Cora & Oliver’s Twin Toddler Studio Session
Working with toddlers is so much fun for me. So, naturally, when I heard from these portrait membership clients, I was excited about a fun session with two adorable two-year-olds. Their newborn session was delayed due to COVID, so we met for the first time when the twins were 6 months old. For their second portrait session, we celebrated Cora and Oliver’s first birthdays with an outdoor session. Mom and dad saved the last session for the twins’ second birthday. They had seen some of my recent work with toddlers in the studio and loved the playful vibes, so they decided to bring the twins in for a family studio session rather than another outdoor session.
Mom wanted to style her family, so I just provided guidance. Not everyone wants to use the studio wardrobe, and that is completely fine. It can be fun to buy new outfits for the family! The wardrobe is here if you want to make things a little easier, but I am very happy to help coordinate your own pieces or something new. White and light colors are always sweet in the studio, but the pops of color we selected for the kids created such a fun vibe.
As much as I love toddler sessions, it can be a challenge to keep them engaged and having a good time! You cannot make a toddler do anything that they do not want to do, so the trick is to provide activities and pieces of interest (chairs, beds, etc.) that keep them wanting to be in the portraits. This involves having a plan with multiple parts and being flexible and willing to move on quickly if the toddler loses interest in a prop sooner than expected or rejects it entirely. It can be a bit wild, but incredibly fun.
Mom and dad wanted me to create a beautiful sibling portrait of these busy twins. I used a variety of props to catch their interest and keep Cora and Oliver playing in the same space, ideally interacting with each other. The bed is a naturally fun place, and the basket keeps them contained and makes great expressions. I also love to use the blocks as it ensures a few quiet moments and pensive portraits. Lollipops at the end of a session are always a good idea, as long as I’ve asked the parents for permission ahead of time. And kids in sunglasses are among my favorite images because we get such natural smiles and so much personality! I loved working with this family again, and I cannot wait for our next twin session.
