toddler Archives - Crystal Freemon Photography

5 things Toddlers can teach us about life | Franklin TN Family Photographer

February 15, 2021February 15, 2021Posted in Little Kids, Portrait Sessions, The Park at Harlinsdale Farms, UncategorizedTagged "The Park at Harlinsdale Farms", cold, Franklin Portrait Photographer, Life Lessons, Motherhood, Nashville Family Photographer, Spring Hill Children's Photographer, toddler, winter, Winter Portrait Session, WonderLeave a comment

As a family photographer I've observed many things we can learn from toddlers

I love photographing families of all ages, but if you’ve followed me long, you know that my true passion is photographing toddlers. One of my favorite things about being a family photographer is what I have learned through really observing two year olds.

You see, I think it’s the two-year-olds who really have everything figured out. And somehow as we age, we lose all of that wisdom. Here are a few things I think we could learn about life from toddlers.

Assertiveness

Toddlers are really finding their voice, and they are not afraid to let you know what they need. Whether that’s a snack or a hug or they are “all done,” they aren’t afraid to let their person know. Often times, we adults are too afraid to let people know what we need. We aren’t always very quick to take care of ourselves and our own needs. A lot of our problems could be taken care of if we just learned to let others know what we desire like toddlers do.

Wonder

As a family photographer, this is probably the characteristic of toddlers that I love the most. They have not yet lost their fascination with the world around them. Everything is new and exciting and beautiful. The dog in the park, the pretty rock they just found, the snowflakes falling – all these things are a miracle to the toddler’s eyes. If only we could all hold on to that childlike wonder and be more aware of the awesomeness around us.

Only those who look with the eyes of children can lose themselves in the object of wonder.”
– Eberhard Arnold

Mindfulness

How much time do you spend regretting things that happened in the past or worrying about what might happen in the future? I don’t think Toddlers do this. They are the masters of mindfulness. Whatever upset them a moment ago is long forgotten with the current moment’s distraction. They live in the here and now, fully present always. We have a lot to learn from that.

Authenticity

This is another reason I love to photograph toddlers. They only know how to be themselves and no one else. Authenticity means “true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.” This is something I strive to capture in my photographs. I am trying to get authentic, natural expressions from every child. I want photos that really reveal who they are at that moment in time. Not fake cheesy smiles. This is easier with toddlers because they are always, always being true to themselves. I love capturing all of who they are. Whether that is a sweet apprehensive expression when they first meet me, complete joy when we are being silly or a thoughtful expression when the notice something new.

As early as 6 or 7, I find that kids have already put up a mask and I have to work harder to photograph their authentic selves. That makes me sad.

Love

Is there anything better in this life than the pure love one gets from a toddler? There is no judgment there, no conditions or holding back. Whether it be with hugs & kisses, holding your hand or maybe even sharing a like of their sucker with you, toddlers know how to love their people.

I am now booking Spring Family Portrait sessions, or as you can see above, am happy to book you now for a winter photo session. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.

Click here to read post I wrote about what you can expect from a Lifestyle Family Photography Session.

Family of Four Portrait Session in Franklin, TN

December 2, 2020December 2, 2020Posted in Family, Little Kids, Portrait Sessions, The Park at Harlinsdale FarmsTagged "The Park at Harlinsdale Farms", 2020, fall, family of 4, Franklin Portrait Photographer, preschooler, siblings, toddlerLeave a comment

Franklin TN Family Photographer at the Park at Harlinsdale Farms

It was so great to see my old friend Mona and her beautiful family at their outdoor family portrait session at the Park at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin.

I wanted to let you know that this session started out a little rough for the kiddos, both of whom had fallen asleep on their drive to the photo session after a busy, fun-filled holiday weekend. When they first arrived, they were groggy and apprehensive about being there and having their photos taken.

The only reason I point this out is that I want you to notice that you can’t tell from the photos. Within about 10 minutes of when we started the portrait session, they both warmed up to me and we had tons of fun. I wanted to point that out because it can be something that stresses parents out, but always turns out fine. We had so much fun running and playing and enjoying the beautiful day.

