I just got home from the funnest family shoot with one of my fams that I look forward to seeing each year. They are the coolest parents and their two kiddos are the absolute best. They just get to the shoot and instantly play. Tonight, I took them to a garden where you know we turned the hose on! They were drenched at the end, and still laughing and playing. There’s something about toddlers and perfectly diffused light at golden hour—they don’t care. Haha.

They don’t care that you found the dreamiest patch of backlight at golden hour. They don’t care that you’re trying to expose for skin tones. They don’t care that you’ve pulled out your camera instead of your phone. They do care about the cookies, which I came prepared with!

They’re just… moving. Running. Rolling. Yelling about more cookies. And still—we want to document it. So how do I meter light when kids won’t stop moving? Here’s what’s worked for me:

1. Meter for the Moment, Not Perfection

I’ve learned to let go of perfect exposures. If I get the skin tone mostly right and the highlights aren’t blown, I’m calling it a win. Childhood isn’t perfect. It’s wild and unpredictable and beautifully messy. I try to let my images reflect that.

2. Use Center-Weighted or Spot Metering (and Practice Fast)

If I’m shooting on digital, I often switch to center-weighted or spot metering and expose off their faces. I’ll quickly tap for light on the iPhone too if just at home documenting, but when using my camera, I move fast and trust my instincts.

Pro tip: set your camera to manual mode with auto ISO if you’re chasing light and motion. It gives you a little more flexibility while staying exposed properly.

3. Pre-Meter When I Can

If I know where the light is good, I’ll set my exposure before they run into it. That way, I’m not fiddling while they are having a moment. I meter off my own hand or a white dress/shirt if I’m alone and waiting. Often for my film shots, I will pre plan for the light they run into. They are some of my favorite shots!

4. Lean Into Shadows + Highlights

Some of my favorite images of are underexposed or have deep shadows. And that’s okay. I’d rather have the feeling of the moment than a perfectly lit one that’s stiff or forced.

5. Use the Light That’s Already There

Instead of chasing light, I’ve learned to see it where we are. I think most people would laugh if they saw the places I’ve actually put clients for lighting purposes. By a trash can, laundry room, literally anywhere that they weren’t planning on, haha. A strip of sunlight across the rug while baby is crawling, a glowy window near the kitchen sink, a shadow on the wall that dances as your little one spins, speckled light(If you’ve worked with me you know this is my fav!). Magic is already happening—you just have to pause long enough to notice it.

I’m still learning this daily. But if you’re in the season of motherhood where everything is a blur—sometimes literally—just know that blurry, imperfect, beautifully lit chaos IS the story. I am embracing that more than ever lately and I have never loved my documenting more.

It’s all worth capturing. 💛