Why You Should Invest into Our Baby Plan and Photograph Your Baby's First Year of Life

The first year of a child’s life is filled with so much growth. It’s incredible to watch your little one grow from a helpless newborn into a laughing, smiling toddler. Capturing the moments of their development as they happen allows you to hold on to memories that can seem so fleeting as they pass, but as parents of an infant, it can be challenging to remember to photograph the little everyday moments and memories that will mean so much to your family later.

That’s why it’s so important to schedule regular sessions with a professional photographer to capture your child’s growth, especially in their first year. Babies grow and change incredibly quickly, and you don’t want to miss a moment!

Our Baby Plan takes place after your newborn session and allows you to continue coming back for each of your child’s milestone at a discounted rate.

Sitter Session

After your child’s newborn session, it’s a great idea to schedule a session at around 5-8 months to capture all the changes they’ve gone through in that time. At this point, your baby should be able to push up on their arms and hold their head up, which is perfect for making eye contact with the camera. No more sleepy newborn poses! Your little one is showing off more of their personality every day and will be wide-eyed and alert during this session. Your photographer will be able to capture some adorable moments of your baby on their tummy, back or sitting up. Your baby may even be starting to crawl at this stage or scoot around on their bottom to move around the room. Before you schedule this session, be sure that your child can sit up unassisted to minimize the risk of them toppling over during the shoot. Even if they’re fairly steady though, you’ll want to be sure to be within arm’s reach, just in case! These are great photos to compare to your newborn images to see how much has changed in just a few months

First Birthday Session

Around a year is when you’ll notice major changes in your baby—they won’t seem like such a baby anymore! At this time, your child may begin to take their first steps and will be showing off new teeth in their smile. A one-year session is a great way to really capture your child’s personality, and it’s a chance to mark just how far not only your child has come, but how far you’ve come as a family. You’ve survived the baby months and are moving into toddlerhood—a new adventure all its own! These are also a great way to document their FIRST BIRTHDAY! First birthday sessions typically involve a theme chosen by the parents, a fun cake smashing, as well as some more posed, neutral portraits. Below are some examples of some fun themes I’ve done.

As your child grows, you’ll want to capture the changes in their appearance and their personality. But as the parent of a baby, trying to take regular photos of your little one is just another item added to your to-do list—and something you just may not have time for. To capture quality images to hang on the walls of your home and share with family and friends, schedule sessions with a professional photographer. That way, you get the beautiful photos you want, and your child will have images to look back on as they grow older.

"Do I really NEED newborn photos"

When it comes to hiring a wedding photographer, no one bats an eye, right? This is a huge milestone/event in your life that you wanna document forever, so you spend money and find a professional you love, to cherish this day. So why is it questionable when it comes to your BABY?! Your life is about to change, and I truly think it is SO important to document this time as your newborn will grow and change so fast. You created LIFE, a whole miniature version of yourself, shouldn't you want to document this milestone forever?!

As a mama of two beautiful babies and one angel baby, I look back their photos and can put myself back in those moments. I can remember every detail through photos, that otherwise may have been forgotten. The shape of their nose, the way they used to smile, etc. When you have a TANGIBLE item to look back on and hold in your hands, that once held them, it's priceless.

As someone who wishes she had more time and more photos of loved ones lost, to help spark those special memories, trust me when I say it's worth it.

The newborn photos are worth it. The milestone photos are worth it. The family photos with YOU in them, are WORTH IT

The Most Common Questions About Newborn Sessions

Children grow up so fast, and having photos of your little ones at their newest can help you remember years later how tiny they truly were.

As you’re preparing to welcome a new addition into your family, consider booking a newborn photo shoot to capture this wonderful moment in your life. And if you’re unsure what a newborn photo session entails, I’ve compiled this list of common questions parents have.

What’s the best age for newborn photos?

The ideal age for a newborn session is between 5 and 14 days. At this stage, babies still spend most of their time sleeping and often still snuggle up in positions that are similar to those they held in the womb. Remember that babies grow fast, and after two weeks, your little one will start stretching their arms and legs more and will be less comfortable with posing—and less likely to stay asleep for most of the session.

How early should I book my shoot?

If you want to have a newborn session, try to book it as early as you can. You only have a small window of time in which to take these photos, and you want to make sure your photographer is available. I would reach out to your photographer in your first or second trimester.

What if my baby arrives later than expected?

Your photographer will understand that babies come when they’re ready and not on any schedule. They’ll hold time around your scheduled session to make sure you’re guaranteed a space when baby arrives.

How long is a typical newborn session?

Most sessions last about three to four hours. If that sounds long, don’t worry—you won’t be taking photos the whole time. A large portion of your session will be spent feeding and comforting your newborn to make sure they’re content for portraits.

How should I dress my baby?

The majority of newborn photography involves nude portraits to capture the tininess of your baby, so you’ll want to dress your infant in something that’s easy to put on and remove. If you’d rather your baby dressed in photos, your photographer most likely has an array of tiny outfits and wraps to dress baby in for their photos. 

What should I bring to my session?

Your whole diaper bag, of course—pacifiers, extra diapers and wipes, and extra formula and bottles, if you formula-feed. You also want to bring a change of clothes for yourself—if you’re going to be in photos with a naked infant, there’s a good chance you’ll get pooped or peed on. And be sure to bring along any props you want included in the photos, like a blanket or a toy that has special meaning to you or your family.