I would love it if you could follow me on Instagram. That’s a great place to keep up to date on future openings. Also, you can book a session directly from my online booking calendar, or contact me if you have questions.

Safe at home as a family of 4 | Nashville Newborn Photographer

May 12, 2020May 12, 2020Posted in Home Sessions, Newborns & Babies, Portrait SessionsTagged baby boy, big sister, family of 4, home, indoors, nashville newborn photographer, newborn, newborn photography, Spring Hill TN Photographer, toddler1 Comment

I’m not sure there is anything more magical than the first few weeks at home with your newborn baby.

Newborn baby boy in the arms of his daddy in Spring Hill, TN — I also photographed Ellis’s big sister’s newborn portrait session. This was a pose that his parents wanted to recreate from that session.

Mom and Dad taking care of baby while big sister looks on. — I also photographed Ellis’s big sister’s newborn portrait session. This was a pose that his parents wanted to recreate from that session.

Fall Family Photos in Spring Hill TN with Margot and Mia

October 29, 2019October 29, 2019Posted in Chapmans Retreat Walking Trail, Family, Little Kids, Newborns & Babies, Portrait SessionsTagged "Family of 4", "Spring Hill tn", Autum, baby, CRES, Doll, fall, girl, lovie, Nashville Family Photographer, playground, sisters, Spring Hill Photographer, toddlerLeave a comment

The last time I blogged about this beautiful family for their Fall family portrait session, I left out some information. Mallory had told me before her session that she was in the early stages of pregnancy. I wasn’t sure if that was public knowledge or not, so I didn’t’ mention it in the blog post.

But here we are, not quite a year later, and this lovely family has an adorable new addition. I’d been following baby Mia and big sister Margot on Instagram, and was so excited to be able to finally meet her. (If you aren’t following me on Instagram, please do! I’d love to interact with you there.)

These girls were just the sweetest and did a great job at their photo session. We ran into a little trouble with my location being over-crowded but we moved around a little and made it work.

Last year, Margo had brought her baby doll and carried her for the entire session, which was perfectly fine with me. This year, she brought a different doll…Rapunzel to our session. For me, if a beloved toy helps a child to be more comfortable at a session, then I say let them bring it. My favorite part was when Margot broke into songs from Frozen. I’m also a big fan of Elsa. ❄️

If you haven’t booked your Fall family portrait session yet, please don’t wait. I have a couple of openings for November but they won’t last long. One fantastic spot just opened up because a client needed to reschedule for December. Book your session today!

Spring Hill TN Fall Family Portrait Session

October 28, 2019October 28, 2019Posted in Chapmans Retreat Walking Trail, Family, Little Kids, Portrait SessionsTagged "family of 3", 2019, autumn, boy, CRES, fall, Family Portrait Photographer, joyful, Lifestyle family photos, Middle Tennessee Photographer, Nashville Family Photographer, toddlerLeave a comment

This lovely family just moved to Spring Hill from Chicago and found me on Google when looking for a family portrait photographer.

In my client questionnaire, Justine said that the family was a little homesick, but was enjoying getting to know Spring Hill and Middle Tennessee. What tips would you offer them for acclimating to our area? Any favorite businesses or outings? When I moved to Spring Hill 16 years ago, there wasn’t much to this tiny little town, but now there is a ton to explore and do. In the comments, tell me your favorites. Be sure to tag your favorite businesses, so she knows where to find them.

Justine also mentioned that her fear for the portrait session was that Nolan (like many toddlers) was pretty squirmy, and she was a little concerned about getting a family picture. That wasn’t an issue at all. I would say this was one of the easiest portrait sessions I’ve photographed in a while. Nolan did a fantastic job. My other portrait sessions of the day both included two very young siblings. One toddler is generally very easy to photograph. It’s when you start trying to get two or more of them together that it gets more challenging.

🍁 Great Opportunity if you haven’t booked fall photos!

I’ve had a client who had to reschedule a session, leaving an opening for a family session at Chapman’s Retreat Walking Trail (shown below) on November 10 at 3:15 (magic hour!!).

I also have a 1:15 spot open for that day. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

In case you haven’t heard me preach this before, contrary to popular belief, October is NOT the best time for fall color in Middle Tennessee. Early November is. Of course, I can’t promise anything, but there is a good chance this might be one of the best weekends of the year for Fall photos, and I have two spots open. Don’t wait.

