Newborn Photography Blog + Pregnancy Resources

July 19, 2022August 15, 2022

Which Maternity Portrait Session Style is Right for You?

As you prepare for your baby, you’ll find yourself researching everything from cribs to monitors to daycare and so much more.

While it can be a lot of fun to research everything your baby needs, it might feel overwhelming. That’s why I wanted to put together this guide for maternity portrait sessions. Your maternity portrait session should be stress-free and suit your style. Did you know that there are different maternity portrait session styles? Finding which one is your favorite will help you get professional photos and portrait artwork that you will love.

First, I would think about which type of maternity portrait session style you’re interested in, and then I would choose a maternity photographer. A bonus is when you find a maternity photographer that also offers newborn photography for one less thing to worry about!

Different Types of Maternity Portrait Session Styles

Glamorous Maternity Photos – You’re still your beautiful self, just all glammed up and ready to shine. After some much-deserved pampering, you’ll put on a gorgeous maternity gown, and it’s time for your maternity photo shoot. You’ll feel like you’re shooting for the cover of a magazine.

Casual Maternity Photos – Perfect for the mama looking to freeze this moment in time to treasure forever. You’re still pampered and styled, but you’ll be more comfy and casual. I love this type of session if you are including older children in your session. Trying to wrestle a 3-year old into a 3 piece suit sounds like a hard sell.

Barely-There Maternity Photos – Pregnancy is intimate, so let’s embrace it! A barely-there maternity photos session allows you to feel beautiful and show off the miracle of pregnancy! I mean you are growing a new life that is a reason to celebrate. We can have a lot of fun with this type of session with different fabrics and poses. This is a very artistic leaning option that is great for including your partner.

Nude Maternity Photos – So gorgeous and perfect within our private, temperature-controlled studio. After some pampering, all you need is your baby bump for this session. As a photographer, my artistic expression shines as we highlight your pregnant body. In fact, there are many benefits to a studio maternity photo session near Charlotte, NC.

Which Maternity Style is Right for You?

Now that you’ve learned about the different maternity portrait session styles, which one is right for you? If there’s one that you gravitate towards, follow your heart! If you’re torn or unsure, my best advice is to dream about how you want to display and treasure these portraits. Are you hoping to hang a portrait on the wall? Or look through an album of your maternity photos? Envision how you want to hold and enjoy your portrait artwork and that will help guide your decision. Still very stuck? Please reach out to me and let’s chat! I’m always happy to help a fellow mama.

Maternity Portrait Photographer Near Charlotte, NC

As a Certified Professional Photographer and a mom of two myself, I have the skills and experience you want as well as the loving touch that you need. I want to empower my mamas to love their pregnancy journeys. Pregnancy isn’t always easy but it’s worth celebrating this time in your life with a stress-free portrait experience that’s tailored to your desires. If you’re ready to chat, you can reach me right here.

Looking for more newborn portrait inspiration check out my friends latest blog post for a newborn baby girl named Everest

July 13, 2022July 18, 2022

How to Display Your Newborn Portraits | Charlotte NC Photographer

How to display your newborn portraits in your home

Nothing comes close to the moment you meet your baby. You’ve spent months (maybe even years) praying for and loving this brand new person. Then, they are here in your arms. No matter what your journey was like getting to this moment it’s a time for rejoicing and bonding with your baby. After this moment, many moms have a big project on their minds. That project is how to display their beautiful newborn portraits in their homes near Charlotte, NC?

Now we have so many options for how to display your portrait artwork after your newborn photo session. My goal is always to make life easier for you by guiding you through the entire process. Here I will share my top five ideas for displaying newborn portraits in your home.

Five Ways to Display Your Newborn Portraits

1. Over the Crib – Displaying your baby’s official portrait over their crib is a beautiful option. Now you’re able to look back and remember them in the newborn stage. It will always make you smile and fill your heart with joy. (Okay, maybe not at 3 am after the 3rd wake-up, but maybe.) Plus, it’ll be easy to watch your baby grow right before your eyes.

