How to Prepare Your Toddler for a Stress-Free Family Photography Session
Let’s be honest, momma. You’re excited about your family photo session, but you’re a little stressed about how you’re going to get your little one to “behave”… am I right? If you’re looking for a stress-free family photography experience in Atlanta, follow these tips to prepare your toddler for the big day.
Choose the Right Time of Day for Your Family Session
What’s the best time to schedule a photo shoot for your toddler for a stress-free family photography experience?
Lean in, friends, because this little tip can make all the difference in setting you and your family up for success: Choose a time of day when your toddler is typically at their happiest and most energetic. If your child is usually grumpy in the morning, schedule your photo session for the afternoon. If your kiddo usually takes a nap in the afternoon, scheduling your photo session for the morning is your best bet.
Finally, if you have multiple kiddos, tailor your session time to the one who has the hardest time self-regulating. It might seem counter-intuitive, but this extra boost of intention could be the key to ensuring a peaceful session for the whole family.
In our experience, the best times for scheduling a photo session with your toddler tend to be at around 10:00 am or after nap time.
Invite Your Little One into the Process
In a lot of ways, kids are just like us: they just want to know what’s going on. By telling your little one that a family photo session is coming up, you’re helping them to feel prepared, relaxed, and excited for the big day!
Giving your child details like the name of the photographer, where you’ll be taking photos, and what a camera looks like/what it does will work wonders to help him or her feel comfortable and confident in front of the camera.
Your Calm is Their Cool
What should you expect at a family photo session? We’re just going to go ahead and say it, okay?
Expect interruptions, and try not to get frustrated if it takes a while for your little one to warm up to the session. As fellow moms and experienced photographers, we bring all the calm, kid-friendly expertise needed to make your family photo session feel effortless, so you can still get the authentic family photography you’re dreaming of.
Leave the directing to us and trust that we will do whatever it takes to capture the organic, candid, and authentic moments that make your family unique.
Bonus Tip: Hire a Family Photographer You Trust
In the end, we’re here to capture the art of childhood. Messy hands, wonky smiles, and silly poses are all part of the magic of being a kid.
We’re not here for the perfectly posed, curated, honestly uncomfortable group photos. Nope! We’re here for the organic, candid, authentic moments that make your family unique. The inside jokes and facial expressions that you long to capture in the day-to-day.
Those moments don’t happen when we feel pressured to look “right.” Those emotional pieces of storytelling can only be captured when we’re really living them… and when we trust that we’ve hired the right person.
When you book with Sunnypop, you’re hiring a team of moms that see you and get you.
We’re on this journey right alongside you, so we know you’ve invested time, energy, and money into bringing your family to this session. It’s our absolute joy to serve you, so we make every effort to honor that with our preparation and expertise. Whether it’s with our guides or in conversations leading up to your session, we have you covered every step of the way.
All you have to do is come – really – and enjoy the beauty of your family.
You’re going to love the end result. We promise 🙂
🌼 About Sunnypop Photography
Sunnypop Photography is an Atlanta-based family photography team that specializes in relaxed, connection-first sessions that meet your family exactly where you are — whether that’s an in-home session in Decatur, a day on the golf course, or chasing your toddler through the backyard. We’re here for the good stuff. The fleeting, funny, sometimes chaotic moments that make your story yours. If you’re looking for authentic family photography in Atlanta from a team that gets it, you’re in the right place. Let’s create something honest, beautiful, and totally stress-free.
