Photographing Toddlers | Featuring Cade Cook | Child Photography

Hi Friends! 

Today I want to talk about photographing toddlers. This is the age little ones are testing their boundaries, discovering the world around them and love to say "NO." I believe this is also one of the most challenging stages to photograph because not only will they refuse to be cute for a picture, they are also little balls of energy that won't stay still. 

I have five children of my own and learned real early that if I want to get a good picture of them, I had to do one of two things. I could bribe them for their cooperation with a toy, stickers, or even a nice dessert or I could just let them be kids. Bribing them works but I was teaching them to be selfish. Only behaving if there was something in it for them. However, when I just let them be the incredible fun loving little beings that they are, I got fantastic images.  They were not concerned that mommy was holding a camera and was going to make them smile  for a picture. 

I took this knowledge into my work with toddlers. Rather than watching parents get irritated that their vision for the perfect session is being ruined by their toddler having a tantrum, I explain that little will get hot, uncomfortable, or just not want to be photographed. But, that is totally okay. In order to avoid this, I encourage parents to work around their child. Let them be a kid. Play with them instead of trying to pose them. While this will mean more movement for mom and dad during the session, the results are fantastic! Parents get a gallery of them having a good time with their little one and genuine smiles.

Featured on today's blog is Cade. A perfect example of everything I have said above. He was initially uncooperative. I mean, why would he cooperate? He doesn't know me. But once we let him play, he no longer cared that some crazy lady was taking pictures of him. He was happy playing with his mom and "G" (his very energetic grandmother).

We decided to do this session super early in the morning. If I remember correctly, it was 8:30 am. The idea was to avoid the intense heat of the day. However, in South Carolina, our heat can be scorching hot from sunrise to sunset at times. This day, we had heat and humidity. Yet, Cade was happy and he did not mind the weather.

Meet Cade and his mom Hayley! Hayley traveled from North Carolina to visit her mother. 
While visiting, she messaged me about doing a session with her son. I was so excited to 
do it for her. You see, not to long ago, I did Hayley's wedding pictures. What an honor to
photograph her son! Cade did a fantastic job of being a great, energetic little boy in front of my camera.

Does he look posed? 

He was not posed. He was playing
with his mom and 'G'. 

Here is is climbing through a tube smiling at his
Grandmother who was waiting for him on the other side.

Here he had just come down the slide with his Grandma. 
He loved playing with his mom and 'G'. (That's what he calls his Grandmother.)
I think it's adorable!

   

Shai Falls | Newborn

Meet Shai Falls

   Those who know me, know how much I LOVE babies. I am so grateful that I was able to photograph Shai. You see, Shai was born in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. It's no wonder his parents had some reservations about doing his newborn pictures. However, they decided to get them done with some major precautions. Wearing a mask was a must! I also sanitized my hands constantly and we did the session at their home instead of our studio. 

The world was in chaos. But, Shai doesn't have a care in the world. Look how peaceful he is sleeping. To say he was a great baby to photograph would be an understatement. It did not surprise me one bit. A year prior, I had the opportunity to snuggle with his brother, Adrian. He was a perfect baby during his session. So, I knew Shai would be just as good. 

Shai with big brother Adrian

Now every baby has a different personality. I had so much fun watching Shai's expressions change as I continued to photograph him. I can already imagine the young man he will become. Caring, kind and funny.

Dreaming sweet dreams and smiling.

Uh Oh! I just filled my diaper.

Get me out of this snuggie and change my diapee!

Thank goodness! Mom to the rescue.

Geesh! How long do I have to pose?

As you can see, he is little but full of personality! I can't wait to see him grow and capture all his milestones.  

I hope you enjoyed this preview of Shai's newborn session. His full gallery will be available soon. However, that will be up to his parents to post. 

Until next time,

This is Lory Ament

Signing off for now.

Hayley and Cory Cook | Wedding

Deep in the mountainous territory of Newland, North Carolina, in the highest county seat in the East, two people prepared for a day that would shape and affect the rest of their lives. The decision made that day would reverberate into the farthest reaches of their soon-to-be-written history, inspiring joy, tears, hugs, kisses, and a beautiful celebration of that oldest of institutions, marriage.

Hayley was so excited, even before she got ready. But as she slipped into her dress, as mom and sister helped zip and cinch clasps, the transformation from an excited girl to a vivacious bride was completed.

Their first look was an unusual one; she sat in an old rocker behind Cory’s beloved race car, and Chris, Cory’s dad, drove it out from between them, and as the exhaust cleared, she stood, and his beautiful bride was revealed. His face was priceless!

They shared a few private moments, talking excitedly about their first impressions of each other on that day.

The ceremony was precious. Every detail had been thought of.

The rustic arbour was decorated beautifully, and at the end of each row of hay bales was a stump, holding a vase of sunflowers.

Each hay bale was covered in a handmade quilt.

They said their vows,

Exchanged rings,

And of course, sealed it with a kiss!

There were a few must-have portraits in the mix,

And no wedding photo series would be complete without Mayley!

A few romantics…

The rings…

The first dance…

The cake cutting…

The Gum Game!

The day could not have been more perfect, and Josh and I are so grateful that we had the opportunity to share and capture it for the Cooks!