What to expect from your milestone session
First off, Milestone Sessions are NOT just for babies! These can be for any age! However, this "What to expect" section deals with baby's first year, since that is the most common range for milestone sessions.
Your baby changes SO much in their first year! They really only have that "newborn look" for a couple of months. Around 3 months they are starting to smile, giggle, and hold their heads up when on their tummy. Around 6 months they are sitting unassisted, maybe even crawling! And around 9 months they are starting to pull up on objects to stand. It all happens SO fast, and professional photos are a beautiful way to remember those fleeting moments.
I have options available for you to customize your milestone experience! Use my Mini Milestone option to capture your baby every month! After all 12 sessions you'll have some amazing photos to create a collage of memories, PLUS you'll earn a free Cake Smash session. Or use the Mini or Regular Milestone sessions to capture your baby at 3/6/9/12 months, 6/12 months, or just their first birthday. You can also choose to go by their physical milestones - holding head up/sitting unassisted/standing assisted/one year - instead of their age.
No matter how you choose to capture your baby's milestones, you will end up with gorgeous photos to help you remember this time in their life!
I have options available for you to customize your milestone experience! Use my Mini Milestone option to capture your baby every month! After all 12 sessions you'll have some amazing photos to create a collage of memories, PLUS you'll earn a free Cake Smash session. Or use the Mini or Regular Milestone sessions to capture your baby at 3/6/9/12 months, 6/12 months, or just their first birthday. You can also choose to go by their physical milestones - holding head up/sitting unassisted/standing assisted/one year - instead of their age.
No matter how you choose to capture your baby's milestones, you will end up with gorgeous photos to help you remember this time in their life!
Initial Inquiry
Package — When reaching out for information on a milestone session, I'll need to know whether you want to a Mini or Regular Milestone. Mini sessions include only 1 backdrop, while the Regular sessions include 2. Both packages include photos on a white fur blanket in addition to the backdrop(s). I will pull age-appropriate props that coordinate with the backdrop(s) to use during the session. Ideally I use 2-3 props as well as shots with no props for each backdrop.
I do have an option for a Cake Smash Only if you prefer that for a first birthday option.
Schedule — You’ve selected a package, it's time to get on my calendar! I'm available most weekdays between school hours as well as evenings for studio sessions. Weekend times are also available but fill up quickly. I will ask what the happiest part of your baby’s day is and we will schedule accordingly (a lot of times it ends up being 10 or 11am). This can get tricky. Babies are growing and your family is constantly adapting to their bodies and their needs. Oftentimes, if we schedule the session several months in advance, we will need to adjust the time if he or she has had a change in nap times. Remember… we are aiming to set your session up for success! Please notify me as soon as possible of any adjustments that need to be made.
Backdrops -- Once the package has been selected, I will send you my questionnaire. I have many backdrops available, from simple wood and brick options to more elaborate themes. You guys, there are SO MANY fun and adorable options, it's overwhelming! Whatever you choose, make it YOURS. Choose something classic that goes with your home decor, choose something fun that brings out your baby's personality, or choose something that reflects the season/nearest holiday. Some of my clients simply see an outfit, love the outfit, and we build the entire session around that outfit!
Retainer & Contract -- Once we have the package selected and appointment scheduled I will send over a retainer invoice and contract. After both have been signed/paid, you are officially booked! Due to the nature of photography, this is non-negotiable.
I do have an option for a Cake Smash Only if you prefer that for a first birthday option.
Schedule — You’ve selected a package, it's time to get on my calendar! I'm available most weekdays between school hours as well as evenings for studio sessions. Weekend times are also available but fill up quickly. I will ask what the happiest part of your baby’s day is and we will schedule accordingly (a lot of times it ends up being 10 or 11am). This can get tricky. Babies are growing and your family is constantly adapting to their bodies and their needs. Oftentimes, if we schedule the session several months in advance, we will need to adjust the time if he or she has had a change in nap times. Remember… we are aiming to set your session up for success! Please notify me as soon as possible of any adjustments that need to be made.
Backdrops -- Once the package has been selected, I will send you my questionnaire. I have many backdrops available, from simple wood and brick options to more elaborate themes. You guys, there are SO MANY fun and adorable options, it's overwhelming! Whatever you choose, make it YOURS. Choose something classic that goes with your home decor, choose something fun that brings out your baby's personality, or choose something that reflects the season/nearest holiday. Some of my clients simply see an outfit, love the outfit, and we build the entire session around that outfit!
Retainer & Contract -- Once we have the package selected and appointment scheduled I will send over a retainer invoice and contract. After both have been signed/paid, you are officially booked! Due to the nature of photography, this is non-negotiable.
3 month milestone
3 month olds are generally starting to smile when interacted with, which is super fun :D They don't always, but they are still just so cute. They are starting to lose that newborn look and their personalities are starting to show. Sometimes they can hold their heads up while on their tummy (feel free to wait till after 3 months to book if you'd rather capture this physical milestone!). I have buckets, crates, and a specially designed "chair' that allows me to get photos of baby upright, as well as taking shots from above of them laying on their backs.
6 month milestone
6 month sessions are one of my favorite types of sessions! I love that the babies are (generally) sitting up on their own, not super mobile, and starting to get playful and curious. I also have a lot of really cute couture outfits (especially for girls) that fit 6-12 months. Sometimes "stranger danger" is starting to kick in at the point, but usually this age is still just super happy to be interacted with!
