I have been wanting to take some formal photos of Elizabeth for a while now. When she was a baby we did a photo shoot every month, but once she turned one that fell by the way side. This month she turns 18 months old and I thought it was time for some updated pictures. So, last Sunday the three of us went down to Onondaga Park (not to be confused with Onondaga LAKE Park) and did a little spring session with her.
If you haven’t been to Onondaga Park yet, you should definitely check it out! The park is located in the Strathmore neighborhood, in the city’s southwest corner, and is beautiful. Its features include a beautiful man-made lake (it used to be a reservoir) bordered by stone walls, stone bridges, and a gazebo that looks out on the lake – all of which make for beautiful photos! Personally, my favorite part about Onondaga Park is the luscious green grass. There’s plenty of lawn space – perfect for picnics – and not a single sign of any goose droppings (ahem, Onondaga Lake…). Check out this syracuse.com article to read more about the park and see some 360° views!
Sunday was one of the more beautiful days last week and made our photo session so much fun. It also made it a little bit harder to wrangle Elizabeth who kept asking to play. I had brought some tulips and hyacinths with us, since nothing is in bloom yet, and those kept her occupied long enough to get a few good shots. And nothing says spring like flowers, a cute jacket, and rain boots!
Taking great photos of an 18 month old is certainly not easy, but it can be done! One of my favorite tips when it comes to this age group is to be willing to chase them! Nothing makes a child grumpier than being forced to sit in one place when they want to explore. It also helps to let go of any preconceived ideas of which shots are must-haves. Toddlers move so much that a static pose can be hard to maintain. It’s best to gently guide them while they do their own thing so that they are happy and the expressions you capture will be genuine. Lastly, don’t be afraid to take a lot of pictures! While shooting I didn’t think I liked any of the ones in the first location, but they turned out to be some of my favorites!
Here are some of my favorites from our session!
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