Tips for a Successful Baby Milestone Session

The reason for today’s post is because over the last few years I have received emails asking simple questions about my baby photography. So to all of my blog readers, clients, I will be offering Tips For a Successful Baby Milestone Session in this blog post! I hope you find this post informative and helpful! If you have any more baby photography related questions, feel free to contact me!
Tips for a Successful Baby Milestone Session
Bring a special toy, keepsake, or ‘lovie’ to the session. I LOVE to incorporate special tokens and keepsakes that have meaning in baby’s life. If there is a special blanket, or plush toy that the baby just adores, then lets document it! When think back on my favorite images of my babies, it’s them holding their really loved toys.
Clothing and wardrobe advice.
I provide a baby wardrobe in for babies 0-18 months old, BUT I always recommend to parents to bring in a simple white or neutral onsie and a diaper cover of their choice or their favorite outfit. Simple is always better in my opinion and I always recommend tan, gray, white, cream, pastel colors.
Take breaks throughout the session and bring a snack and extra bottle feeding. I take a mid session break so the baby can eat a little snack, get a drink of water, and get some cuddle time with mom or dad. Let’s be real, it’s REALLY hard being such a cute baby model. Babies also get very over stimulated with the noise and commotion during the sessions. My sessions are very calm and relaxed but it’s still a lot for some babies and they just need a minute to relax.
As soon as baby arrives, change their diaper, take off their socks, and pick their boogers! That’s right, I said boogers!
Diaper changing time isn’t always baby’s favorite thing to do so I recommend getting all the ‘bad’ stuff out of the way. If baby cries, this is the time for the crying redness to go away. Next, take off their socks! I can’t tell you how many sock mark edits I have done over the years. Fluffy babies tend to get red marks from their socks and it takes a good 15-30 minutes for those red lines to disappear. And Boogers! I wouldn’t be a great baby photographer if I don’t talk about boogs. Parents PLEASE don’t pick boogs during the session. It makes baby mad every. single. time. When I’m shooting, I always tell parents to leave baby as is. If they get a boog mid session, I will edit it out but please please please don’t pick during the session. 99% of the time it takes away that moment and baby never fully recovers back to happy baby after that.
Try to schedule vaccines and shots at least 4 days before our session. This will allow enough time for baby to recoup (if needed) from their doctor visit.
Enjoy the session mom and dad. This is an INCREDIBLY special time in your baby’s lives. Don’t stress about outfits, hair, runny noses, drooling, smiles, crabby baby, etc. Just relax and enjoy the entire time we spend together. I recommend sitting back on the couch and just watch your baby being photographed. If I need help or assistance from you to get baby to smile, then I will call you over for help. My sessions are simple and baby led. I gently pose them baby placing them on their tummy, sitting up, facing the wall, etc. and it naturally flows from beginning to end. If you are stressed and tense, this sometimes can make baby stressed and tense. Take a deep breath and have fun. It’s a beautiful time and I guarantee you I will collect gorgeous photos of your little one.
Thank you all for stopping by and reading the Tips for a Successful Baby Milestone Session! Feel free to CONTACT me if you have any questions or if you would like to book your baby session!