Baby Pictures During the First Year

Baby Pictures During the First Year: From Newborn Snuggles to Cake Smash Smiles

When my boys were born—ummm… 16 and 18 years ago—I had no idea when to schedule baby pictures during their first year. Looking back, I have tons of sweet, candid snapshots, but not many timeless, frame-worthy portraits. I wish someone had told me when to schedule professional photos. As a mom of teenagers now, those kinds of baby pictures would mean the world to me.

The first year of your baby’s life is a whirlwind of exciting milestones. I remember reading What to Expect the First Year and getting so excited for my boys to reach the next milestone. As a Nashville newborn photographer, I’m passionate about helping families preserve baby pictures through timeless, professional photography. In this blog, I’ll walk you through the importance of documenting each major milestone: the newborn stage, sitter/tummy time, and the exciting one-year cake smash.

Here are the milestones during your baby’s first year that I recommend documenting with professional photos:

Newborn Photos

Those first few days with your baby go by in such a blur. You’re soaking in every tiny detail—those curled-up toes, flaky skin, wispy little hairs… Ugh, if I could just go back in time and hold my boys again as newborns. Newborn photos are all about freezing that stage before it slips away.

I photograph newborn baby pictures within the first couple of weeks when they’re still sleepy and snuggly. I love capturing those sweet, sleepy poses that focus on your baby and not the props. We’ll schedule your session based on your due date, and I’ll walk you through everything so it’s easy and relaxed for you and your baby.

Sitter/Tummy Time Session

Fast forward a few months, and your baby is hitting one of the most exciting milestones: sitting up! This was my absolute favorite stage as a new mom. I loved watching my boys hit new milestones and seeing their little personalities start to develop. Sitter sessions are typically done around 6-9 months. Pushing up during tummy time, flashing big gummy grins, or those wobbly sitting skills are some of my favorite things to catch on camera.

These sessions also feature a variety of my favorite props and simple setups. If you have chosen SPP as your newborn photographer, I love using some of the props that we used during your newborn session to show how much your baby has grown at the sitter session. It’s the perfect way to show how much your baby has grown.

First Birthday Photoshoot & Cake Smash

The big ONE! Mama, you made it! Your baby’s first birthday is a time to celebrate, and what better way to mark it than with a cake smash session?

When we welcome you to the studio for your one-year session, your baby will be greeted with a birthday sign and their own custom cake. We will start the session with simple milestone photos that complement the milestone photos we took during your baby’s first year. Then we will wrap things up with a fun cake smash.

This milestone session is full of fun, mess, and laughter as your baby smashes (hopefully!) their very own cake. All cakes are provided by the amazing bakery, The Rolling Pin.

Make sure you visit our First Birthday Photoshoot Ultimate Guide to learn all about our cake smash sessions.

From classic baby pictures to the fun (and mess!) of a cake smash, each session is a mix of sweet, simple moments and big personality. These are memories you’ll love looking back on. Plus, they’re a huge hit with family and friends when shared!

Book Your Baby’s First Year Sessions Today

From sweet baby pictures to the wild fun of a cake smash, these sessions capture so many memories from your baby’s first year. It all goes by faster than you think—but photos let you hold onto it just a little longer.

If you’re looking for baby photography near me in the Nashville area, I’d love to help you plan your little one’s first-year milestones.

Let’s capture these moments together. Click here to contact me or book your session today.