2. Family Gallery Wall – I’m all about family, so I love when clients request this. The beauty of starting a family gallery wall with your newborn portraits is that we can continue adding on to the wall as the years go by. Finally, a perfectly styled and installed gallery wall will create a beautiful focal point in your home for everyone to enjoy.

3. Over the Stairs – The stairs actually create the perfect space to display your growing babies. It’s a place in your home where everyone will pass through and be able to enjoy your newborn portraits. Using the stairs can also create a cool effect if you decide to keep adding official portraits creating a gallery wall that grows with your child.

displaying your newborn portraits in your home

4. Custom Portrait Artwork Album – Holding a custom portrait album and turning the pages will engage multiple senses. This will create a moment of peace and nostalgia as you turn the pages and remember this beautiful season of your life. Someday you’ll be able to pass this down to your child so that they have a piece of their story.

5. Image Box (Deconstructed Album) – This is quickly becoming one of my most popular portrait artwork pieces. Basically, this image box includes eight or more of your favorite prints of your newborn. With this style of album, you can hold and look through each one. Not only is this a wonderful way to look through photos, but you can also store treasures in the box. Clients have put in hospital bracelets, written prayers, baby hats, letters to your baby and so much more.

6. Bonus Idea, Outsource all of this!

Mama, if you’re not a DIYer or you would like to be but simply don’t have time, I can’t recommend outsourcing this entire project enough. Instead of stressing over buying frames, styling, or finding a reputable place to print your projects, leave it to the expert. Of course, I recommend working with me, but in all seriousness, find a newborn photographer you can trust with these precious images. You don’t want to waste a minute that you could be snuggling with your newborn. Let me handle all of this for you!

Newborn Portrait Photographer Near Charlotte, NC

Being able to hand my clients their brand new, treasured portrait artwork is one of the best parts of my job. Not only am I here to capture your newborn’s first official portraits, but I’m here to help you document and display their precious images for you to enjoy. Mama, if you’re interested in scheduling a session, please send me a message here.

April 13, 2022April 10, 2022

1st Birthday Pizza Smash Photos | Fort Mill, SC

fort mill, sc pizza smash session, King of Fire Pizza

What’s better than celebrating your sweet baby turning one? By celebrating with pizza, of course! Not just any pizza, but award-winning pizza. Milestone sessions allow us to capture every major milestone during your baby’s first year. It’s seriously amazing to look back on their newborn portrait vs. their 1st-year portrait and see how much they’ve grown. You’ll hardly believe your eyes. Another popular 1st birthday session is a cake smash which is also fun.

When my client reached out wanting a pizza smash, I was all in. Dad owns King of Fire Pizza in Fort Mill, SC, so you can say that pizza runs in the family for this little guy. (PS, if you haven’t had their pizza, you need to try it!)

Not only is this precious boy part of a pizza legacy, but he’s also one tough fighter. Mom spent a few weeks in the hospital before he was born. He was born seven weeks early and spent a month in the hospital growing and learning to eat before going home. It’s amazing to see what he’s always accomplished at just one-year-old!

During this portrait session, the star of the show had his three older sisters with him. You could tell they adore their baby brother!

1st Year Pizza Smash Session

This session was supreme! I loved being able to celebrate this special boy turning one while honoring his family legacy. I think the only downside was that this session made me hungry 😉

I feel like I should mention that the pizza wasn’t hot! Your baby’s safety is always my number one priority during every session. Mom and dad were right there helping their little guy get the best slice. He’s already learning the ropes of the family business.

During a first-year portrait session, I always make sure to schedule ample time so that we can get the perfect shot. We’re never in a rush or stressed. It’s all about having fun and celebrating your baby!

