A Year in the Life Of…Baby
The sleepless nights, the baby spit-up, the tears and exhaustion and moments of feeling like you have no idea at all what you are doing – we all know how commonplace those experiences are for new parents. Parenting is tough, and parenting an infant is even tougher.
But there are also the snuggles to look forward to. The smell of a new baby. The moments of awe when you look into your new son or daughters eyes and realize you are more in love with them then you ever even knew it was possible to love. Because it turns out, no matter how hard it is, being a parent to a newborn is also pretty magical.
And while that magic never actually goes away, the uniqueness of those early months fades quicker than you might think. Everyone says it, but they never fully understand it until they experience it for themselves – it all goes by so fast. Becoming a parent makes time rush forward at lightening speed. And before you know it, you no longer have a baby on your hands. Instead, you have a walking and talking toddler. Then a too-smart-for-their-own-good grade-schooler. A back-talking teenager. And a son or daughter about to walk down the aisle for him or herself.
Those moments slip past you. Your children will forever be changing, but never more so than in that first year of life.
Which is why I would like to make the formal argument for prioritizing a series of photos during that first year. Packages that include portrait sessions for your little one every month, or even every quarter, of that first year.
Because they change so much. Each and every day, at first, they are different versions of themselves. And if you don’t have the photos to memorialize that, you might not even remember who they were at various points of your early journey together.
The way they looked before their hair started to come in.
When they began to crack their first smiles.
The difference between a floppy newborn and an infant who can hold his or her own head up.
The crawler.
The sitter.
The walker.
From birth to twelve months, these tiny little humans go through an unbelievable number of changes. And you have the opportunity to capture and memorialize those changes, but only for a brief period of time.
So think about it. Newborn photos are certainly special, but what about photos for the 3rd, 6th and 9th month as well? Sessions leading all the way up to that first birthday, allowing you to capture all of the changes along the way.
And for those willing to make the time, why not step it up and consider monthly shoots while you’re at it?
These sessions don’t have to be hours long or produce a book of images each time. Even walking away with just a handful of great images from each shoot, images that could potentially be compiled into a book together at the very end of that year, would be so worth it.
The opportunity to create something that would allow you to relive those early months, even years down the line. And to share with your child beautiful, professional quality photos that depict who they were at each of those early stages.
The results could be priceless.
So when you schedule those maternity shoots and those newborn sessions, consider extending the project out for an entire year. Professional photos of your new little love on a regular basis from birth until 12 months. I of course offer full packages at various levels for you new one’s 1st year.
Pictures can forever serve as a reminder of how much changed during that first year. And how much your heart grew in the process. Don’t miss it.