Beyond the Belly: Maternity Pictures with Toddlers

Your firstborn is about to become a big brother or sister. Maternity pictures with your toddler capture this exact moment: the belly, the little one who made you a mom, and the family you already are before the next one arrives.

I’ve photographed toddlers in my Fort Mill studio for more than 20 years, and I’ll be honest with you about what that’s like. It’s chaotic, it’s unpredictable, and it’s one of my favorite things to do. Here’s how we plan for it, so your session is about connection instead of stress.

Every age is the right age

There’s no perfect age to include your toddler. If this is your oldest child, or your youngest of seven, they’re the perfect age for a maternity session. The focus is the connection between you, not a flawless pose.

Partners belong in the story, too

Dads aren’t in every portrait, but they’re part of this family, and we want them in it. Most are just as excited to meet this baby as you are. They also make great storytelling props (said with a wink).

Non-traditional partners are always welcome. Whoever makes up your family belongs in these portraits.

When to schedule

The best window for maternity pictures with your toddler is the same as any maternity session: between 28 and 34 weeks. Your belly is beautifully round, and you’re usually still comfortable.

Time of day matters even more. The first question I’ll ask you is about your toddler’s nap schedule. We’ll aim for the happiest time of her day, whenever that is.

The honest truth about two-year-olds

Age two is the hardest age to photograph. I’m not going to sugarcoat that, because it’s a real concern, and you deserve a real answer.

So we plan for it. At your planning consultation, we talk through the plan, the backup plan, and what happens if she says no to all of it.

One of my favorite sessions started with a toddler who wanted nothing to do with the outfit her mom chose. Or the next one. Or any of them. So she wore her diaper and carried her bunny.

Look at the finished portraits and you won’t notice. Between mom’s belly, the bunny, and the way they look at each other, all you see is the connection between a mother and her firstborn. The belly says: we love this kid so much, we can’t wait to do it all again. Chaos included.

She also found a torn edge on my paper backdrop and happily finished the job. It was already torn and due to be replaced, so honestly, she helped. I don’t stress over things like that. Toddlers are curious and chaotic, and that’s part of the fun.

Shy, wild, or somewhere in between

Meltdowns, shy toddlers, and toddlers who want to be wild are all welcome here. My one firm goal is to avoid tears, because they’re the hardest thing to come back from. If a meltdown starts, we handle it calmly and move on.

I’m persistent by nature. When something isn’t working, I don’t give up. We pivot. The quiet goal with every toddler is to make beautiful art together without her realizing she’s the one in charge.

For shy toddlers, we go quiet and calm. Your planning consultation does double duty. You and I make the plan, and your toddler meets me. We talk, even if she only listens. She sees the space and learns that I’m not scary and my studio is a fun place. That usually involves a favorite snack we’ve agreed on ahead of time. Kids love a place that has their favorite snacks.

For wild toddlers, we make room. I don’t do mini sessions, so nobody is waiting for their turn behind your toddler. If it takes 20 minutes to talk her into the adventure, we spend those 20 minutes first, at her pace. Just like with newborns, I allow the time it takes.

That might mean a dance break, singing through the whole session, or running laps before, during, and after. And unlike a park, my studio has nowhere to run off to. She can explore all she wants, and the next portrait is always a few steps away.

Stickers, snacks, toy cars, a ball to throw: whatever it takes, I’ve tried it. Studio is stocked with stickers, cars and soft balls that won’t take my camera lens out of commission 😉

For more than one child, I bring in an assistant. Her job is to stand over my shoulder and do something ridiculous enough to get every kid looking at the same time.

What everyone wears

You’ll wear pieces from my studio wardrobe, so there’s nothing to shop for. I also keep a few toddler outfits in the studio closet.

If your toddler has a favorite outfit, or you’d like to use your own clothes, text me photos of what’s in the closet. I’ll send back the looks that work together, so the whole family coordinates without the guesswork.

And if she refuses every option on the day? We’ve already covered that. It works out.

Questions parents ask

What’s the best age to include my toddler? There isn’t one. Whether this is your oldest child or the youngest of seven, now is the perfect age.

When should we schedule? Between 28 and 34 weeks, at the time of day your toddler is happiest. We plan around naps.

What if my toddler won’t participate? We plan for that at your consultation, with a backup plan and a plan for when she says no to everything. I never rush a toddler.

Should my partner be in the photos? Yes. Partners aren’t in every portrait, but they’re part of the story, and every kind of family is welcome.

What if my child is older than a toddler? I’ve written about including older children in your maternity session, too. Check out that post here for details.

Plan your session

Maternity pictures with your toddler are a chance to capture your family right before it grows. If you’re in Charlotte, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, or nearby, I’d love to plan yours.

Call or text me at 803-336-5125, or send me a note. We’ll start with the nap schedule.

Want to keep going after the baby arrives? See First Year Legacy Stories.