Christmas Toddler Photoshoot
Santa, a snow globe, and a toddler who will not sit still
There is a particular kind of Christmas photograph that only works when the child in it is small. The wide eyes, the slightly suspicious look at the fairy lights, the absolute conviction that the props belong to them now.
Toddlers are wonderful to photograph at Christmas precisely because they have no interest in behaving. My Christmas toddler sessions are built around that rather than against it.
The Santa snow globe
The snow globe is the one most people come for. Your toddler is photographed in the studio against a festive set, and afterwards I blend those photographs into a glowing snow globe scene with Santa. It is done in editing, not on the day, so there is nothing for your child to stand still for and nothing to be frightened of.
Each pose is planned during the session so it sits naturally in the finished scene. The result is the sort of image that ends up on the Christmas card and then stays on the wall long after the tree comes down.
Timing it around a toddler’s day
The single biggest thing that makes a toddler session work is when you book it.
Mid-morning, after breakfast and well before the nap, is almost always best. A tired toddler at four in the afternoon is a short session with very few usable frames, and no amount of festive lighting fixes that.
If your child naps at a fixed time, tell me when you book and I will work around it rather than asking you to work around me.
What actually happens
Most toddlers arrive and immediately want to inspect everything. That is fine and I let them.
We usually spend the first few minutes with them exploring the set, touching the props and deciding whether I am acceptable company. Once that is settled, the photographs start happening on their own. I don’t ask toddlers to sit, smile or look at the camera, because that is the fastest way to lose them.
Sessions run about an hour, though with very small children I pay more attention to how they are doing than to the clock.
What to bring
Something festive that they are comfortable in matters more than something perfect. Christmas pyjamas, a soft knit, a splash of red or gold all photograph beautifully. A second outfit is welcome if you would like variety.
Bring snacks. Bring the comfort toy. A happy toddler is the whole job.
Where the studio is
My private studio is in the Meath countryside just outside Kilcock, on the Meath and Kildare border, around 30 minutes from Dublin and easy to reach from Maynooth, Enfield and Trim. There is parking right at the door, which matters more than it sounds when you are carrying a toddler, a bag and a spare outfit.
Booking a Christmas toddler session
Christmas toddler sessions are part of my Christmas portrait collections. Collections, what is included and this year’s availability are all on my Christmas family portraits page.
If you would rather just ask me a question first, message me on WhatsApp at 087 418 1408.
