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How To Photograph The Two Year Old by Robert Provencher

Can you handle a two year old? Do you want to capture great images of babies and children? If so, you will eventually find yourself with one or more, maybe even twin two year olds. It's inevitable. You can't say you photograph children, except two year olds. Can you?

Many a photographer have changed their minds when confronted with the willfulness of a classic two year old photo session. In a nutshell, it ain't easy! Two year olds are tough, but only if we think it so. We need to lose our old habits and ways and develop a new mindset. You need to give up control, expect the unexpected and be willing to totally let go and let the gods of photography take you on a whirlwind zen-ride like no other.

And capture great expression while you're at it.

When I say two year olds I qualify that as the age group betwixt one and whenever they start walking to almost three years of age, when they actually begin to show signs of intelligence and reason.

Whenever I book a two year old, we start on the phone with the mom. We ask her our usual round of questions about clothes, backgrounds she may be looking for, looks she may desire or any personal tastes she may have for her child. Then we ask her not to make a huge deal about the photo session.

Kids don't really understand the whole photo session concept. It makes adults nervous enough having their photos taken, and spooks the little people even more. So don't make a fuss about it. The child may wonder why mom's acting so weird: "Is she up to something? She's tricking me. Wait a minute, maybe this guy with that weird thing hanging around his neck is actually a doctor and they are going to poke a needle into me...WWWWAAAAA!!!!"

The success of shooting a two year old, or any child for that matter, is getting the adults under control, and starting a rapport with the child when THEY decide to start one (If they do). How do you start a rapport with someone who can barely speak, can't listen, and has little or no reasoning power yet? Simple. You wait until they decide to trust you, then you get down to their level. That's where the fun begins, for you that is. This is not the time to get shy.

Typically, when the parent and child show up at the studio, I sit down in the reception area. I wait until mom gets her coat off and gets the child ready. I ask her not to keep looking at the child, but to keep focused on me and keep talking with me. They tell me "Oh, Suzie loves having her pictures taken?" Yea, right. I forgot. Then she tells me "whenever we pull the camera out at home she runs for it and smiles." Simple enough. My job should be easy then. Yea...!

I keep chatting with her and wait, not really looking at the child. Remember, my lights are ready and the is camera ready. Props and backdrop are all set and ready to go. At some point the child will stop clinging and want to be let down. This is the first good sign. It means the child is starting to feel safe. At some point soon after, I will look at them and maybe do a silly face or smile big. The child may even walk right into the studio. Good sign. I chain mom to the chair and head into the studio. If the child doesn't head in on their own, I ask mom to walk and talk slowly into the studio, and the child follows closely. They may need to be carried, and if that's the case we wait it out in the studio.

My favorite prop is a simple chair. Maybe a white wicker for a little girl in a pretty dress, or a simple white chair. Nothing more. More often than not, the child will head right for the chair. Or they won't. Who knows. I haven't figured out what works all the time. Sometimes I start bouncing a ball and play catch with mom. Most children go nuts. They LOVE to throw balls.

After a few tosses back and forth with mom and the child looking all eager and ready to get in the game, I ask them: "You want to throw the ball?"

Most nod yea! "OK" I say: "go fetch." Joking. I say eagerly and like a recently graduated 21-year-old child care worker: "Go sit on the chair and I'll throw you the ball." ha! They almost alway fall for this one.

See? It's not about a photo session anymore. It's about a little game of catch. To be fair, you need to let them have a few throws and make a huge deal about each one. I clap and say: "Yeaaa!! You threw the ball...again?" This goes on until they get bored, or until I get plenty of expressions and poses.

Then I try other things, like other chairs, or chairs that are really high, and once they are placed on it they can`t get away. Then I try to entertain them. Silly faces, sounds, songs...get mom positioned behind the main light and do a little peek a boo. You never know what`s going to work. Sometimes I have to chase them.`I`m gonna get you..` But don`t try that one until they really know you. If you`re a stranger still, and are a big burly guy with a huge beard, and try the `gonna get you` tactic, you might traumatize the kid for life. Know when.

Some two year olds are tougher than others. The photo below is a recent shoot of twins.

I chased these guys all over. At first, they were clingy. That's what I shot. The little girls hanging onto mom's legs. But, they did get comfortable and then the fun began.

It was tough! Mom wanted them topless, which I didn`t think was a great idea, but I tried a few. I pulled this chair in from the reception area and we dropped them on the chair. They say for .00000023 of a second and I got this pose.

It`s my favorite and low keys the fact that she`s topless. The other chairs I tried were from our sales area. They are tall and keep them in one area. Fun and spontaneous.

When they come in with an older sibling, it`s way easier. They simply follow the older child. I only speak with the older child and get him/her to instruct the child. That works wonders. Here's a classic example of a group shot with siblings and cousins. I never said a word to the two year old.

They just follow along.

They also are much easier to shoot as a family unit. They like and are comfortable with mom and dad. Watch this video and see me in action. Notice the ball playing, use of chairs and 'gonna get you' tactics I used. I also captured other poses that I did not record in this video. You'll see those samples towards the end.

Click here to view the video.

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