studio portrait of a little girl in a rocking chair holding her teddy bear

I purposefully keep my studio portraits very simple. I do this because I want the emphasis to be on your child, not on meaningless props.

When my daughter was a toddler she had a carved wooden lamb pull-toy that she dragged behind her everywhere she went. It went with us to the grocery store, the park, the doctor’s office. It was there when we played in the back yard, it stood watch at the edge of the wading pool, and it went along with her on play dates. When I think of that little lamb I see my daughter’s head of brown curls, her pink Osh Kosh B’Gosh overalls, and her little white saddle shoes. I see a very specific time in her childhood.

Bringing your child’s special treasures to their session will freeze time for you, too.

Including some of your child’s favorite things adds so much personality to their portraits and helps you, and eventually them, remember this special time in their lives.

If you’re not sure what to bring, here’s some great ideas: your child’s favorite blanket, softie, or stuffed animal. Special toys like dolls, trains, cars, and trucks. Does your child have a favorite night time story book? Bring it. Are they learning to read? Those first books are so fun to have in portraits. If your child plays sports, dances, cheers or acts, those uniforms and costumes make wonderful photographs.

I’ve photographed children in their family’s heirloom child rocking chair, a little boy in his daddy’s johnny romper, a baby girl in her mommy’s baptismal gown, a toddler in her mother’s childhood wool winter coat.

studio portrait of a little girl snuggling with a stuffed dog and a stuffed rabbit

black and white studio portrait of brothers dressed in their lacrosse uniforms

black and white studio portrait of a young ballerina

portrait of a young boy reading a picture book

Favorite items add personality to your portraits and help you remember this specific time in your child’s life.

Little children can get overwhelmed by all the new things going on in the studio and more than once I’ve seen a favorite stuffed animal or blanket comfort a child who is just not quite sure about this whole studio portrait thing. Having a portrait with that special something they turned to for security when they were little will be a portrait they’ll treasure when they’re older.

Hand-made blankets, quilts, and afghans are always favorites and they’re so easy to add to a child’s session whether they’re newborn or older.

newborn baby feet wrapped in handmade knitted blue blanket

black and white portrait of a newborn sleeping on a hand-knitted blanket

One day your daughter’s favorite teddy bear will be worn and tattered from all her love, and your son’s special race car will be packed away but they’ll always be remembered in beautiful studio portraits.

studio portrait of a little boy playing with a little car

studio portrait of a toddler girl holding her teddy bear grinning from ear to ear

bring your child's special treasures along to their studio portraits

I purposefully keep my studio portraits very simple. I do this because I want the emphasis to be on your child, not on meaningless props.

Bringing your child’s special treasures to their session will freeze time for you, too.

Favorite items add personality to your portraits and help you remember this specific time in your child’s life.

Hand-made blankets, quilts, and afghans are always favorites and they’re so easy to add to a child’s session whether they’re newborn or older.

One day your daughter’s favorite teddy bear will be worn and tattered from all her love, and your son’s special race car will be packed away but they’ll always be remembered in beautiful studio portraits.