ride, pretend to be airplanes, dance, and twirl together. Young kids LOVE movement, do not try to make them stay still. It likely won’t go well for you.
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Welcome! I’m so honored you are here checking out my blog. I wanted to tell you a little more about me; I am a lifestyle family photographer and a Mama of two young children. If you would like to learn a little more about me click here. I’m a Castle Rock Photographer but also serve clients as a Colorado Springs Family Photographer and a Denver Family Photographer as well.
If you love these photos and are looking for a milestone, family, maternity, or newborn lifestyle photographer in Castle Rock, Colorado Springs, or Denver I would love to learn more about you, your family, and this season of life you are in. I’m booking all of 2025 and 2026 for my Bump-Baby clients. Fill out the contact form here and we will be in touch!
