Here’s something that might surprise you: longer doesn’t always mean better, especially when you’re working with babies and small children.
When you’re researching photographers you might see two-hour sessions advertised and assume that’s the standard to look for. But shorter sessions are often actually better for little ones, and here’s why.
Children have limited attention spans, and asking them to stay engaged, smiley, and cooperative for hours on end just doesn’t work. What does work is getting in, reading what they need, working with their mood, and making the most of the time when they’re at their best. After years of working with babies, toddlers, families, and the occasional reluctant dad, I’ve found that the best images tend to happen in a focused, well-paced session rather than a drawn-out one.
The studio is set up so everything is close to hand and I can move quickly when I need to. That means we can cover a lot of ground without anyone getting worn out.
Two hours in a studio is a long time when you’re managing feeds, naps, and small attention spans. Keeping sessions shorter means everyone is happier, and that always shows in the photos.
That said, there’s one exception: newborn sessions are always booked for two hours. Newborns need time to settle into a deep sleep, and that process can’t be rushed. For everyone else though, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by how much we can get done in a shorter amount of time.
If we ever do need a little longer on the day, there’s always flexibility in the schedule.