After the session, we’ll meet for an image reveal! It’s so fun to look at every single image and soak in the entire day. All you have to do is choose your favorites and how you want to print the portraits. I’ll take care of the rest! I order and hand-deliver your family portrait artwork. Heck, I even help hang it up so that this important task is checked off your to-do list and you can get back to enjoying your family.

How to Make Your 1st Year Portrait Session Special

While your family might not own a pizza business, there might be something else that you’d love to incorporate into your child’s 1st-year portrait session. Your child starring in this milestone session makes it perfect enough, but please let me know if there is something special you would want to include. Maybe it’s heirloom jewelry or accessory piece, a book, or even a keepsake from a family member. All my portrait sessions are a collaboration so let’s get together and come up with something creative for you.

Fort Mill, SC First Year Portrait Photography

Watching my littlest clients grow throughout the first year of their lives is so special to me! I get to experience the joy of watching them grow into their own personalities. If you’re looking for a photographer to capture every milestone, or it’s time for 1st-year portraits, please reach out to me here. I would love to be part of telling your child’s story.

Looking for something more traditional and a lot more pink? Check out my friend Nani’s recent cake smash post here.

April 8, 2022August 16, 2022

How to Prepare for Your Newborn Session in Charlotte, NC

how to prepare for your newborn portrait session

The day is finally here! It’s time to capture that sweet babe you’ve been growing for nine months. You may be wondering what you have to do to prepare for your newborn session, and the answer is… not much! My mission is to handle all the details and run the session so that you don’t have to worry about anything.

The Benefit of a Charlotte Studio Newborn Portrait Session

This is where being a studio newborn portrait photographer really comes in handy because all you have to do is show up with your family! You won’t need to worry about cleaning your home or keeping your toddler out of their toys. I have everything we need for baby within reach, including props, wraps, and accessories. Plus, you might not even have to worry about what to wear with my client wardrobe! How nice is that?

On the day of your session, I’ll have everything ready to go, including the backdrop, lighting, and any other equipment that we’ll need. Once everyone is settled, we’re able to get started!

Preparing Your Other Children for Your Newborn Session

During our consultation, I always ask my clients who will be in the photos. Once I have a list of who will be in the photos, I’ll ask for a run-through of everyone’s personality. That might sound goofy, but the more I know, the better I can prepare for the session. If you’re worried that your three-year-old will not cooperate, let me know so that I can come armed and ready to do whatever is necessary to get the perfect photo. I’m all about bribes on portrait day, of course! When used correctly, bribes work wonderfully to encourage any child to cooperate for the photo.

I’ll have the right things on hand that will entice your toddler, like suckers and snacks. Foods that can be eaten quickly and won’t leave a mess. For that reason, I avoid chocolates or red candies. I’ll make sure to clear any treats or bribes with you beforehand!

Picture Perfect Backup Plan For Young Toddlers

During our pre-planning process, we’ll go through our ideal portrait, our backup option, and our hail-mary photoshop plan for the session. That means we are prepared for whatever happens and won’t need to stress at all. The ideal plan is that everyone cooperates, and we’re able to get the perfect portrait. For example, a photo of your toddler holding your newborn is every mom’s dream. If we need to use the backup plan, we can photograph the baby in a prop, then capture your older child coming in for a kiss or photograph them next to the prop.

Finally, if those options are not going to work then we will use Photoshop to create your dream portrait. I’ll photograph each child alone and then composite them together. That way, everyone is happy and safe, and you get your siblings’ photos. Because let’s be honest, everyone wants a siblings’ portrait.

Newborn Portrait Session Experience | Charlotte, NC

My mission is to create a stress-free portrait session experience for you and your entire family. Everyone’s safety and happiness are my top priority while ensuring we create that dream portrait for you to display on the walls of your home. If you’re interested in learning more about a newborn session near Charlotte, please send me a message here.

Looking for some Maternity portrait inspiration? Check out my friend Nani’s work she’s out in Texas y’all!

