Family Portraits in Portage with Meredith, John, & Beau

It's been so sweet to see this little nugget grow! Beau is two years old this month and just the cutest little guy. Meredith and John had me out to their home on Austin Lake for some annual family photos to commemorate his birthday! At-home sessions can be all kinds of fun for family portraits since kiddos are already so comfortable with their surroundings.

Tips for photographing a two-year old (for parents and photographers)!

• Follow their lead! Meredith asked Beau so many times, "What are we doing next?" Allowing them to choose the next place to sit, snuggle, or play leads to more authentic moments.
• Show them what's behind the camera. To get them familiar with what's happening, snap a photo of mom, dad, or the child themselves and then show them your screen. Sometimes this is all it takes to get lots of natural grins!
• Plan to play! Have an activity (ball, toy, etc.) or a game ready to get them into a playful mood. It's much easier to get a real smile when they are enjoying themselves. One of my favorites is tossing them in the air- and we had the perfect partially cloudy day for it below!