Their childhood is gone so very quickly and they change with every passing moment, so it is important to capture at least some of those precious times for posterity. I have found that babies and toddlers are easily unsettled in unfamiliar settings and for that reason I find it gives me better results to take the photographs somewhere where they are relaxed and at ease - most often at home, but sometimes at a park or even the local duck pond!
I think that it is so important that the child feels happy with me taking their photograph, so I try to get to know them a little before I start the shoot itself and would advise anxious parents not to demand that their little one sits still and smiles at the camera - toddlers especially tend to do the exact opposite! It's best to make the whole session fun; play games, get teddies and pets joining in, make silly faces ... whatever it takes to catch a great memory.
I think that it is so important that the child feels happy with me taking their photograph, so I try to get to know them a little before I start the shoot itself and would advise anxious parents not to demand that their little one sits still and smiles at the camera - toddlers especially tend to do the exact opposite! It's best to make the whole session fun; play games, get teddies and pets joining in, make silly faces ... whatever it takes to catch a great memory.