March 18, 2022July 19, 2022

Why To Choose a Studio Maternity Portrait Session near Charlotte, NC

how to find a maternity photographer near you

The moment you find out that you’re pregnant, all the emotions, body changes, and planning kick into overdrive! There’s so much to do from setting up the nursery, going to prenatal appointments, and everything in between.

No matter what, it’s so important that you take the time to have maternity portraits taken. Why? Because trust me, you are so beautiful, and you will want these photos to look back on and remember this special time in your life.

You may enjoy a relatively easy pregnancy (lucky you!), or you may have to endure some not-so-lovely symptoms while growing a human. Either way, I think choosing a maternity portrait session that aligns with style and comfort will make all the difference in your portraits.

Plus, once you know what type of session you want, it’s much easier to choose a Charlotte maternity photographer. I will share the top five benefits of a studio maternity portrait session.

5 Benefits of a Studio Maternity Photography Session

It Won’t Rain on Your Parade

Rain or shine; we’re able to capture your beautiful pregnancy. The window to take breathtaking maternity portraits is relatively short. We can take them whenever you are most comfortable, but I usually recommend taking your maternity portraits between 28-34 weeks. This is the best time to capture your gorgeous bump before you feel too uncomfortable. That being said, if your maternity photos are scheduled for outside, and they are rained out, you might have to scramble to find a new date.

No Heat Waves in Here

Mamas, you don’t want to walk around taking photos in the July heat. Besides overheating (which is not safe for pregnant women), we don’t want to worry about your hair and makeup suffering in the humidity. We don’t have to worry about the heat and humidity inside the temperature-controlled studio. It’s always the perfect temp. Plus we can always create a breeze in the studio for that hair tossed look.

Need the Bathroom?

Because we all know expecting mamas have to pee… a lot. Luckily, there’s an available bathroom right here in the studio. One of my friends had her maternity photos taken at a local park. Unfortunately, the bathrooms were locked! She remembers having to pee very badly by the end of her session. That’s not the way you want to remember your maternity portraits.

Wardrobe Availability

Instead of worrying about which outfits to bring, where to change, etc., you’ll have access to my client wardrobe to find something you will love wearing. No matter how you’re feeling about your body right now, I know that you are so beautiful, and we can find you an outfit that you’ll feel confident wearing for your session. Plus, you will love having a comfortable place to change into your wardrobe! And this also allows you to have multiple looks during your session.

Privacy

If you aren’t sold on a studio session, this might be the reason for you! The studio offers total privacy. We don’t have to worry about anyone being goofy in the background or feeling uncomfortable if you want to show off your beautiful bump.

Best Maternity Photography | Charlotte, NC

Additionally, another reason I love offering studio sessions near Charlotte is because I take your comfort and safety very seriously. I never want mamas to exert themselves by walking around too much or overheating during our stifling summers. I love welcoming my beautiful mamas to the studio for the maternity session. Once they walk through the door, they know that I have it all handled for them inside my comfortable studio. If you think a studio maternity portrait session is right for you, I would love to chat with you. Please send me a message here.

Looking for more maternity portrait inspiration check out my friends recent and very vibrant maternity session

March 7, 2022June 13, 2022

How to Choose a Maternity Photographer in Charlotte, NC

finding the right maternity photographer for you

Pregnancy is such a special time and it goes by way too fast. Well, it might seem slow to mom when she’s nine months pregnant and waiting for the baby to arrive. But, I can almost promise that you’ll look back on photos of your baby bump, and you might miss it.

This is why it’s so important to find the right maternity photographer for you. You only get one chance to capture such a sweet and short moment in your life. Maternity portraits are a beautiful way to capture your glowing pregnancy and that precious time before your new baby is in your arms.

I want you to find the best pregnancy photographer for you, so I’m sharing five tips on finding your perfect photographer.

5 Tips for Finding Your Pregnancy Photographer in Charlotte, NC

Style
Experience
Offerings
Full-Service
Personality Match

Style – The first tip for finding the right photographer for you is to find a photographer whose style you love. If you love gorgeous studio portraits, work with a studio photographer.

