Tacoma+Puyallup Photographer
Photographing toddlers is a wild, unpredictable, and absolutely magical experience. Some might see it as a challenge, after all, toddlers have big emotions, boundless energy, and zero interest in sitting still. But for me, this chaos is where the magical beauty happens.
As a mom and a photographer, I know firsthand that life with toddlers is wild, unpredictable, and freaking beautiful. It's also real, full of laughter, and filled with fleeting moments you'll treasure for the rest of your life. That’s why I don’t just tolerate toddler antics during a photo session. I truly embrace them.
Toddlers don’t hold back. Whether they’re laughing hysterically or refusing to put on their shoes, they are unapologetically them. This honesty is what makes photographing them so fun.
Take the session where a little boy decided he was in charge of Pepper, the family dog. It was supposed to be mom and dad's turn in front of the camera, but their toddler had other plans. Before we knew it, he had wrapped the leash around both of his parents in what looked like a scene straight out of a comedy sketch. Instead of getting flustered, we rolled with it. And the result was a series of laughter, heartwarming images that perfectly captured their family perfectly.
Sometimes, toddlers just aren’t in the cooperation type of mood. And that’s okay. Like the little girl who wasn’t having any of it during an outdoor family session. She was cold, grumpy, and completely uninterested until she spotted my little wicker chair. Suddenly, she was all smiles, sitting in the chair like it was her personal throne and refusing to leave it. Those photos of her happily sitting in the chair turned out to be some of her parents’ favorites. They dubbed the chair "magic" at the session. It made that much of a difference.
Let’s talk about the session that started with not one, but TWO toddlers taking a spill before we even began. One of them ended up bleeding and crying, understandably. But we took a deep breath, gave the kids the attention and comfort they needed, and let the session evolve naturally. By the end, we had captured tons of beautiful smiles, sibling love, and even a few of those perfectly unposed moments that tell the authentic story of childhood.
Toddlers remind me to let go of expectations. Life with little ones isn’t about perfectly posed smiles or exceptional behavior. It’s about genuine belly laughs, scraped knees, messy faces, and all the love in between. That’s what I want to capture in every family session. The real, unscripted moments that reflect who your child is right now.
Here’s the thing: toddlers aren’t going to sit perfectly still, and they’re not supposed to. That’s why my approach is all about embracing their energy. I let them run, play, and just be them. Whether it’s a game of tag, a silly face, or letting them play with the dog (leash chaos and all), I take their lead. This creates a session that feels less like a chore and more like a fun family outing.
Years from now, you won’t look back and wish your toddler had smiled perfectly in every photo. You’ll cherish the silliness that shows their personality and heart, their curiousness, their joy. That’s what I aim to deliver: photos that feel real, because they are.
So, bring on the chaos, the sillies, the scraped knees, and the runaway toddlers. With toddlers, chaos is inevitable, but it’s also where the beauty lies. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
