The very fact that there’s a camera in sight can make her interesting to the child. “Part of it is having them want to know about me: ‘What’s this girl all about? What is she doing?”

Even though the camera is in plain sight, she will give the kids some time to get to know her before she starts taking pictures. “I give them that space, that warm-up time to build some trust. Trust has to come first.”

Then there’s timing. “I need to work around the child’s schedule, need to know when the child naps. If she naps at 1:00 and gets up at 2:30, then she can have a quick lunch and she’s ready. She’s not tired, she’s well fed—that’s the basic. The times [for the shoot] are always set up around well-rested, well-fed babies…or else you’re going to get some tantrums.”

And there’s location. Working in the families’ homes is a big plus. “It’s a comfort thing for the kids—you want them to show you their house so they’re comfortable with you being there.”

For toddlers there’s also the squeaky toy gambit. “The only thing I use as an attention-getter with a child who’s not interested in me is this little ball that squeaks. I’ll put it in my mouth and squeak it while I’m holding the camera.”

But her own kids? They’re well beyond squeaky toys and being surprised by their mom. “My kids see me with the camera all the time, they know me, and they generally won’t look at me for anything.”

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