Salvatore: First Birthday, Winter Woods Studio Session: Northern NJ Photographer

Sometimes a child hates getting their picture taken - oh wait, MOST of the time! For all the moms out there who feel like you could never get pictures because your child hates pictures - I promise you, we make it work! Little Sal here wanted no part in his first birthday pictures. He is the fastest crawler I have ever come across, he cried and threw fits because he so badly didn't want to sit still for me. I am pretty sure I put his shoes back on about 28 times. However, with the help of mom and grandma - and sesame street on the phone, and singing wheels on the bus super loud, and clapping our hands, and screaming his name, and putting him back time after time again - WE GOT PICTURES. We may have felt like we ran a marathon, lost 5 pounds sweating, and maybe lost our voice - but look at this. This mom has pictures, and I bet you that you would never believe all of that was happening behind the scenes. 

It is so very rare that I have children come into the studio and ham it up for me, smile, sit still, give me perfect CHEEESE smiles. SO RARE. Like maybe 1 out of every 15. That's less than 10%. Your child will most likely require some form of bribery (lollipops, candy, gummy bears, goldfish, whatever works for them) or they may be bribed to go to Toys R US after the shoot and pick out a toy for being a good listener. This happens. ALL. THE. TIME. 

So, don't be discouraged. Be hopeful and feel "normal" that this may and most likely will happen to you. But remember, I do my job - I get the pictures that you then look back on and say, "How the hell did she get that during all of the commotion". Well, again - this is my job.

I had to include a picture of mister Sal crying because it was too cute and perfectly sums up my message to you here.