If you’re pregnant (or hoping to be) and already have a toddler at home, you might be wondering just how a Maternity Photo session with them included may go.

“Will my toddler even cooperate?”
“What if they don’t sit still?”
“Is this going to be chaotic?”

My honest answer? It might be a little wild, yep!
But it will also be tender, emotional, and beautifully real.

As a Maternity and Newborn Photographer here in Kamloops, BC, I photograph this season often — and I promise you this: toddlers don’t ruin maternity sessions. They make them meaningful.

Here’s how to prepare so your session feels calm, connected, and true to this season of life you are in :

Toddlers don’t perform on cue — and they shouldn’t have to!

The most powerful images rarely come from perfectly posed smiles, but instead from:

• A tiny hand resting on your belly

• A curious glance

• A shy cuddle

• Movement and closeness

Your toddler being exactly who they are right now? That’s the real magic.

n Kamloops, I often shoot my Maternity sessions during golden hour — especially in Summer and Fall when the light is soft and warm, and the temperature cools off a bit.

If possible:

• Avoid nap transitions

• Make sure they’re fed beforehand

• Keep the day simple leading up to the session

A well-rested, well-fed toddler changes everything.

Toddlers love purpose.

Instead of asking them to just “smile at the camera,” I might ask them to:

• Kiss the baby

• Listen for baby

• Hold mom’s hand

• Run up to give you a hug

• Walk with you through the grass

• Lead you to me

When they feel involved, connection comes naturally.

Soft fabrics. Neutral tones. Clothing they can move in.

Whether we’re shooting outdoors in the Kamloops hills or in studio, comfort matters most. Scratchy outfits or stiff shoes are the fastest way to derail a toddler’s mood.

Timeless and minimal always photographs beautifully — and it lets your connection take centre stage.

I gently guide every session, but we don’t force moments.

If your toddler needs a break, a wander or just a quiet minute - that’s okay.

Some of the most meaningful images happen when we pause and let them come back in their own time.

This season will be over before you know it.

You are growing a new life while still carrying, loving, and mothering the one who made you a mama in the first place.

That in-between space — where your toddler is still your baby, but not for much longer — deserves to be remembered honestly.

Not perfectly.
Not stiffly posed.
Just truthfully.

Bonus Tip: Bring Snacks (Yes, Really)

Non-messy snacks are always welcome. Think simple, quick bites that won’t stain outfits.

If your toddler has a comfort item — bring it. Sometimes it stays in the car. Sometimes it sneaks into a photo. Either way, it’s part of their story.

If you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or quietly planning baby #2 while chasing a toddler around your living room — know this:

You don’t need a perfectly behaved child for beautiful maternity images.

You just need to show up as you are.

The rest? I’ll guide. So all you have to worry about being present in this moment.

If you’re ready to document this season in a timeless, softly moody way — one that honours both the baby you’re growing and the little one holding your hand — I would love to photograph it for you here in Kamloops, BC.

Because this chapter matters, too. ????