Working with my clients across Philadelphia I have found Children’s Photography can be a challange to produce that perfect image. There are many elements when photographing children, that are beyond your control. Unlike working with adults children rarely sit still, stay in that perfect pose, or listen to the photgraphers direction.
Even though you may not be able to control every element of a session, the more you try to control the better your images will be. Any good child photographer knows that to capture those great child portraits you need speed, agility, and a very quick creative drive. Although there are other tricks you can adopt into your photography to add more control to your photographs.
This photo is a great example of controlling all the variables I posibally could and adapting the unknowens to produce a great photo. I knew the photograph I wanted, had the image in my head and setup as much of the photograph as posible. I found my location, analyzed the lighting posibilities, decided my camera angle and compositon, and bounced in as much light as I could over a broad area. I had mommy walk the child down the path a few times making it a fun game, adding the little control I could to have the events I wanted happen. I also noticed the child was fixiated on a twig that she kept passing by each walk. After a few fun walks down the path we put the child at the starting point and put the twig exactly where I wanted the child to stand as a final location. I then had mommy quickly walk twords my camrea. The child did exactly what I had tried to 
produce, walking down the path, directly to the twig and stood there fixated on the object she had been trying to get during each walk. You need to be creative not only with your photography, but you need to be creative and think toddler. Sure you can have a play date snap tons of photos and let the child dictate what will happen, or you can find creative ways to have the child do what you envision. Sure it takes time, practice, patients, and experience, but then again dosent photography? Taking the time to learn how to comunicate with subjects of all ages can realy make huge strides in your final images.