Your Connecticut Family session
If you're the parent of a toddler you already know that planning anything is useless.
Even if you have this idea in your head about a beautiful location, the perfect outfits, and dreamy weather.
You’ve got visions of everyone looking their best, with natural smiles, a perfect family moment, and the best photographer ready to capture it all… you know those candy coated sweet dreams can be demolished in an instant by a threenager who digs his heels in and refuses to participate.
Luckily, you're going to have a few tricks up your sleeve that I have been studying for years to give yourself a leg-up on those cute little monsters!
I'm giving you my top 3 things that you can not bring to a photoshoot if you plan on bringing your toddler too!!
1. Expectations (For the Toddler, Not Your Photographer)
When you bring high expectations to the shoot with a toddler involved… you'll watch yourself disintegrating into the stage mom that Abby Lee Miller despises and you'll possibly yell and possibly be disappointed with all of your “peek a boo's and say cheeses” fall flat.
What you should bring is the knowledge that you already have about what makes your baby laugh… the silly songs you sing… the tickle spot he goes crazy over… or how much they love when you say the dog's name in a silly voice.
The best moments come when we keep their world about them.
We’ll ride their wave, and let them know that they are the boss.
Also bring high expectations for your Photographer (even if it's not me) because an experienced photographer can navigate this so easily!!
After years of toddler-wrangling (yes, I’m basically a toddler whisperer), I’ve seen it all and still manage to create stunning shots, even when we have multiple little ones to manage.
2. Snacks, Water Bottles, Stuffed Animals, and other Comfort Items
(I know this is basically against our religion as moms!)
This one might seem insane to you, but trust me—leave the snacks and water bottles in the car.
Kids tend to latch onto comfort items (like those water bottles or snacks).
Even when we keep them in a diaper bag or on the stroller… toddlers will want to run to get goldfish and their sippy cup every second.
With stuffies and blankets… it seems so logical that these items would make the child feel more comfortable and ease their anxiety, but it actually ends up doing the opposite.
It never fails that the second you don't want the hot pink Minnie Mouse or the bright red fire engine in the photos… we have to take it away… and that leads to melt-down city.
So tell the kids that their babies have to nap in the car while we play a little bit and we'll check on them after they get the rest they need.
This goes for any toy bribes that you promised them too (if you plan to do that)… it has to stay in the car until they finish the whole shoot otherwise they want to open it every second… and if they open it… the shoot is toast because they'll just want to play with the new toy.
3. iPads, iPhones, or Any Other Screen Devices
I know it’s tempting, especially when you’re just trying to survive.
But here’s the thing—once you introduce a screen, the magic is gone.
That iPad is a one-way ticket to zombie faces in every shot. Miss Rachel has likely saved MANY A MELTDOWN at home… which is amazing… but similar to the comfort items we talked about above… turning the screen off and getting back to the shoot is absolutely impossible once we have introduced it.
When you let go of these three things and trust the process, the magic happens.
We’re here to capture real moments, those genuine smiles, the spontaneous giggles, and the pure chaos that makes your family yours. Let’s have fun, make memories, and embrace the magic of imperfection because, honestly, those are the moments that’ll make the best photos.
