Get Great Pictures of Your Toddler!

Toddlerstoday.com, January 2007

Jennifer Loomis has photographed hundreds of 2-year-olds, but it's her experience as a former MSBNC photojournalist that taught her the skills needed to produce award-winning photographs.

Here are Loomis' tips for parents who want to take better photos of their 2-year-olds:

Be Patient. Realize it's going to take time – perhaps a lot of time – to get to the right moment for the shots you really want. Loomis sets up three-hour shoots so she can spend time with the parents and kids just getting them to relax and be themselves. She starts off by asking questions like "How do you hug your child?" to see how the parent and child engage each other.
One Parent at a Time. Having just one parent interact with the child is more than enough. If both parents are "working" the kid, that's when the problems often start and the child starts being resistant to any perceived demands, which can quickly escalate into a breakdown.
Take the Focus Off. By focusing less on the child and more on a specific activity, the child relaxes and engages in play. It's often in play that Loomis "captures the moment" that makes a wonderful photo. If the child becomes aggravated, don't push it – put the camera down, switch the focus and reintroduce the camera only after the child has sufficiently calmed down.
Go Easy with the Bribery. Loomis has admitted to using sweets or toys to get a 2-year-old's attention, but only as a last resort. She suggests first starting off with activities that the child really enjoys as a way to get them smiling and excited about what they are doing.
Wear Complicated Patterns and Jewelry. When photographing 6-month-old babies, Loomis wears a black and white top and a charm bracelet to attract the baby's attention. Engaging patterns or colors that appeal to the child can make them more likely to look in your direction.

"Most photographers dread taking pictures of a 2-year-old because they can be so difficult, but I think their unpredictability is what makes them so great," Loomis says. "Forget about getting a posed, smiling photo, because a 2-year-old simply won't stand for it. But you can capture amazing moments on film if you set up the right environment, and you wait for the moment to happen."

More tips can be found at www.jenniferloomis.com. (1-02-07)