Playful - Authentic - Unscripted Children’s Portraiture

by JoAnna Forsythe Photography

Serving Bend, Redmond, & Sisters, Oregon

At The Art of Littles, I specialize in black and white children’s portraits that are unique & unexpected. Designed to allow the natural, unscripted moments that reflect your child’s personality to shine, these images are intended to capture the subtle expressions, wild energy, and everything in between.

Childhood moves fast. These portraits will help you hold onto a piece of it.

Black and white portrait of a young child with a bob haircut, looking directly at the camera, smiling slightly.
Black and white portrait of a young boy with short hair, resting his chin on his hands, looking upwards and smiling, against a plain background.
Black and white portrait of a smiling toddler with short hair and bangs, wearing a light-colored shirt.
Black and white portrait of smiling child with curly hair, wearing a knitted sweater.
Black and white photo of a smiling young boy with short hair, wearing a buttoned shirt.
Black and white portrait of a smiling child with long hair, wearing a dark shirt.
Black and white photo of a smiling toddler wearing a jacket
Black and white photo of a young child with long hair, wearing a white shirt, looking directly at the camera.
“If you never did, you should. These things are fun, and fun is good.”
— Dr. Seuss
Black and white photo of a smiling child with long hair.
Black and white photo of a young boy in a white shirt laughing, with a playful expression, hand covering his mouth.
Black and white photo of a surprised child with open mouth
Black and white photo of a young child laughing with long hair.
Smiling child with long hair and glittery cat ears, wearing a white dress with eyelet detail. Black and white photo.
Black and white portrait of a laughing child in a button-up shirt.
Black and white portrait of a young girl with long hair, sticking out her tongue playfully, smiling, and wearing a light top.
Black and white photo of a smiling child with medium-length hair.
Black and white portrait of a boy making a funny face, sticking tongue out, wearing a button-up shirt.
Black and white photo of a smiling child lifting a sweater.

SIBLING PORTRAITS

Where the wild and the sweet sides of siblinghood meet.

Black and white photo of two young children hugging and smiling.
Black and white portrait of two smiling children embracing, facing the camera.
Black and white photo of two young children, an older sibling hugging a younger one, both looking at the camera.
Black and white portrait of two young boys sitting back to back, looking at the camera.
Black and white photo of two young girls hugging, wearing white tops.
Two children posing for a black and white portrait, with the older child smiling and the younger child looking at the camera. The older child is wearing a textured dress, while the younger child is in a striped sweater with a button collar.
Black and white photo of a young girl and a boy hugging, smiling at the camera.
Black and white photo of two young children. One standing and hugging the other seated, both wearing dark clothing, with light hair, looking at the camera, posed against a plain background.
Black and white photo of two young children hugging, with one kissing the other's cheek, expressing affection.
Black and white portrait of a smiling person with long, wavy hair wearing a turtleneck.

Hello, I’m JoAnna ~

I created The Art of Littles in 2018 to offer something different in children’s portraiture. These sessions aren’t about perfect poses or props, they’re about capturing who your child truly is.

To me, the in-between moments, the subtle expressions, and curious eyes are the treasures. My approach is calm, patient, and often silly because something magical happens when children forget they are being photographed.

All sessions take place in my Bend, Oregon studio, where I use controlled studio lighting to create classic black and white portraits that feel modern and timeless. By removing distractions, each image becomes a true reflection of your child’s personality. Whether it’s a quiet glance, a burst of laughter, or a mischievous smirk, I aim to capture it all in a way that feels authentic.

FAQ’s

  • Galleries are sent out approximately 2 weeks after the shoot. This allows time for me to select your child’s most compelling images and a preliminary edit. Once you’ve chosen your favorites, detailed editing will be completed and sent to you within a week.

  • I interact with them and let them be themselves. Great results come from kids feeling that this is a fun experience without pressure to perform.

    (And we NEVER do “say cheese” smiles)

  • It is up to you to decide if you'd like to be close by or to step away while they are being photographed.

    The main thing is to allow space for me to build a rapport with your child in order to capture their attention and focus.

    I sometimes enlist assistance from parents to provide a little comic relief to help kids relax if it seems like they need that.

    Please refrain from telling your kids how to smile or taking photos/video during the session.

  • No.

  • LITTLES sessions are 100% black and white.

  • You can order prints directly through your gallery.

    Should you choose to purchase prints elsewhere, I highly recommend using a professional lab.

  • This is important!

    Dress your child in plain and simple clothing so that the focus stays on their expression (no ruffles, collars, layers, chunky sweaters, fancy sleeves, logos or patterns).  

    Make sure that your child's face is clean before you arrive. Moisturize their face, arms, and hands before the session.

    Hair as natural/simple as possible with no accessories.

    Remove chipped nail polish and temporary tattoos.

    Take a look through the galleries and decide if you prefer white or dark shirts.  To allow for the best contrast, staying away from grey or mid-toned shirts is recommended.

  • The cost of the session is $250.00/child.  Each child requires their own booking.

    3 digital images, of your choice, are included from a curated gallery of approximately 10-20 images. 

    Additional files and prints are available for purchase through the gallery.

  • Payment of the session fee is required to hold a place on my calendar.

    Session fees are non-refundable.

    That said, sometimes extenuating circumstances are unavoidable. I’m happy to offer a ONE-time booking reschedule with at least 24 hours notice.

  • No, but siblings can be photographed together at the end of the final individual session for no extra charge.

  • Each session is approximately 15-20 minutes.

  • This style works best for ages 1-10 years (+/-).

    Babies need to be able to sit up on their own or hold themselves sturdy with assistance from a parent.