Fall portrait session with an 18-month-old | Boston, Massachusetts

Last week, I showed a sneak peek of my photo session with J. – the sweet 18 month old with a twinkle in her eye.

This is a great age to do a “day in the life” photo shoot.  The shoot is meant to feel like a casual get-together where we spend time together visiting favorite locations, having a few outfit changes along the way, and capturing big smiles and great laughter.  I believe with all my heart that photographs are these amazing pieces of history that we hold in our hands.  When we capture an image of a smile, a hug, or a new discovery, we get to relive that moment for years to come.

Julia, her mom, and I met up in Boston, Massachusetts when I was visiting the area for the Veterans’ Day weekend with my mom.  While the weather had been warm just the day before, the day we met up was cold and windy.  Our original plan for a walk around Boston’s city street was readjusted (and quickly!) to get us inside to warm up for a bit.

Julia didn’t seem to mind a bit.

This girl was all smiles!

What’s always interesting to me in a shoot is that sometimes I capture an expression that looks older than the age of the child.  When I see that “look,” I know that’s the nature of your child showing through, and it is something you’ll see for years to come.

When Julia sat on this stoop and folded her hands, her mom commented that she had never done something like that before.  This little girl was finding her own true self, and it was so beautiful to watch.

Her curiosity for the world around her made me smile the whole time.  This is a girl who will grow up to make the world a better place because she is curious and ready to explore.

 

What behavior does your 18 month old show that you love to see?  Is it their curiosity, their engagement, or their happiness with the world around them?

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