Here are Some Pretty Pictures.

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019Posted in Chapmans Retreat Walking Trail, Family, Little Kids, Portrait Sessions, Seniors & TeensTagged "Family of 4", "Spring Hill tn", autumn, CRES, fall, family, Magic Hour, playground, Spring Hill Photographer, teen, toddlerLeave a comment

Y’all, I’m editing my booty off, and I’m running out of words to put in my blog previews of my family photo sessions.

It’s the height of peak season. We were gone all weekend to my beautiful nieces birthday party in Ohio. But someone I still managed to shoot 5 sessions in the past week, with one more tomorrow, and another three on Sunday (please pray it doesn’t rain on me.)

I’m keeping up, but if you need to find me, I’m probably at my computer. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I know it sounds cheesy, but I really love being a part of shooting these moments for families, especially when I get to see the same ones year after year.

For example, It makes me smile to think about how much little Jace has grown since I first started photographing his family three or so years ago. I love meeting and photographing new families too, but I especially look forward to seeing repeat clients each year. ❤️

If you are a procrastinator, I do have two November spots open…once just recently opened up because a family needed to move their session to December…it’s a magic hour session too! You can book your portrait session online from my scheduling calendar or contact me if you have questions!

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Jaxon’s Gold Hope Session at the Parthenon

September 13, 2019September 13, 2019Posted in Centennial Park, Family, Little Kids, Portrait Sessions, The Gold Hope ProjectTagged #gogold, #gogoldforchildhoodcancer, Acute Myeloid Leukemia, baby, boy, Centennial Park, Childhood Cancer, childhood cancer awareness, family, outdoors, parthenon, The Gold Hope Project, toddlerLeave a comment

This is the fifth and last in a series of post I’m doing this month In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness month, I’ve been blogging about my work with The Gold Hope Project and featuring all the amazing fighter kids who I’ve had the honor to meet over the past year. Today, I want you to meet Jaxson.

The mission of The Gold Hope Project is to gift families battling pediatric cancer with a free portrait session. Photos from the sessions are then used to raise awareness & funds for pediatric oncology research and treatment.

If your child is currently fighting childhood cancer, or is a survivor under the age of 18, click here to apply for a free Gold Hope Session.

If you are photographer who would like to volunteer your services, click here.

Jaxon’s Story:

Jaxson had low platelets at birth. After testing for many different conditions, Jaxson was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) at 18 months old. He was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant at the end of January. Unfortunately, his bone marrow biopsy right before transplant showed that the MDS had turned into Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He was diagnosed with AML at 20 months old.

In January, he had his central line placed and had his first round of chemo. He spent 10 days on chemo and 34 total days in the hospital. Jaxson went into remission after the first round of chemo! He had another round of chemo in March as a preventative measure while his donor was preparing to donate for transplant. He spent 8 days on chemo and 26 days in the hospital. Jaxson is getting to spend 4 weeks at home. We will be admitted to the hospital again at the end of April to start chemo. Jaxon had his bone marrow transplant on May 2, only a couple weeks after our session.

Jaxson and his family actually live in Smithville, TN but was treated in Nashville. He and his family had to spend several months in medical housing near the hospital while he recovered from his transplant.

They received grants to cover the cost of the first month of medical housing, but were unfortunately out of grants to apply for after that. The cost of housing, groceries, etc. adds up quickly when you are away from home and out of work. Jaxon’s GoFundMe page is linked below if you’d like to help out.

Our Time Together:

Jaxon’s mom had described in as one of the happiest boys she had ever met, and she was not wrong. I had a blast hanging out with him an his big brother Tristan. The day was gorgeous and the Parthenon at Centennial park was a gorgeous backdrop. We climbed trees, smelled the flowers and had a beautiful time. Have you ever seen such an adorable smile? He was truly a joy to be around.

How Jaxson is Doing NOw:

I have followed along with Jaxson’s journey since we met and am happy to say that his transplant was a huge success. He has passed the 100 day mark, which is supposed to be an important milestone. He is now at home and his bone marrow and blood work are looking perfect.

