The Anderson Family | Harlan, Iowa Family Photographer

There’s something extra special about photographing families year after year and watching little ones grow. This summer, I had the pleasure of seeing the Anderson family again as we celebrated Sutton turning two with an updated family session.

Like many toddlers her age, Sutton is in the middle of cutting her molars; so she spent a good part of the session chewing on her fingers. Those little moments are all part of this season of life, and honestly, they’re the details parents will smile about years from now.

She also came prepared with two very important things: her beloved Minnie Mouse stuffy and her favorite snack..raisins! They provided the perfect little breaks throughout the session and helped keep our sweet girl happy as we explored and captured genuine smiles.

To finish the evening, we created something extra memorable. With a little help from Mom, Sutton worked on her very own finger painting masterpiece. By this time, she was getting tired and not super into our art project-haha! These personality-filled moments often become the photographs families treasure the most because they capture exactly who their child is at this age.

Two-year-olds don’t have to sit perfectly still or smile on command to create beautiful family portraits. The best sessions are filled with play, cuddles, favorite comfort items, snack breaks, and plenty of laughter. Those authentic moments tell your family’s story far better than perfectly posed photographs ever could.

If you’re looking for a Harlan, Iowa family photographer who embraces the wonderfully unpredictable nature of young children, I’d love to help create images that celebrate your family just as you are. I photograph families throughout Harlan, Elk Horn, Avoca, Shelby, Denison, Atlantic, Carroll, Council Bluffs, and across southwest Iowa, creating relaxed sessions that preserve the little moments you’ll never want to forget.