Preparing for Your Baby’s Milestone Session

A Baby Session, or a Milestone Session, is for babies 2-12 months old. Once you’ve decided how often you want to have your baby photographed during their first year, it’s time to get ready for the session. Whether you are prepping for a 3-month, 6-month, 9-month, or 1-year session, my suggestions on preparing for your baby’s milestone session are pretty much the same.

What to Wear

First, you want to decide on clothing. Mom, first! Find what you are wearing and then coordinate baby, siblings, and dad to what you are wearing. I have a wardrobe at the studio that includes a few sweaters, lots of dresses for mom, knit baby clothing and diaper covers, and even some items for older siblings and dad. 

If you know you want to shop and choose your outfits, you want to do this at least several weeks in advance, especially if you’re online shopping. I’d order several sizes of the outfit you are eyeing so you can try them on your baby. You want a snug fit. Some moms like to choose one outfit to bring and then supplement it with a few other items I have at the studio. 

For the clothing, I recommend staying with lighter and neutral colors; layering textures and prints is great if the same color palette is used. Avoid vibrant and neon colors, logos, and graphic tees. 

Here is a Pinterest board with some inspiration! These items give you a good idea for color and texture. Brands like Zara, H+M, Gap, Janie & Jack, Jamie Kay, and Rylee + Cru are great places to get pieces. 

What to Bring

Feel free to give your baby a little snack break. That can be a bottle, nursing, or solid food break. If baby is eating solids, bring a few “clean-ish” snacks like Cheerios, yogurt melts, etc., to help your little one power through a few more photos. 

I have my bag of tricks to help grab baby’s attention; however, it’s a good idea to bring a toy or two that you know they love and smile for that we can bust out in case what I have just isn’t cutting it. Parents, you are the real MVP’s here. I just wish I had a secret camera in my studio filming all the crazy antics that parents get up to behind me to try and make their baby smile ; )

Timing of the Session

I have found in my experience that babies are happiest in the morning time. So it usually works to do the photo session early in the morning between when they wake up and their first nap or around 11/12 pm, so it’s between their morning and afternoon nap. 

I’d give baby a full feeding before leaving the house to come in for photos, but if they still need a top-off or a mid-session snack, no worries! I’d plan for the session to last about 1 hour. 

Wait to dress your baby in their photo clothes until you get to the studio. I have a changing table for a fresh diaper and getting their outfit on. This way, you can avoid any spit-up on the car ride there. Let me know when you get there if you need anything steamed, and I can do that quickly! 

Cake Smash

If you are doing a cake smash at the end of your 1-year baby session, I’d order this about a month beforehand. Order a 4” or 6” cake so it is not too big when placed in front of the baby. If you want your 1-year-old to get into that cake, I’d give them a cupcake at home to help them get used to the texture.

When to Reschedule

If your baby or anyone else in your family is sick, please reach out to me to reschedule. A sick baby will not be a happy baby. If they are recovering from a cold that was more than a week ago, that is ok. 

Last Pieces of Advice

Keep calm, carry on, and have low expectations for your baby. 

Sometimes, a session might feel like total chaos. Outfits flying around, toys tossed here and there, boogie wipes used, your head might explode if you hear my Elmo say, “hahaha that tickles!” one more time, an older sibling has melted down, you feel like your baby barely smiled. 

But hang tight, mama, it’s super common to feel defeated afterward, thinking there can’t possibly be any good photos, only to open up your proofed gallery with so many sweet photos you have no choice but to purchase them ALL.  

Ready to Book Your Baby’s Session?

Reach out to me using this contact form. Let me know in what month you hope to do the photos and how old your baby will be at that time. I’ll get back to you with complete pricing and booking information within 24 hours!