Where to Read More About Jaxson:

Jax son’s Gold Hope Session Blog

Jaxson’s GoFundMe

Earlier this month, I blogged about my Gold Hope Sessions with fighters Kelly, Hattie, Amelie and Sophie if you would like to read their stories.

I still have a few Fall Portrait sessions left. What are you waiting for? Book yours today.

William’s First Birthday Portrait Session at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin TN

March 4, 2019August 7, 2019Posted in Little Kids, Newborns & Babies, Portrait Sessions, The Park at Harlinsdale FarmsTagged "crystal freemon photography", "Family of 4", "Harlinsdale Farms", "The Park at Harlinsdale Farms", 2019, barns, birthday, boy, franklin, milestone, one, outdoors, photography, portraits, siblings, toddlerLeave a comment

Franklin TN Children's Photographer Cake Smash Session at Harlinsdale Farms

I cannot believe that it’s already been one year since this sweet boy was born. It seems like I was just photographing his newborn photos last week. I wish that the weather would have cooperated better for this session, but we made it work. Isn’t William just the cutest thing in those little suspenders and button up shirt? And oh my gosh…those eyes! I could photograph those eyes all day long.

This session was the last in William’s milestone package. My milestone package is intended as a great way to document a baby’s first year of life and includes four portrait sessions with all the digital images of your photos from each session. You can learn more about it on my pricing page. I just love being able to capture multiple sessions for a family after a baby is born. There are some many huge changes that a family goes through during that one year and it’s such a magical time of growth and wonder.

And aren’t their outfits adorable? I love the colors, the textures and of course, Charlotte’s boots are to die for. The coats are great too, which is definitely something to pay attention to for portrait sessions in March when the weather can be so unpredictable. I cannot wait to see how these two beautiful babies grow over the next year. ❤️

February Family Portrait Session at the Park at Harlinsdale Farms in Franklin TN

February 12, 2019August 7, 2019Posted in Family, Little Kids, Portrait Sessions, The Park at Harlinsdale FarmsTagged "crystal freemon photography", "family of 3", "Harlinsdale Farms", "The Park at Harlinsdale Farms", 2019, barns, boy, franklin, groups, outdoors, photography, portraits, toddlerLeave a comment

I’m not gonna lie, this one was chilly. Only a week earlier I shot a session at Harlinsdale when it was 70 degrees outside, but we all know how quickly Tennessee weather can change, and change it did.

But that didn’t stop my adorable new friend Porter and his family from having a great time and rocking their family portrait session. I actually love cold winter sessions because I think they show a level of coziness and closeness in a family…all bundled up together to keep warm. And isn’t he just so adorable in his winter hat?

Sarah and John were just fantastic. I love how they went with the flow and played with and entertained little Porter instead of expecting him to pose for too many photos.

Sometimes the parents of toddlers can feel like a session isn’t going well because a little one maybe just wants to be in mommy’s arms. Or perhaps the opposite and he doesn’t want to be held. Or he or she is on the move and doesn’t seem to be “cooperating” for poses. This can be stressful for parents because they might be used to a more posed type of photography, possibly in a studio. I try to reassure them that pretty much whatever their toddler does is absolutely beautiful.

Sometimes we make tiny adjustments. For example, Porter was getting distracted by a guy on a motorcycle, so we just moved to another part of the park where he couldn’t see the bike. But for the most part, I just want toddlers to be themselves and for parents to let them. And Sarah and John did a fantastic job of that. I love how playful they were together…so many hugs, and tackles and hide-and-seek. This way, it doesn’t feel like a job, but just like having fun while someone happens to take photos…and that’s precisely the way it should be.

Sarah wanted to include her extended family in the session. This was a celebration of Porter’s birthday, and she wanted to have all his grandparents and uncles in some of the photos, but she was afraid that they might distract him while we were trying to get pictures of just their immediate family, so she had the extended family come at the end of the session. That worked out great as an option, and my favorite part was when Porter got so excited at seeing his grandparents and ran to them for hugs with such joy on his face. It was just absolutely beautiful.

