What is the secret to taking amazing family photos with young, spirited toddlers?
This is the ultimate question for a family photographer! One of the greatest compliments I ever get as a Pottstown family photographer is when I talk to parents after delivering their family photos and they can’t believe how many great photos and expressions we captured. Does it feel chaotic sometimes? Heck yes! Do kids cooperate all the time? Heck no! Taking family photos with toddlers is a workout–I tell parents they don’t need to worry about going to the gym that day, haha. But taking photos with young kids is also refreshing. Count me in for whatever adventures your little ones have in store for us that day!
For all you parents out there with young kids, here’s the secret to beautiful family photos: love them through all the ups and downs and embrace the hiccups when they happen. Because hiccups will happen. Toddlers aren’t going to listen to my instructions and pose sweetly for photos for 60 minutes just because I’m a family photographer. And even if they did, what fun would that be? The amazing and exhausting thing about toddlers is they are 100% authentic. They live in the moment. It’s true–one moment they might be fussing and the next moment they’re laughing. And that’s why I love doing photos for families with young kids. Going on adventures and exploring with little ones is the BEST, so I keep a fast shutter speed to freeze the whole range of little moments and expressions as they come. You only need a fraction of a second to freeze a beautiful moment in time forever.
So what should you do if your toddler get spirited or fussy or keeps running out of the frame during family photos? Embrace the hiccups and just keep loving them right through it all. If their parents are there to wipe away the tears, give them a hug, snuggle them, and tickle them, that smile will peek out despite all their best efforts to hide it. And when it does I’ll be ready! Because the chaos is beautiful, and so is your love for your kids 🙂
Here are some of my favorite moments from a recent family photoshoot with two young girls under 4. They came ready for adventure, and they spent much of the session wanting to explore. But when they did wander out of the frame, it’s because they wanted to pick flowers for mommy. When Daddy flew them up in the air, their laugh was everything. When I asked them to make silly faces, I’ve never seen anyone follow my instructions so fast! And when mommy snuggled them, they gave the best kisses 🙂 These are the kinds of beautiful family photos that make my heart sing. I’m so excited to share them with you!
Looking for family photos near Pottstown? I’d love to help you capture some fun family memories! Kristin Brockman Photography offers outdoor natural light lifestyle photos for families. For more information, you can check out my Family Portfolio and Family Session Details. You can also check out my Featured Photo Sessions, to see the full gallery of images from a couple of my family photo sessions and reach out if you’re looking for family photos near Pottstown.
If you have any questions or want to inquire about my availability for family photos, please email me at kristinbrockmanphotography@gmail.com.
Kristin Brockman Photography is a natural light family photographer based in Pottstown, Pennsylvania who serves clients in the Greater Philadelphia area including but not limited to the Main Line, Malvern, Wayne, Media, King of Prussia, Collegeville, Harleysville, Lansdale, Willow Grove, Doylestown, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Royersford, Chester Springs, Kennett Square, West Chester, Coatesville, Exton, Downingtown, Reading, Birdsboro, Morgantown, Gilbertsville, Boyertown, and Allentown. She specializes in natural, family-centered photos focused on capturing genuine and authentic moments.
kristinbrockmanphotography@gmail.com
