06/02/2026
Working with three-year-olds is always an adventure—especially when they've recently been promoted to the prestigious position of Big Sibling.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's this: whatever I want them to do, they will almost certainly want to do the exact opposite. Every. Single. Time.
Over the years, I've tried it all—begging, negotiating, bribing, reverse psychology, interpretive dance (okay, maybe not that one). But honestly? The harder we push, the more determined they become. They know they have the power, and they're not afraid to use it.
So these days, I take a different approach: I let them run the show for a bit.
Surprisingly, that usually takes all the fun out of the standoff. Once they're feeling heard and in charge, we can start collaborating on prop ideas, poses, and all the little details that make a session fun. A few minutes of give-and-take almost always gets us where we need to go—without the stress, tears, or dramatic toddler negotiations.
My photography philosophy with three-year-olds? Simple: Let them.
And judging by how well it works, I think Mel Robbins would approve. ;)