Margot & her dolly Spring Hill Family Photographer

December 6, 2018August 7, 2019Posted in Chapmans Retreat Walking Trail, Family, Little Kids, Portrait SessionsTagged "crystal freemon photography", "family of 3", "Spring Hill tn", 2018, baby, CRES, family, girl, joy, leaves, outdoors, photography, portraits, toddler1 Comment

This Spring Hill photo session included two of my favorite things…toddlers and lovies. As a photographer, I absolutely love including a child’s favorite objects in a photo session.

Margot loves her special doll and carries her everywhere, and she did not want to put her down for our session, and that is absolutely OK with me. I’m good with the lovie or comfort object for two reasons. First, Margot is a little bit shy and allowing her to carry her doll all throughout the session made her more comfortable and that’s exactly what I want to do. But besides that, I really like having the doll in the photos anyway because it is a part of who she is at this moment. It makes the photos more meaningful because someday she will look back on them and smile as her parents remind her how she use to carry her doll everywhere she went. ❤️

If your child has an object or lovie they are particularly fond of, I recommend you bring that item to your family portrait session. Not only will having the object be a comfort to them, but it will also make for great memories when you look back at the photos. Lovies can come in all kinds of forms. If you think your child’s lovie is unusual, check out this article about one little girl’s unusual choice for a comfort object. LOL

Oh and don’t worry about little Margot in the photo of her towards the end where she’s crying. She had fallen down and got a tiny boo boo, but she only cried for about half a second.

Are you looking for a Spring Hill photographer? Contact me today to book a session. for your family.

What to wear to a family portrait session

March 19, 2018August 22, 2019Posted in Chapmans Retreat Walking Trail, Family, Little Kids, Pets, Portrait SessionsTagged "crystal freemon photography", "family of 5", "Spring Hill tn", 2018, clothing, CRES, dog, girls, kids, outdoors, pets, spring, toddlerLeave a comment

Confession time – I’m not very good at picking clothing for family photos. I’ve never felt like I was very good at fashion, but I know what I like and what I don’t like to see in family portrait sessions. And I know that several of my friends are REALLY good at picking family session clothing. One of those friends is Christy – I am always so impressed with her wardrobe choices for her family photos, so I asked her how she goes about choosing photos for a session for herself, her husband, and their three adorable little girls. She had some great advice to share:

“I typically start with one outfit I love. One year I loved this purple sweater that Hannah had, it looked great on her. That year purple was our color and everyone else’s outfit was picked to match. Last year I had a floral dress I loved, so I pulled colors out of the dress for each of the girls to wear. I try not to pick more than one or two patterns, or any pattern that is too small or busy. Most of the time we have what we need in our closets already. I usually only buy one or two outfits for a shoot. Old Navy is a great place to get coordinated outfits. They sell lots of solids which always look great in photos! Little touches like matching bows or denim jackets helps tie everything together.”

Here are a few more do’s and don’ts I have for choosing clothing for your family photos:

DO:

Do pick 2-3 colors & find outfits for those colors.
Do shop your own closet first. What do you love to wear that is your signature style?
Do be yourself. If you are a blue jeans kind of mom, then wear blue jeans. Don’t feel like you have to be fancy. Be you.
Do make sure everyone feels comfortable in what they are wearing.
Do make sure everything fits appropriately….this is not the time for squeezing into something, or for buying clothes big so the kids can grow into them.
Do consider scarves, jackets, accessories and other things that add texture & interest to the outfits.
Do avoid graphics and distracting logos. That “Big Brother” shirt is cute, but unless he’s standing perfectly still, you won’t be able to read it well in photos.
Do expect you child to run, jump and play at the session.

DON’T

Don’t force your kids (or husband) to wear something they hate. We want them to be comfortable at the session.
Don’t wear florescent colors. They can reflect onto skin tones. (My favorite colors for sessions are jewel tones…blue, plum, teal, burgandy, mustard yellow, etc)
Don’t use giant bows…it distracts from your daughter’s beautiful face. Smaller ones are great, BUT only if she wants to wear it. Let’s not spend the entire session trying to force her to put her bow back on.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate patterns, just don’t go overboard.
Don’t try to be too matched. Coordinated (but not matched) looks best.
Don’t wear a shirt that wrinkles super easily (I see this a lot on men’s dress shirts…it’s pretty impossible to photo shop out.)
Don’t forget about your nails. (I often see chipped nail polish on little girls.)
Don’t forget about shoes…especially for the little ones. If the weather is appropriate, barefoot is a good option for the kids.
Don’t be afraid to ask me if you are unsure about something.