Experience – I’m not knocking new photographers by any means. I know everyone needs their start. However, this is such a precious time, and you only really have one chance to capture your maternity portraits, so you want to choose someone with experience that you can trust.

Offerings – I highly recommend working with a maternity photographer that offers newborn sessions and milestone sessions. There are so many reasons for this, but the best reason is that you only have to book once and you know all those sessions are properly taken care of. A full service portrait photographer who covers everything from wardrobe to printing your custom products. This leads to my next tip.

Full-Service – Mamas, I cannot emphasize this enough! Find a photographer who will take the entire process off your plate. You don’t need to worry about finding an outfit for your maternity session or stress over choosing which products you’ll want. Work with a photographer with your interests in mind. Letting the professional guide you through all the details will save you a ton of stress.

Personality Match – My final tip is an important one! Find a maternity photographer that you really like and feel comfortable with throughout the process. It may sound silly, but it’s important that you can find a photographer that you can trust and that will treat you more like family than a client. This will make everything so much more enjoyable!

Your Maternity Photographer | Charlotte, NC

As a mom of two boys myself, I know how special the season of pregnancy is and how fast it goes. My mission is to make the maternity session process as easy and stress-free as possible. The Insley Photography studio is temperature-controlled and comfortable all year long located just outside of Charlotte, NC. My clients have access to my gorgeous client wardrobe, so they don’t have to worry about finding an outfit. After the session is over and you’ve selected your images to display, I even hand-deliver them to your home, and a professional art installer can hang them on your walls, all without you lifting a finger! How’s that for full service? If you have any questions or want to know me, send me a message here.

February 21, 2022February 21, 2022

How to Choose Your Newborn Portrait Photography Style | Charlotte, NC

sweet newborn girl poses for her newborn portrait session

You spend nine months waiting to meet the love of your life. All those months, you dream about this little person who you can’t wait to hold in your arms. It’s a surreal and beautiful moment when that moment arrives, and you get to hold your sweet baby for their newborn portrait.

Those first few weeks with your newborn are a crazy blur as you get to know each other. It’s so important to capture this important milestone with newborn portraits. An essential part of planning your newborn portrait session is to decide which type of newborn portrait style you wish. I’d love to walk through the different styles and help you decide which one is right for your family.

Baby Photography Styles

There are two styles of newborn portraits to choose from and they are studio or lifestyle. Both are beautiful, but you need to understand the difference and choose the right style for you! We want to start with the end in mind for every portrait session. How do you want to display and love on these portraits? Are you going to display them in your living room or create an heirloom album? Maybe both! Knowing this helps us plan your style.

Lifestyle Newborn Portraits

A lifestyle photographer will come to your home after the baby is born to capture lifestyle newborn portraits. The photographer works within your home to take photographs of your baby and usually doesn’t bring props or wraps. Instead, they use your home and decor as a backdrop for the portraits. For this reason, parents need to clean and prepare their home before the session so that it’s portrait ready! These portraits can feature the rest of your family as the photographer captures your family’s big milestone.

Studio Newborn Portraits

All you need to do is bring your beautiful new baby to the studio for this style of newborn portraits. Everything is perfect and ready for your peaceful session within the studio setting. Something special about studio portraits is that your newborn is the primary focus of the studio portraits.

I have everything we need for your baby’s session, including props, wraps, and even a wardrobe for mama. The studio-style offers the ability to sweetly and safely pose your newborn to get the perfect photo.

If mama has a specific pose in mind, I have training and experience to pose your baby. However, your newborn runs the show. If your sweetie isn’t feeling a particular pose, sometimes I can use some Photoshop magic to create the perfectly posed portrait for you. This is a much safer option than trying to force a pose that might be uncomfortable for your baby. Of course, if you have other children, you’re welcome to bring them to the studio for this special session. I love creating sibling portraits, and they are almost always one of mom’s favorites.

