Family Photos with Toddlers: Tips from a Portland Family Photographer (and Toddler Mom)

If you've ever thought, "We'll book family photos when my toddler is a little easier," I get it. Because I'm right there with you.

I'm a toddler mom, too, and my days are filled with constant snack negotiations, chasing her around and wondering where she got her endless energy from because it wasn't from me or her dad lol, and wondering how someone so small can cause such destruction in just two minutes!

So when parents tell me they're nervous their toddler won't cooperate during family photos, I don't just understand as a photographer. I understand it as a mom.

Toddlers Weren't Meant to Sit Still

First and foremost, toddlers are curious little humans and are constantly exploring, poking, and running.

They're collecting rocks, noticing bugs and flowers, asking to be carried one minute and running away the next. They're curious about everything. It can be exhausting but also a great reminder to be in the moment. They're not thinking about the toys they have to pick up or what time it is - they're appreciating Earth's beauty and the love (and snacks) around them.

And that's exactly what I love to photograph - the curiosity, the exploring, the love for life.

As your Portland family photographer, I don't expect your child to sit perfectly and smile at the camera for an hour. Honestly, that isn't what I'm hoping for. I'm looking for the way they wrap their arms around your neck after they've fallen down. Or the way they reach for your hand without thinking (because believe it or not, that phase will soon pass). And I love how easily they giggle at the littlest of things.

So yes, they may be wild, they may be unpredictable, and there may be tears along the way. But I'm here for all those moments - my sessions are easy-going, flexible, and I always say: we can take a snack break if we want! This is also why I don't love mini sessions for those thinking their kid won't last long. My sessions involve play, snuggles, and exploring. A full session allows for time to unwind and take the pressure off of them.

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

There are a few simple things that can help make your session feel smoother.

Try to adjust naps if you can. I know this can be hard but I know that with my kid, food & new play (like going somewhere new) goes a long way as a motivator to stay up later, crash hard later, and we pick back up in our routine the following day. Easier said than done but I have done it multiple times and while daunting to think about adjusting naps & bedtimes, every single time I look back, I realized it wasn't as hard as it seemed in my head and was always worth the extra effort and struggle. At least for me. Every family is different but I just encourage you to give it a try before ruling it out as a possibility altogether.

Bring a favorite snack. I recommend non-crumbly, non-tongue-staining snacks. Like gummy worms, marshmallows, and Cocomelts (like yogurt melts) which are great for teething babies.

Dress everyone in clothes they can move comfortably in. Dressing everyone in loose-fitted clothing creates flow, movement and an overall relaxed vibe to your photos automatically AND bonus: it's easier for toddlers to move in freely as well.

But the biggest thing?

Leave your expectations at home. You don't need your toddler to "perform" for me. They don't need to smile on command. They don't need to look at the camera every few seconds. They just need permission to be themselves.

You Don't Have to Spend the Session Managing Everyone

As moms, we're so used to anticipating the next meltdown, wiping sticky hands, and trying to keep everything running smoothly. I know how easy it is to slip into that role during family photos.

But I hope your session feels different. Instead of worrying about whether your toddler is doing everything "right," I want you to be present with them.

Hold them when they ask to be held. Laugh when they run the wrong direction. Kiss their messy cheeks. Let them climb into your lap. I'll take care of the rest.

Someday, These Will Be the Details You Miss

Now that I have a toddler of my own, I catch myself wanting to freeze the smallest moments like how she reaches for my hand or the way she leans her whole body into me when she's tired. I don't know how much longer she'll do this for.

These are "ordinary" moments. But in my mind, they are anything but ordinary. They are everything.

I already know I'll miss them when she grows up which is why I photograph families the way I do. I'm not chasing perfect smiles. You can get a great image of them smiling on your iphone. I'm chasing the feeling of being a toddler mom before it quietly slips into the next phase.

So whether we're exploring a quiet field outside Portland, wandering through the Columbia River Gorge, or documenting your family at home, my goal is always the same—to capture your family as you are today.

And if your toddler spends half the session running, exploring, asking to be picked up, or refusing to look at the camera?

I'd say that sounds exactly like a toddler.

And that's a story worth remembering.