And didn’t Christy do a fabulous job? They look like they belong on the cover of a magazine.

Bonus before and after editing shot below. Can you find it? I kinda love the before. 😂

Have you booked your family portrait session yet? There are only a few spots left for spring, so don’t wait to book your session.

Cozy winter moments with a family of four home session

December 11, 2017August 27, 2019Posted in Family, Home Sessions, Little Kids, Newborns & Babies, UncategorizedTagged "chapel hill tn", 2017, baby, Christmas, family, home, indoors, kids, outdoors, siblings, toddlerLeave a comment

Y’all, I think I survived the busy season. It was busy, but beautiful and I just absolutely love all the wonderful families I’ve met and photographed over the past few months, and throughout 2017. While there is no more opportunity for Christmas photos, I am still taking orders for custom photo books for past clients, that make great gifts for the holidays. I’m also booking January – June of next year on my online booking calendar.

Please don’t let winter scare you away from scheduling family portraits. Just look at this beautiful family I met yesterday in Chapel Hill at their family home. It was just a gorgeous piece of property with the sun shining just right through the trees on this chilly winter evening. I wanted to take these sweet boys home with me. Gillan was so much fun showing me around his land and playing hide and seek with me. I just adore the way three year olds are so in love with exploring the world around them. And he is obviously such an amazing big brother to little Tucker. And oh my gosh…baby Tucker! Just look at those adorable cheeks and that smile. What perfect little boys.

One thing you absolutely must tell me before your family portrait session.

November 21, 2017August 27, 2019Posted in Aspen Grove Park, Little Kids, Portrait SessionsTagged "Aspen Grove Park", "Franklin tn", 2017, Big Kids, Christmas, dog, family, franklin, kids, outdoors, pets, siblings, toddler1 Comment

Whenever you book a family portrait session with me through my online calendar, I ask that you answer a few questions to help me prepare for the photo session. The only question that is not optional is the names and ages of the people being photographed (because I study the names in advance). I understand that my clients are very busy, so if you don’t have time to give me a detailed description of little Sally’s likes and dislikes, that’s OK. It’s great for me to know that Johnny loves Dinosaurs or Ann’s favorite TV show is Paw Patrol. Those things help me to have conversation starters with the children, and sometimes help to get a genuine smile. But if you don’t have time to put that, it’s OK…I’ll wing it.

I really love knowing why the photo session is important to you. I remember one family who told me about the rough year they’d each had individually, but that they wanted this photo session to show how they were always there for each other in the rough times and the good. I don’t know why knowing these things helps me with a session, but somehow they do. I guess I feel more connected to the family. I’ve always loved the quote, “I don’t shoot what it looks like…I shoot how it feels.” The more I know going into a session, the easier it is to capture the feelings.

But again, I can get away with not knowing these things if you don’t have time to fill out a detailed survey. But there is one thing that I absolutely NEED to know before your family session.

If you have a child who is very shy, I absolutely need to know this in advance. The reason is that when I read that your child is shy, I automatically know I need to approach her differently. While her sister is chatting my head of about school, and vacations, and puppies, I approach her cautiously, quietly, trying not to overwhelm her. I’ll let her get use to me before I really approach her at all. Then I’ll maybe ask her a few quiet questions and feel her out. I might let her see my camera…or whatever it feels like it might take to help her feel more comfortable. I have all of this in my head before the session, because you’ve told me before hand what your little one needs. It didn’t take much to tell me this…just a few words, but it makes all the difference in the world because if I approach her the wrong way, she could get overwhelmed and shut down. And that’s definitely not what I want.

So take a look at the pictures below. Can you tell which one is the shy sister? No? Good.

And I just want to say that all three of these little girls were amazing. I had so much fun with them. They are totally my happy place. So much energy, and wonder and joy. They were just perfect.