9 month milestone
For 9 month sessions we usually get to show off baby's standing skills. Every baby is different though, so if you'd rather wait until they are pulling up/cruising, that's fine too! I'm usually a little more confident posing them on chairs, and sometimes they really give their parents a workout because they are fast crawlers! It's amazing seeing them learning their new skills, and occasionally I'm even able to capture some of their first steps!
12 month milestone
Time to celebrate being 1 year old! The 12 month session is all about celebrating your baby and all that they have grown to be in their first year of life! By now they usually have big personalities and it's always interesting to see how they will react at their session. Some are happy to explore and engage while others would much rather hang out with mommy haha! Either way, it's so fun to try to pull them out of their shell and capture who they are at this stage.
Watch Me Grow Package
Many people take monthly photos of their babies at home, but why not have a professional capture these special memories for you?! My Mini Milestone option is the perfect quick session to capture these monthly memories. We can do fun things like incorporating a prop that they can grow with each month to show how their size changes, choose themes that represent the season or holiday of the month, bring a special stuffed animal that they will grow up with, etc! PLUS, as an added bonus, if you complete all 12 monthly Mini Milestones you will earn a FREE Cake Smash session! What a fun way to capture your baby's first year! The photos below are my own daughter and I am SO happy to have these to look back on :)
What to bring (I will send a reminder email with this info):
- Your Baby (haha!)
- Outfit choices — do not travel with baby wearing one of his or her session outfits. (Spit up and diaper blowouts, yikes!) Please plan to change your baby once arriving to the studio
- Sippy cup/Bottle in case baby needs a little break
- Favorite simple snack - ie Cheerios, puffs, etc
- Diaper bag with essentials.
- A positive attitude!! Look, I get it, you’re EXCITED!! I am too… But just relax and love the moment you’re in. Babies are unpredictable. They may be amazing for their first session, and miserable for their second - it's impossible to tell. Planning sessions for between naptimes helps, and I'll do everything I can to keep them happy, but sometimes they are just bummed out. The images will be precious no matter what, I promise!
Where is the session?:
My little studio is located in Sycamore, IL, near Rt 23 and Peace Rd.
When you arrive:
I will have you dress baby when you arrive (and check for clean diaper). Regular Milestones get 1-2 backdrops and 1-2 outfits, so if you have brought 2 outfits have the other out and ready for a quick change. Sometimes a clothes change will really get on baby's nerves, so we may have to take a quick snack/drink break to get back to happy.
Just a reminder — I am all for having family involvement, but oftentimes having parents/siblings as well as myself trying to get the baby's attention is a bit overwhelming. Sometimes it's best to just hang back and wait for me to ask for help as needed :)
Again — Please relax and enjoy the session. A stressed parent is a stressed baby!
- Your Baby (haha!)
- Outfit choices — do not travel with baby wearing one of his or her session outfits. (Spit up and diaper blowouts, yikes!) Please plan to change your baby once arriving to the studio
- Sippy cup/Bottle in case baby needs a little break
- Favorite simple snack - ie Cheerios, puffs, etc
- Diaper bag with essentials.
- A positive attitude!! Look, I get it, you’re EXCITED!! I am too… But just relax and love the moment you’re in. Babies are unpredictable. They may be amazing for their first session, and miserable for their second - it's impossible to tell. Planning sessions for between naptimes helps, and I'll do everything I can to keep them happy, but sometimes they are just bummed out. The images will be precious no matter what, I promise!
Where is the session?:
My little studio is located in Sycamore, IL, near Rt 23 and Peace Rd.
When you arrive:
I will have you dress baby when you arrive (and check for clean diaper). Regular Milestones get 1-2 backdrops and 1-2 outfits, so if you have brought 2 outfits have the other out and ready for a quick change. Sometimes a clothes change will really get on baby's nerves, so we may have to take a quick snack/drink break to get back to happy.
Just a reminder — I am all for having family involvement, but oftentimes having parents/siblings as well as myself trying to get the baby's attention is a bit overwhelming. Sometimes it's best to just hang back and wait for me to ask for help as needed :)
Again — Please relax and enjoy the session. A stressed parent is a stressed baby!
What comes next?
These sessions tend to go by pretty quickly! I've found most babies will tolerate me for about 15 minutes haha, after that we all have to try a little harder. I try to keep things moving quickly to both keep the baby interested/engaged and get as much variety as I can before the session is over.
Sneak peeks are typically posted on my Facebook Page or sent via email (if you don't allow Facebook sharing) within one week of your session. (This is subject to change depending on workload.)
Your image selection gallery will be delivered within two weeks of your session via password protected online gallery. The instructions to access gallery and choose your images will be included with the email.
The gallery will also include options to purchase prints through my professional lab. You can even purchase prints for photos that you do not select for your final gallery. You may also share this gallery with others who will then have the option to purchase prints as well.
Sneak peeks are typically posted on my Facebook Page or sent via email (if you don't allow Facebook sharing) within one week of your session. (This is subject to change depending on workload.)
Your image selection gallery will be delivered within two weeks of your session via password protected online gallery. The instructions to access gallery and choose your images will be included with the email.
The gallery will also include options to purchase prints through my professional lab. You can even purchase prints for photos that you do not select for your final gallery. You may also share this gallery with others who will then have the option to purchase prints as well.
