It goes without saying that life passes in the blink of an eye. This is especially true when you have children. One minute you’re nibbling on their little fingers and the next you’re holding back tears as you drop them off on their first day of school.
Your baby’s first year if he is full of I can’t lose moments that must be captured, saved, printed, stored, shared and appreciated.
I have been a photographer for 13 years and here are my personal suggestions for capturing the exciting first year!
Maternity: The journey begins!
I’m going to suggest a maternity photoshoot here because this is where the journey begins. Hearing your heartbeat for the first time, moving, kicking, and seeing it for the first time during your first ultrasound (ultrasound) appointment.
Some are not comfortable taking pictures during their pregnancy, but they trust the photographer. They will make you feel great and look beautiful! You will look great! After all, you are radiant!
Take photos when you feel most comfortable, like your photos around 32 weeks or 7 months.
Newborn: So sleepy and tiny!
The best time to capture newborn photos would be before 2 weeks. At this stage they are so small and so sleepy! You can take photos of newborns at 4 weeks but they are more likely to wake up when posing and are also a bit larger.
Before the 2 week mark, since they are very sleepy, you can pose them in a number of ways without interrupting their sleep too much. They can be upside down, on their back, on their side, and can be put in anything like a basket, a toy chest, and a wheelbarrow!
At this stage, they may be a little scraped (keep them wearing gloves to protect your face), maybe a little jaundice, and some pimples. Do not worry! The photographer must correct these imperfections.
Photos of newborns are essential to remember this little stage that passes very quickly!
3 or 4 months: Tummy time and head balance!
This is, perhaps, where you will see most of the changes during the first year.
They have grown a lot from the photos of the newborns. But, they don’t do much more than face up and a few seconds of tummy time. The balance of the head must also be strong!
The photos at this point show a great contrast in your baby’s physical changes. You will carry a lot of your baby at this stage as he cannot sit up on his own yet. They will lie on their back and maybe some photos with them with their heads held high!
6 or 7 months: Sitting laughing and smiling!
This is my FAVORITE STAGE! At this point, they interact and smile a bit more. They sit, grab things, bite things, and laugh at the sweetest!
I love capturing the 6 to 7 month old photos while the baby is on a large bed or comfy blanket outside. They feel good, but sometimes that head is too big and the wood falls off. So beautiful!
At this point, tummy time is no longer torture for them, so they can last a bit longer. Oh! And don’t forget to capture a few photos of them nibbling their toes while on their back.
Enjoy the cuteness overload during this stage.
1 year: Standing, moving, and smashing cakes!
Here we are! That first year flew by! This is the stage of movement where they developed a way to get from point A to point B. Whether it was crawling, sliding, rolling, or walking.
Dress them up in their Sunday best, give them lots of hugs and kisses, maybe a little cake, and enjoy the memories of their first birthday!
Hope this helps you plan photos for your baby’s first year!