Trouble with your toddler? Thoughts from a Utah Photographer

Hi there, I’m Lexi and I’m a Utah County Photographer and I want to photograph your hard-to-photograph children. That might sound weird, but it’s true.

Have you ever tried a photo session with your toddler that ended in tantrums or melt-downs? You aren’t alone, but guess what, I don’t think that’s your fault or even theirs. Pictures are a tall-ask for a tot and there’s only so much Mom can do to get a 3-year-old to look at a camera and a total stranger for more than about 2 seconds. I believe your tots behavior is all on ME during your photoshoot. I’ve taken pictures of hundreds of toddlers and usually even the most difficult can’t help but like one of my games. The mom from this photo session was pretty worried about her little guy in white lasting through the shoot, and brought some candy as backup (which we didn’t even use). If you’ve ever had pre-shoot anxiety about your kids, you aren’t alone on that either. So many moms that I talk to have worried about one or more of their kids.

Let me tell you though, I’m not worried about your hard-to-manage littles. I mothered one myself, which actually helped me improve my photographer “circus act”. I’ve got so many tricks up my sleeve they usually fall for something. At this particular shoot in Utah County, I started out going through my bag of tricks at lightning speed at the beginning. I did my crazy-hair schtick early which was only mildly amusing, we talked about super hero’s and treasure hunts and still not much of a reaction. And then I got to my foam ball (which can’t break my camera when they throw it at me) and he was hooked. I used that little blue ball for the next 45 minutes and it was magic. “Hey buddy, if you put your hands in your pockets, I’ll throw the ball to you” Click. Click. Click. “Hey buddy, hide the ball behind your back.” Click. Click. Click. “Hey bud, throw the ball at me and see if you can hit me.” Click. Click. Click. You get the idea. Check out the looks I got from that cutie! Moral of the story, your Utah photographer should be assertive and view getting your kids’ attention as THEIR job, not yours. Your photographer should be prepared to woo your little kids to keep them interested and involved. If it takes a small circus-act, I’m still game. I should probably be slightly embarrassed when I forget my hair is in crazy-hair mode and spend 20 minutes of the shoot looking like a crazy lady, but I don’t care. When its for a portrait you’ll treasure forever, there’s not much I won’t try. I’m not just a photographer in Utah County, I’ve learned that to do my job well, I also have to be an entertainer of hard-to-photograph children, and it’s actually a pretty darn rewarding job.

xoxo,

Lexi

Utah Family Photographer Utah County Photographer