2 years is such a great age but "photographing the 2 year old" is tricky,

ask any photographer.  2 year olds make us sweat. Period.  They are their own entity.

It may take a few appointments to even get them into the studio. Why?

Because sometimes for a 2 year old the last minute before the walk out the door could be

the moment of the big forehead goose egg, or the tiny finger in the big door or even the

revenge of the applesauce, banana diaper.  Somehow though, they get here and it is always

fun!  And really, the hardest part of all is getting parents settled down and out of the

"corral that baby" mode into the more relaxed "whatever happens, we're going to love it" mode.

So a little advice for parents on picture day would be:

1.Learn deep breathing exercises, (much like you learned when they were being born)

 and use them on picture day.

2. Dress them in something simple and plain, simple is good, patterns only detract from their beautiful

little faces.

3. No candy, no bribery of any sort, no deals, not when they're two, believe me you'll wish someday that

you had never began this cycle.

4. Bring something they love, be it their favorite toy or their blanket, let them suck their thumb! It's O.K.

5. Remember that they are still babies and that they just want to play.

And that is what we will do,  we will play and I will take their portrait while they are having fun.

And in between the shots I'll be sweating!