7 Tips for Wrangling Toddlers – Boston Area Family Photographer

HELLO, fellow photographers and toddler mamas! As a Boston area family photographer I know how difficult wrangling toddlers for pictures can be. Here are my top tips for helping little ones enjoy your session:

1. Bring Non-Messy Snacks & a Drink

Bonus points if those snacks are a treat for them – bribery works wonders! Non-messy snacks mean your kiddos don’t have to change out of their photoshoot outfit to eat them. Avoid things like yogurts, strawberries, things that could melt on their fingers etc!

2. Bring Different Toys

Pack a few different toys that they love, and stagger the order that you get them out to keep them newly entertained!

3. Bring An iPad

It’s great to have their favorite show to entertain them, but only plan to give this to them AFTER they’ve finished having their photos taken, as it’s hard to take this away once it’s out! I advise pre-downloading any movies or shows to keep things easy.

4. Get Them Dressed First

As soon as you get there, if they will let you, get your little one(s) changed into their photoshoot outfit so they can relax, get used to the space and play. You might want to bring a spare outfit for them too, just in case!

5. Don’t set expectations

You might have seen a gorgeous photo on Instagram that you’d love to recreate, but in all honesty when it comes to toddlers it’s best to go with the flow. Kids will be kids! I know you might feel like they are supposed to be on their best behavior and super well-behaved, but we photograph young families for a living, and that’s not always reality.

6. Leave them to your photographer

Sometimes it can be very overwhelming for a child to be told what to do by three people at once! Often, children are more likely to listen to their photog’s instructions than their parents. We have lots of tricks up our sleeves to get even the most uncooperative children involved! I encourage you to take a step back and let us communicate with them – we’ll be best friends by the end!

7. Try not to get frustrated

It’s absolutely normal to feel anxious when it doesn’t seem like your little one is cooperating. I know it’s hard to go with the flow and not get frustrated in these moments (believe me, I’ve been there!) Please don’t apologize if your kids refuse to get in the photos or throw a tantrum. We do this all the time and this behavior is normal! We will take their lead and find other ways to get them involved.

And remember, kiddos shouldn’t be expected to stay completely still or smile on command during a photography session! Embrace the chaos and meet your toddlers exactly where they’re at 🙂

Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m Molly, owner of Molly Katherine Photographer, a Boston newborn photographer specializing in young and growing families. I hope you enjoyed my “7 Tips for Wrangling Toddlers – Boston Area Family Photographer” feature.

Molly Katherine is a newborn and Boston area family photographer serving families in Boston and MetroWest MA. She offers maternity, newborn and family photography that is simplistic and timeless. Her clients love that they get both digital images and beautiful portrait artwork to share and enjoy for years to come.

If you are looking for a Boston family photographer and would like to see more of my work, feel free to check out my portfolio here.

If you are interested in a custom portrait session with Molly Katherine Photography and would like more information, please click here to learn more about me and this experience.

If you would like to reserve your 2023 maternity, newborn or family photos, in my MetroWest studio or outdoors, I would love to hear from you- let’s connect. Not quite ready, but would like to keep me in mind for the future? Just here for the mom content? I love that! Follow along on Instagram and let’s be friends!

Molly serves Greater Boston, Middlesex and Worcester counties including: Brookline | Belmont | Natick | Weston | Wellesley | Sherborn | Hopkinton | Westborough | Grafton and beyond