Charlotte Newborn Studio Photographer

Your newborn portrait session is such an important milestone to capture, and you only get one shot to get it right! Newborn portraits are best to capture between 5 and 14 days old. Trust an experienced newborn studio photographer located right in Charlotte, NC. I’m honored when families choose me for this precious time, and I don’t take a moment of it for granted. If you think I may be the right fit for you, let’s have a conversation.

February 21, 2022July 19, 2022

Why Work With The Same Maternity & Newborn Photographer | Rock Hill, SC

studio maternity session near Rock Hill, SC

Meeting my newborn clients will never get old! I absolutely love when mamas book their maternity and newborn sessions with me. Not only do I get to relive that special time over and over again, but I find that I’m just as excited to meet the new baby as I am to see the mama again.

There are so many reasons why I highly recommend using the same photographer for both your maternity session and your newborn session. I have my reasons, but it’s really a great thing for mom. Let me share a few reasons with you!

Using the Same Maternity Photographer and Newborn Photographer

These are just a few of the best reasons why you should consider booking the same photographer for your pregnancy photos and your newborn photos. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

No Strangers Here – At your newborn session, you won’t be meeting a new photographer for these precious portraits. You’re already confident and comfortable with your photographer, and you know exactly what you’re going to get. Instead of saying, “Nice to meet you,” you’ll say, “It’s so great to see you again!”

Easy Newborn Session Planning – You can plan out both sessions when you have the same photographer. Instead of wondering what poses you want or what props you’ll need, you can work through that during your pregnancy.

Priority Scheduling – My newborn clients have priority scheduling. Of course, babies come when they want, but I have my booked in newborn clients’ due dates on the calendar and make sure to be available around that time. Mamas just need to let me know when their baby is born to finalize the date of the session within the ideal two-week timeframe.

Don’t Be Camera Shy – For some of my clients, their maternity portrait session is their first professional photos since their wedding. Whether you love being in front of the camera or not, having the same photographer means you and your partner have an opportunity to get comfortable in front of the camera.

Displaying Your Portrait Artwork

Style Your Session – The best part of my job is to deliver my clients amazing portrait artwork they can treasure forever. You see, my job isn’t over until your portraits are displayed in your home. It’s that important to me! When I work with my clients for their maternity and newborn sessions, we can style their sessions so that their portraits match their home’s styles. We also offer installation for your wall art. I want to do this for you so that you can focus on bonding with your baby and not asking your partner to hang the art. That way after your baby arrives you can focus on bonding with them and we can get your portraits on your walls for you.

Maternity and Newborn Photoshoot | Rock Hill, SC

Honestly, I can hardly wait for when my clients walk into the studio with their newborns. Meeting your sweet babies is such an honor, and after getting to know you at the maternity session, I am genuinely excited to hear the good news! I love that I am able to get to know my clients and be part of their growing families. As a maternity and newborn photographer, I’m here to capture your most precious moments. Please send me a message here if you want to schedule your session with me.

Interested in something different for inspiration? Check out this milk bath maternity session a friend of mine created.

January 22, 2022January 22, 2022

Charlotte NC Photographer Can You Believe Baby Kameron is one!

Baby Kameron is one year old!

Below are questions I asked his mom after one year of creating baby portraits for Kameron about what this journey has been like for her.

Congratulations Mom baby Kameron is one year old. What was this year like for you? Physically, emotionally or mentally. (remember there are no right or wrong answers)

It was a whirlwind! Overall things got easier with time. I think every stage has its highlights and challenges. Since he’s been walking it’s definitely been more physically challenging than anything.

What has been your favorite part of this stage now that baby kameron is one?

Kam is starting to talk more, play independently and develop his personality (including likes and dislikes). My favorite thing has been watching his habits like ALWAYS putting his cup in the cupholder, needing two of whatever he’s eating (one for each hand) and moving his chair to the perfect angle before sitting down.

