Most were just alright, but a few really stood out as being really good. I didn’t know how to use my camera yet, but a big problem was that I had no idea how to pose her. I’m a big believer in capturing children as they are, so for a good portion of every shoot, I’m on the ground snapping away as she played and interacted with other children. Moms usually have tons of snapshots of their kids playing and running around – in short, being kids. But sometimes, you just want a really nice portrait of your toddler to send to the grandparents, perhaps modeling an outfit they sent your child. I thought I would post a few helpful tips for getting a great shot of your toddler, sitting still. You can employ a couple tricks to get a good shot. The first thing I did with Sophie was put her in a chair to prevent her from running off. Be careful, though, because chairs can swallow little people. I placed her on the edge of the seat, (you can also wrap their feet around the rungs). This prevents them from becoming lost in the chair, and it keeps them in one place while you get your shot.
Another trick I like to use is keeping their hands occupied. If you have a toddler, you know that their hands are always in their mouths or on their faces. They chew on their fingers, they rub at their eyes, they muss their hair – all stuff I love to capture, but I also want to get shots of their faces too. Have them hold a stuffed animal or even a stick. This will keep their hands busy and away from their face. It will also give the picture that “childhood” look. So, when taking a portrait of your toddler, try sitting her in a chair (on the edge so it doesn’t swallow her), and giving her a favorite toy or book to hold in her hands and keep her busy. That way you can capture them wearing the new outfit that grandma sent, or you can get a great shot of their first haircut – any number of little milestones or special occasions that you want to capture.
Another tip to getting a great shot is to place that chair in open shade outside – natural light makes for the best photos! If it’s cold outside (a distant memory right now), place the chair by a window in your house where a lot of natural light is coming in so you don’t have to use your flash.