Be sure to ask your photographer any other questions you may have and don’t be nervous! Your photographer has experience working with newborns and parents and will know just how to pose and photograph your baby and capture those precious memories of this special time in your lives.

Getting Your Littles to Behave for Photos

You don't. 𝑲𝒊𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒉𝒂.

Sometimes kids don’t listen.. for any number of reasons. Expecting them to have fun and smile for a total stranger will surely cause some tension, so here are my tips for getting kiddos on board for sessions!

𝗛𝗬𝗣𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠 𝗨𝗣!

Tell them you’re going to visit a crazy, fun lady named Sarah who is going to play games and take their picture! Get them comfortable with my face so I don't seem so scary when they meet me!

During the session try and focus less on the “perfect smiles” and “poses”. Let’s focus on candids and letting your kids be them. Tell them a joke, let them run, and have fun!!

𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗦

Does your kiddo get attached to certain toys? Buy them something you won’t mind having in photos! A neutral teddy bear, a vintage look toy truck, a special doll.. photos are scary for little ones.. if they have a comfort object they are more likely to feel safe and are less likely to cry.

𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗬

While bribery doesn’t work for everyone, if it works for yours, go for it! Promise a trip to the store, ice cream, a special treat, bring a few small pieces of candy (nothing that will stain their lips, so no lollipops, unless it's for after!)

𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘

Parents. This one is on you. You are your kids rock and source of comfort.. if you start to get stressed because your kids aren’t being perfect angels- guess what... it’s only going to get worse. So take a deep breath.. snuggle your babe (or let them run around.. whatever their goal is!) and let me just capture the moments. This is especially true with newborns as well! They sense our stress and cry even more, so just breathe mama! Let me handle it!

I expect all children to be wild and emotional. Photo day can be intense.. kids are put on a stage and expected to perform for a total stranger, they are bound to be a little extreme and that’s okay! So show up to your session mentally prepared to let your littles be a little extra... and maybe have a little wine ready for when you get home for yourself

7 Reasons Why You Should Take Maternity Photos

You’re counting down the days until your little one arrives! Depending on how you feel at this stage of your pregnancy, you may be unsure about whether you want to invest time and money into professional maternity photos. Maybe you’re self-conscious about the way your body looks or maybe you’re just not sure about the cost of a photo session. While it’s most important to make a decision that’s right for you and your personal needs, there are many reasons why maternity photos are definitely worth the investment and are a choice you won’t regret.

Celebrate your pregnancy journey

Pregnancy may not be a phase of your life you enjoy, especially in the last few months. As your body grows larger, you may not want any photos of yourself taken and wouldn’t want to share images with friends and family. It can be a challenge watching your body change so much, and it can also be easy to forget just how miraculous and incredible pregnancy really is. A maternity photo session allows you to focus on the new life your body is working so hard to create, instead of the way you look, and can remind you of the excitement and joy that comes with bringing your child into the world.

Capture the joy and anticipation

No matter how you feel physically, pregnancy is a time of looking hopefully and delightfully toward the future. In the months and years to come, as you focus on raising your new child, you may forget what it felt like to be eagerly awaiting their arrival. Maternity photos can serve as a reminder of those feelings in the years to come. After all, most women only experience pregnancy a few times in their lives, and chances are you won’t regret having a memento of that special time.

Mark this moment in your family’s growth

I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many photos of your family. So much of life passes by in a blur, and we often forget more than we remember. Whether this is your first child or your fourth, your pregnancy is a great time to get some family photos with not just you and your partner, but your other children as well. If you take time to do photo sessions on a regular basis, you can chart the growth of your family over the years—something your future self and your children will definitely be thankful for.

Reveal the sex or name of your child

A professional maternity session can be a fun way to announce either the sex or the name of your child—or even both! There are so many fun and creative ways to announce your little one’s name or sex to the world with photos, and your photographer would be more than happy to help you make that announcement. Scroll through Pinterest for ideas or think about the interests or hobbies you and your partner share as inspiration for telling the world your news.

Have an excuse to get all dressed up

Let’s face it: during pregnancy, most of us don’t feel our most beautiful. You may spend a lot of time wearing whatever is most comfortable and a lot less time on your hair and makeup. But maternity photos are the perfect excuse to go all out on your beauty routine, whether that means doing your hair yourself or stopping into a salon to get the perfect hairdo. Pregnancy is a time in many women’s lives when they really need to feel beautiful because they so often don’t. A maternity session allows you to revel in your beauty and strength and to remind yourself of how absolutely stunning you are.

Take time to bond with your partner

One of the coolest things about maternity sessions is the interactions between couples as they celebrate the new life they’ve created. Your maternity shoot gives you and your partner a chance to reflect on the life you’ve built together and how much has changed in your relationship since the beginning. Plus, maternity images are a great way to mark a major shift in the life of your family and in who you both are as you transition to parenthood.

Get images worth displaying

A lot of people have their wedding photos hanging on the walls of their home, but imagine having images on your walls from every stage in your family’s growth—from marriage to your first child all the way down to when you become grandparents. Maternity photos capture a moment in time that’s just as important as your wedding day. You’re welcoming a new child into your lives and your home—that’s huge! It’s definitely a moment that deserves professional photography, just like your wedding day.