Tips for parents with a small child. Today’s session had some tears so I decided to write this to help parents and bring less stress for everyone during your little one’s photo session. Small children do cry and it is expected and okay. Here are some tips to ease the session: Come well rested and well fed. If you are planning to have a session with small children please schedule it around your kid’s nap times, snacks and lunches. It is never good to skip naps or meals before your photo session. A well rested and fed child is one plus to have a successful session. De-stress yourself. Kids do sense when mama is nervous or stressed out and that may affect the outcome for the session. Bring snacks. For smaller children who still drink milk or have bottles, it is always good to bring milk, water or both. Also, small finger snacks may help to stop a child from crying. Bring favorite toys, music or anything else that your child loves to hear or see. It is amazing how a familiar song can do wonders to a child’s mood and switch him/her from a cranky toddler to a happy one. After that, it is up to your photographer to catch that smile .  Never come sick. To some it is obvious and to others it is not. If your child is sick or has a fever please reschedule. I offer a very lenient sick policy and I am happy to wait for better timing when your child is feeling better. This policy also minimizes the chance of germs spreading and is important for the safety and health of all coming to my studio. Make funny faces. Photographing small children often comes down to playing a game. It is critical to the final images and the success of the photo session to make it look like a game and play peekaboo or other games your toddler is used to at home. Bring enough outfits. I can’t stress how many times things get spilled and get dirty during a snack time or small rest time. Often parents only bring one outfit. It is recommended that you bring extra outfits to avoid being upset over an accidental spill and to ensure a clean outfit in your child’s photographs! Bring enough diapers. It always happens! Your baby pooped or peed more them normal and not at the right time. While I do offer a changing station and wipes, I do not provide diapers. If baby is uncomfortable it is best to do a diaper change, so please bring some extra diapers for your session. Also, if your child is sensitive to wipes and you use a certain kind it is recommended to bring the particular wipes your child needs. Bring help. I do recommend bringing a husband, grandma or another special adult in your child’s life along to your photo session to help out. While I photograph small children they often move out of position and toddlers may even try to run around. The second person is the one who puts them back in front of the backgrounds, while mommy is next to the photographer aiding in getting the child’s attention. Bottom line is if most of the steps are followed and with the right photographer it is possible to minimize crying and get smiles from your child. Sometimes crying pictures do happen no matter how hard you have prepared to make your baby or toddler happy. In some cases, like Santa Claus pictures, your child may be afraid of an unfamiliar person, costume or place. Again it may be the age of the child and he/she will grow out of it. After all, each photo will be a priceless memory you will look back on and wonder how your child has grown so much. I am happy to discuss suggestions in more detail to make sure we have a successful session.