The first year of a baby’s life is such a whirlwind. I’ve already found that it’s so true what they say—the days are long, and the years are short.
If you’re thinking about documenting your young family, here are five tips to make it a success.
1. Bring a Helper
A helper will make such a big difference for your photo session. Bring along Grandma, Grandpa, an aunt or uncle, or a favorite friend to help get smiles out of baby, to help you carry any necessary baby gear (diaper bags, clothing, etc.), and to give you a chance to get a few photos of just the adults.
2. Bring Extra Clothes
We usually don’t have to do clothing changes with babies, but it’s not a bad idea to have a spare photo outfit just in case the original ends up with a bit of drool (or other unexpected events).
3. Leave Time For a Few Photos With Just the Adults
As we have children, it’s easy to find that we have less and less photos of just the two of us. Have your helper hold baby for a few minutes so you can get a few nice photos of you as a couple.
4. Bring a Small Towel or Burp Cloth
It’s always handy to have a little something to keep baby’s face dry and drool free during the session. Have your helper hold onto it and jump in with it when needed.
5. Plan Your Session During Warm Weather (or Inside)
Babies are happiest when they’re warm, so the best time to plan your outdoor family session is late May – early September. If you want to plan a session with baby outside of that window and avoid the fuss, consider taking it inside for a lifestyle documentary session at home.