Preparing your toddler for your Galveston Beach family session does not have to be stressful. In fact, it can be a lot of fun, and if you’re joining us for our annual seaside sessions at Galveston, get ready to have the best time.  Your family session is about creating memories with your family. It should be special and it should be FUN. 

Over the last 10 years, I have photographed hundreds of families and even more toddlers, and along the way, I have learned a few things that will help prepare your toddler for your Galveston Beach family session. 

Get Excited

I have built a client experience that truly takes care of everything for you. My goal is to eliminate all of the stress that could come with preparing a session so that you can focus on being excited. It’s important that your kids see you excited and not stress or fussing over what to wear or the fact that you’re having to do another family photoshoot. 

A few days prior to your session, start talking it up to your kids. Tell them you are going to go play and explore Galveston as a family. Tell them that you are excited to have fun with them. Make this about creating memories as a family, not having pictures taken.

Ditch the Bribes

Do not bribe or threaten your child before or during the session. It immediately plants the seed that your family session isn’t going to be fun and oftentimes, makes the behavior worse. IF you want to offer a reward for good behavior, wait until we are wrapping up the session. That kind of positive reinforcement really helps solidify that taking pictures is fun and will make the next photoshoot that much easier. 

NO Cheese

You won’t hear me tell a child to say “cheese.” No need to practice it! I promise, we’ll get a great photo of everyone looking and smiling, but there are better ways than “cheese.”

Good Sleep and Eat Well

Do your best to make sure that your child has a good night’s sleep the night before and a normal nap the day of your session. Also, make sure that they are well fed. Picture day is not the day to try something new- stick to what they love for meals and snacks. 

Outfits and Hair 

Don’t fuss too much over outfits and hair once we start. If something is in disarray, I will step in to adjust, but no one likes to be picked at over and over. It makes them cranky.

Relax 

Mom and Dad’s mood dictates the session way more than a two-year-old’s. No matter what the toddlers throw at us, just keep smiling! I promise I have seen it all and confident that I can work with just about anything thrown my way!

Have Fun!

Sharing this tip again because I cannot stress this enough. HAVE FUN! We are going to make your family session a game for them, so play along! I will direct and guide you through the session or ask for specific individuals to look at the camera when needed. The rule of thumb is that if I’m not saying anything, it’s because what you are doing is perfect.

I promise, if you’re having fun, your children will too.