A start to finish look at planning and creating magic for a first birthday milestone photoshoot in Pittsburg, KS.

Creating Custom First Birthday Sessions

One of my favorite parts of being a brand + family photographer in Pittsburg, KS and Joplin, MO is getting to create sessions that feel deeply personal to each business and family. Every session tells a story and each story starts weeks before we ever take the first photo together. 

Today I want to take you behind the scenes of Stella’s 1st Birthday milestone session we created at home to show you exactly what the experience looks like when you book with me. 

From inquiry > consultation > questionnaires > design > session > final gallery… this is the full journey.

And if you’re a parent planning your little one’s photos for next year, this will help you know exactly what to expect!

STEP 1 TO PLANNING A SESSION: REACHING OUT

This sweet girl’s mom reached out and booked a 1 year milestone session for Miss Stella. 

Part of my process for a milestone session is asking for any inspiration you already have in mind. This can include things like: 

• Pinterest inspiration photos
• Birthday Party theme
• Birthday Invitation or Decor
• Outfits already planned

Don’t worry if you don’t have a design or theme pre-planned I can take care of all of it for you.  Once I have this information (or we create a plan tailored to you) I can get started designing. 

STEP 2 TO PLANNING A SESSION: Design Process

This is one of my favorite steps because I love taking your vision or idea and mixing it with my own to create a custom and unique concept that is on brand to what you want and who you are. 

After reviewing inspiration photos and notes provided from a questionnaire, I create a digital mockup of what the setup would look like. Because transparency matters, I send the digital designs to parents for approval. I don’t just plan for you, I plan with you to ensure you will love your session and final images. 

This is part of what makes the experience stress-free for parents, you don’t have to design it yourself or guess what it’ll look like and if your outfit will match. I do all the designing and make any tweaks requested before production of the setup begins. 

STEP 3 TO PLANNING A SESSION: Bringing it to life

Even though this session was done inside a family member’s home, I brought everything needed to create a studio-quality environment: 

• backdrop + flooring
• lighting
• stands + clamps
• props for the theme

My goal is to make the session feel easy and stress-free. You don’t have to travel, pack, or wrangle toddlers into a car. I can bring the entire setup to you and create those beautiful studio styled images right in your living room, spare bedroom or anywhere you have a small amount of free space. 

Once everything was setup, it looked exactly like a studio but in the comfort of a familiar environment, which is huge for helping young kids to be comfortable enough to show their personalities for photos. 

The final look of a studio styled in-home session

During milestone sessions I guide babies using: 

• playful sounds
• silly faces
• games
• familiar cues and gentle direction

After adjusting poses and tactics based on their comfort I’m able to ensure each session is relaxed and enjoyable for each family. 

Stella gave us a variety of adorable expressions from straight faces to big smiles and a face full of cake for her sweet birthday session. Every moment felt authentic to her and showcased her personality. 

Whether it’s in home or in a studio in Pittsburg, Ks or Joplin, Mo the final images turnout professional, full of personality, and completely tailored to you.

If you want a brand or family session that’s fully customized and stress-free, I’d love to create something unique for you!