Tell us about your child, what’s his personality like so far? What’s he up to at this stage?

He is a jokester. Example….offers you food to share. You go to take a bite and he pulls it away quickly and takes the bite himself, laughing at you. We love how goofy he is but know he will continue to be the wild child.

Charlotte Baby Photograph, kameron is one

He’s also getting into everything. Nothing is safe if he can reach it or open it.

Has this first year of motherhood changed you?

My husband says I’ve gotten calmer and more patient LOL. I think it’s helped me to become softer in some ways. I’ve always been the independent I can do it all type, but now I’ve learned to lean on support systems and that it’s alright to not do it all.

In what ways do you think Kameron is like you? And what about your partner?

I think he is like me in the way he’s social and meets no stranger. He also loves soccer which was my sport growing up. I’m also particular…and he is too (ie, the cup needing to be in the cupholder).

He is like his dad for his love of music, all other sports and super active. He also can be impatient and insist on getting what he wants which his dad admits is all him 😉

What was the most useful baby product you loved?

Halo swaddle. The Velcro was the only thing keeping him swaddled

What was the least useful baby product you tried?

For us baby wearing products. He didn’t like it.

Any advice for fellow moms or moms to be? What is the best advice you have received on your journey?

Enjoy the different stages. Be prepared but be prepared to change plans

How are you feeling about the little love stories journey? The one year baby portrait process? Anything I can do to change or improve the experience?

We’ve really loved every session! And getting to capture all the baby milestones I don’t think we would have without it.

Ready to learn more about our little love stories portrait sessions to capture baby’s first year? Get in touch here.

Expecting a newborn? Just want to get more baby fixes? Check out my friends blog all about newborn detail portraits not to miss during the newborn stage https://oliviaactonphotography.com/baby-details-janesville-wi-newborn-photographer/?fbclid=IwAR3ZN-890fYD-kL8fLSXgF7_FV4aB-zrTuN6-SeOt9_InhZYsSEjRl_otUg

January 14, 2022January 14, 2022

Rock Hill SC Cake Smash Photographer | Parker Turns One

baby's first year, Rock Hill South Carolina, Charlotte North Carolina, Cake smash

Photographing baby’s first year

What’s better than photographing a newborn? Having the honor of photographing her throughout her first year of life. Photographing baby’s first year is a wild ride watching them grow and learn, seeing those little personalities emerge. It’s such a cool experience for me and for mom and dad also. At no other time during life do we grow and change so much in such a short time.

Interview with Mom:

What has been your favorite part of your baby’s first year?

My favorite part has been the cuddles. She now shows affection and it’s the best.

Tell us about your baby girl, what’s her personality like so far? What’s she up to at this stage?

Her personality is kind of all over the place. She’s such a calm kid but when she wants something she demands it right then and there.

How has motherhood changed you over baby’s first year ?

Motherhood hasn’t changed me much. I still like to stay home and still like to go to bed early

In what ways do you think she is like you? And what about your partner?

Everything! The way she side eyes, demanding, she’s also laid back and silly.

What was the most useful baby product you loved?

Kangaroo pouch! When I need to get things done and all she wants is to be held I just put her on and do what I have to do

What was the least useful baby product you tried?

Socks! She will not keep them on…

Any advice for fellow moms or moms to be? What is the best advice you have received on your motherhood journey?

Don’t worry so much! Your baby develops in their own way. Only read the books so you know what to expect and take them with a grain of salt. Everyone has their own opinions on how children should grow just have yours.

How are you feeling about the little love stories journey over her first year? The one year baby plan portrait process? Anything I can do to change or improve the experience?

Love it! Have for sure been the best experience. I look back and am so happy we did this!

Looking for a fun super hero themed cake smash idea for your baby’s first year? Check out this awesome super hero session for inspiration!

Ready to chat about your baby plan portrait series to capture your baby’s first year? Let’s connect click here