Family Photoshoot with Infant
Precious little angel isn’t she?! My word are these children so photogenic! You may call me biased as I am her aunt, but still, I don’t think I’m wrong!
So, let’s talk about doing a family photoshoot with an infant.
When it comes to posing, it’s pretty safe to say that one parent has to be holding the sweet bundle at all times, right? And, that may seem like it makes less posing or free play options, but I actually found it to be quite contrary. If you feel nervous about booking a photoshoot with your infant, remember that limitations help make decisions easier. So, baby is going to be sitting on Mom’s hip for a lot of photos… well, isn’t that often how real life goes anyway? Baby is dependent. And, that is part of the sweetness of the whole thing! So, I just want to encourage you if you feel nervous about booking a family shoot with an infant, just lean into the stage of life as it truly is.
While doing this photoshoot, my sweet niece got tired toward the end, and rested her head on Mom’s shoulder which resulted in this sweet picture to the right. This moment was so natural to Baby, and THAT is what made it so sweet for me to catch. I have said it before, and I will say it again, one of the greatest gifts of photography is to capture the normal, everyday moments in life that will one day be an indulgence in our times of nostalgic reflection.
A short attention span
It’s not secret that toddlers are learning to push boundaries, love to explore, and are developing that “mind of their own”, and my precious nephew was no different. (Yep! It was a dear privilege to do this shoot with my brother’s family one morning while on a big family vacation.)
Like many toddlers, sitting still and smiling for a camera are not on the list of this little one’s hobbies, and, to add to it, it happened to be a very humid morning just before a large storm rolled in. So, we had to keep things moving and keep them fresh to keep his attention.
If you are nervous about doing a photoshoot with your toddler or child with a short attention span, I really want to encourage you to keep things moving. Tickles, running, swing, playing with stuffed animals, blowing bubbles… all of these things can help bring a smile to your kiddos face, helping you get those sharable family photos.
My brother was a real gem when it came to engaging his son while we took posed family photos. Every couple of minutes, he tossed his son up in the air a few times to bring that genuine smile back, and then set the little one back on his hip. This is a great tip that you can take with you to your family shoot, and one that I will be sure to keep in my back pocket as well.
