Toddling Agency

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It seems like any time I take pictures of toddlers (that aren’t my own), the parents always say to me, “How in the world did you get her to look at the camera?” or “How did you get him to smile? I can never do that.”

“Uh…yeah,” I say, “I can’t do that with my own kids, either.”

We all know that toddlers can be some of the hardest subjects to photograph—but they can also be the most fun. They are so full of life and personality, and although they do have their “melt-down” moments, they are generally happy-go-lucky.

Fortunately, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve for getting a toddler (yes, even your own!) to look good in photos. But remember not to push it. If a toddler isn’t feeling well, hasn’t had a nap, or is just having a bad day, no amount of bribery or persuading is going to help. Both you and the toddler will walk away feeling exhausted and frustrated. So with that disclaimer, here are a few tips for getting great photos of tiny tots.

Tip #1: Bring Props

Here is a good starting list of props to bring for a toddler: a toddler-sized chair or bench; a cute and clean stuffed animal (bonus points if it makes noise!); a classy or old-fashioned train or car, a vintage wagon; a fun hat, scarf, shoes or sunglasses to wear; an engaging book; a hand-held mirror or magnifying glass; bubbles; a large lollipop.

	Note: I started out this session by letting Parley play with and show me all his Lightning McQueen cars.
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	Note: After just a few minutes with the cars, Parley felt comfortable enough with me to really show me his big smiles and cute personality.
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	Note: I have a little kid-sized chair that I always bring to my sessions with toddlers. One trick to using a small chair like this is to position the toddler backwards, with one leg on each side and his/her arms folded over the back. This gives them more stability and something to do with their hands and arms. It also makes for great visual triangles!
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Tip #2: Don't Hide Behind the Camera

You’re going to lose a toddler’s interest very quickly if all they’re seeing is a camera in front of your face. Try setting up the camera on a tripod and using a cable release (or other remote control) so that you can come out from behind the camera and interact face-to-face.

	Note: You can see in this image that when I first started taking pictures of Kai, he really didn’t trust me much. I was behind my camera and all he saw was this big black thing in front of my face. His smiles, if there were any, were forced and unnatural. But as soon as I set my camera on a tripod and actually showed him my face (and my own smile) he quickly warmed up to me and my camera.
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	Note: Another tip for getting toddlers comfortable with your camera is to take a couple of photos of them and then show them the LCD screen on the back. Seeing themselves is always a thrill!
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Tip #3: Treat Boys and Girls Differently

Even at this very young age, toddlers are prone to "boy" activities and "girl" activities. Boys love to put their hands in their pockets, because it’s a grown-up thing to do. Girls love to be treated like princesses, so constantly tell them how pretty they look.

	Note: In this photo, Grace had just come home from dance class and already felt like a princess in her ballet costume and cute hair ribbons. I simply handed her a flower, and this pose happened all on her own.
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	Note: For this image, all I had to do was ask Landon, “Do you have pockets?” That simple question got me a great pose and a cute-as-can-be smile!
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That's not all there is to it, but it will definitely give you a good start! Look for 10 more fantastic tips for photographing toddlers in Picture Perfect: 129 expert tips for shooting stellar portraits, on sale April 20. I was thrilled to team up with the talented Becky Novacek and Kelly Noel in authoring this exciting new eBook. When you download your copy, you'll also enjoy 11 tricks for taking great baby photos, 11 tips for photographing teens, 10 ideas for better pet photos, 12 suggestions for pictures of adults, 31 solutions for group shots, and...well, you get the picture.

For more of Elisha Snow's fabulous family photography (and to meet her brand new baby, Myles David Snow), visit her blog.