7 tips to make your newborn photo session a success …
with a toddler in tow

Going from a family of three to a fam of four is super exciting — welcoming a sibling and imagining friendship and camaraderie between your toddler and new babe in the not- so-distant future is the ultimate soul balm. We also know the transition from one kiddo to two is a big adjustment — those early days and weeks can feel a bit crazy…
And your newborn photo session lands in the middle of all that chaos. We get it. With under thousand shoots under our belt, and with three tiny people of our own, here are 7 tips to help make the session go smoothly and to ensure that your photos will offer a beautiful memory keepsake that you won’t look back on in frustration, #becausetoddlers…!

OWN THE THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL AND LET GO OF THE REST
You can control your mindset beforehand, your attitude going in, and your response in the difficult moments. You cannot control the chaos itself. Take a deep breath, reach
deep into that bucket of patience and grace, and let the session unfold, in whichever way it happens to go. Believe us: we can make beauty out of apparent chaos. Trust the process. Let go of the impulse to try to make the session happen in a particular way.

EXPECT GENUINE, CANDID INTERACTIONS … NOT PERFECT ONES
Capturing those moments that make your little family unique is what we do best. We won’t ever zap the magic by putting you in pre-planned poses that are awkward and uncomfortable. Of course, we’ll tweak things a bit — ask you to move a bit to the left or right — to ensure visual aesthetics, but our bread and butter of the newborn baby photography session is freezing those precious moments in time that pass all too quickly as babe grows. Your toddler is likely gonna jump around and screech at some point, or hide in the corner, or maybe even cry. And that’s ok. We expect a bit of crazy and are poised to handle it seamlessly from behind the lens. Go in with the mindset that not everything will look perfect — but it will look natural and organic, and that’s the
goal of our stunning newborn lifestyle photography.

A GOOD SLEEP HELPS
Aim to get your toddler to sleep on time the night before the session. We all know when kiddos get sufficient sleep, they are easier to handle. Of course, you can’t predict what
little bub will decide to do that night (and Murphy’s Law: they’ll give you some trouble), but you can do your part by at least presenting the opportunity for a good sleep.
And if your toddler’s simply not a champion night sleeper right now, that’s ok! Don’t worry. We totally get it and we’ve got tricks up our sleeves to get smiles out of even the crankiest toddler.

SNACKS, SNACKS, SNACKS … did we mention SNACKS?
The night before, set aside some snacks specifically for the photo session. Whatever your little human loves to munch on is perfect for a snack break to avoid meltdowns or tantrums from getting “hangry.” You’ll likely need to do a quick feed or diaper change with the newest addition: this is the perfect time to let your other tiny human devour something they love. (*tip: make sure it’s something that won’t interfere with photos or stain clothes, etc… like cheerios, apple slices, crackers, etc.)

MAKE SURE LOVEY OR BLANKET (or security item) IS CLOSE AT HAND
This one is self-explanatory. When kids feel secure and safe, they’ll feel more comfortable. A comfortable and relaxed toddler will be a bit more cooperative 🙂 If they’re ready, maybe they can even share their blanket or lovey with their tiny sibling and cozy up for some adorable newborn photo poses.

PREPARE A FEW DISTRACTIONS
Grab one or two things that your toddler loves (toys, stickers, blocks, etc.) and set them aside, out of reach. If things get tricky in the session, we can always bring the items out to distract for a minute (and even capture a few moments of kiddo playing with his fav things).

MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS: TODDLERS WILL BE TODDLERS
We totally know what an unruly toddler is like. And a shy toddler. And all the in-between. We get it and we love it. Go into the photoshoot expecting a bit of unpredictable and challenging behaviour from your eldest. Trying to control your toddler will backfire. For the duration of the photoshoot, let your little one be. We know how to navigate even the trickiest of situations to produce incredible photos, so don’t worry about your toddler “ruining” the session. When we’re ready to reveal the pictures, you’ll be greeted by a collection of breathtaking photos — and a handful of goofy, candid, raw moments — and you’ll smile. Because you went in expecting some of those honest, not-so-perfect moments amidst the beauty. (And those ones might actually end up being some of your favourites!)

We are so excited to work with you and can’t wait to get started.