Your Baby’s Milestone Session

hello!

Milestone Sessions are short and sweet and just for babies and children who are three months and older.

This Guide is full of information I’ve gathered over my years photographing babies and kids. It contains pretty much everything you’ll need to know to make the most of your time with me.

I am here for you every step of the way to help plan a successful Milestone session.

 

The Studio is located at: 2652 Hidden Knoll Tr. Frisco, TX 75034

How to Prepare

  • Schedule your session preferably right after nap time.

Avoid replacing nap time with a nap in the car on the way to the session. Babies who take their nap in the car, are often woken up mid-nap and are not happy. Or they don’t fall asleep in the car like they normally do. I highly suggest doing baby’s normal nap time at home and then coming straight to the session. Schedule the best time of day between 10am-2pm that your baby is the happiest!

If baby’s nap changes the day of the session let me know and we can adjust the start time as necessary.

A rested baby is a happy baby!

  • Select Outfits You’d like to be Photographed

I offer a selection of outfits from my client closet for your use during the session. These dresses, pants, and rompers have a timeless vintage feel and are neutral toned that will photograph well and will compliment any baby.

You are also welcome to bring any other outfits you would like used! If you’re unsure of what will photograph well, bring a few options and we can select the best outfits right in the Studio when you arrive or text me at 817-939-3811 ahead of time and I can help with selection Just make sure the outfit is comfortable and the right size on your little one.

  • Iron or Steam for a Wrinkle-Free Look

Avoid putting everything into the diaper bag, instead iron or steam all the outfits you’re thinking of bringing to the session. Use child-sized hangers to store the clothing and hang them in the car, or lay them flat. Once in the Studio, you can put them up on the clothing rack for safekeeping and selection.

Please wait until you are at the Studio to get baby dressed in their outfit. This will ensure that there were no wardrobe accidents prior to the session and it will help avoid wrinkles.

  • Invest in Plain White Diapers

    Diapers nowadays come in all sorts of fun colors. The problem is, we want simple white diapers for the best look in portraits (since a light outfit will show a colorful diaper). A great option is “Coterie” or “Eco by Naty” - they’re natural vegan diapers, but still white in color with a very light graphic pattern, not brown. Be sure to order at least a week beforehand (Amazon has them for easy delivery) to determine the right size/fit.

  • Set Aside Special Accessories (Blanket, Toy, Book)

Bring any sentimental items you would like to include. For example: baby's favorite toy or “lovie”. We can photograph baby with these items or use them behind the camera to get baby's attention. They are great to have on hand for both purposes.

But avoid bringing toys or “lovies” that you do not want photographed. Once they see their favorite toy, sometimes it is difficult to capture images without it.

  • Feed your baby a meal or snack before heading to the studio

A fed baby is a happy baby!

Avoid feeding or bringing foods that might discolor or stain baby’s face.

I do also recommend bringing bottled milk, their favorite snacks, and a pacifier to the photoshoot. For snacks, small cereal puffs are more discrete in the photo. If you are breastfeeding, it would be very helpful to have some pumped milk ready in a bottle to feed and soothe the baby’s onset.

  • Remove socks before the session

If you want those adorable bare-footed photos, make sure to remove socks at least 30 minutes before your baby’s session - otherwise they will leave impression marks on your baby’s skin. It’s these little details that often make the biggest difference.

 What to Expect at Each Baby Milestone Session

Every baby is different, but I have found that a 30-45 minutes is the perfect time for a successful milestone session. However, we will have plenty of time if we need to shoot longer. Baby’s tend to have a short attention span and I have found that they tend to become uninterested in the session after around 30 minutes. That means I move pretty quickly through to capture all of their unique expressions.

All baby milestone sessions are baby focused. I will photograph baby in diaper cover/naked baby, our studio outfit, and an outfit provided by the parents. I can add bubbles, our wooden toys or you can bring along a family heirloom (wooden toys, quilt, etc) to be photographed. We will let your baby play and have fun while I capture all those smiles, playing, crawling, standing, as well as little details like the curl in their hair, the rolls in their thighs, and those cubby little toes.

** Parents: You will be very much a part of the session, even if you aren’t in any photos. You will be needed to help coax some smiles out and help get baby into place for each of their setups. This can be quite a workout once baby is on the move, so dress comfortably and casually.**

 
 

 Ages & Stages

3-5 Month

Tummy Time

This is the first milestone session after baby’s newborn portraits.

This session is typically scheduled once baby is holding their head up during tummy time.

In addition to being on their tummy, this session also includes shots of baby on their back and in beautiful props.

They really have grown so much since the newborn stage!

6-9 Month

Sitter Session

This session typically takes place once baby is sitting up on their own unassisted.

During this session, baby will be sitting in adorable props, on their backs grabbing their toes, and showing off their growing personality.

Baby is full of personality at this stage but isn’t movin’ and groovin’ as much as they will be at the One Year mark!

One Year

One Year/Standing

This session documents baby’s first birthday!

Maybe your baby has begun standing on their own, or pulling themselves up using furniture (or your legs).

Maybe they’re just crawling like the wind. Either way, so much has changed since their tiny newborn days.

And that is reason enough to capture this milestone.

A few additional thoughts

While it might sound like there’s a lot to consider when preparing for your baby’s Milestone Session, but with a little extra thoughtfulness on the front end, it will help make for a successful session.

I’m here every step of the way to make sure our time together goes smoothly. The baby’s mood, clothing, and your expectations will all set the tone for your session.

Any questions at all please feel free to call me at the studio at:

817-939-3811.