Working with this family over the past year for their youngest’s 3 month, 6 month, and 9 month milestone sessions has been such a treat! Nilam had worked with another photographer for years with her other children, but after her youngest’s newborn session they were sent my way by her. I love referrals from other photographers and I SO appreciate the trust they’ve placed in me to take good care of their clients. A lot of wedding photographers send clients to me for maternity and newborn sessions because they recognize the importance of hiring a person who specializes in that specific genre. (PS: don’t ask me to shoot a wedding, because I won’t do it…but I do have a few wedding photographers I can refer you to if you’re looking!)
All of the previous sessions had been held in the studio so I asked Nilam what she thought about switching it up for the conclusion of the year. I suggested the gardens location and she loved the look of it. She also let me know that both of her parents would be participating in the session again, which I love. Having grandparents involved is so special, and it’s a lot of fun.
Nilam didn’t have time to come into the studio for a style consult due to her busy work schedule, so she and I exchanged emails instead. She simply snapped some phone photos of what she was considering and we built it from there. Once the family was set, we moved on to the grandparents and voila! All done! This session was colorful and fun, and I absolutely loved how it all worked so well together!
When we met up at the gardens, I immediately started with the large group shots. These are often some of the most important images for my clients, and I want to be sure that we get them. In my experience, children are much more cooperative right at the beginning of a session - and once they’re over it, it can be a challenge to engage them. So, group shots first! After those were done, I immediately moved into sibling and parent images. The gardens have so many places to photograph in, and I kept the family moving to different areas. Moving around tends to keep little ones more interested and engaged, so if I see that they’re getting fidgety or bored, I usually head to the next spot! I wrapped up with the immediate family, and then Nilam changed Anjali into her cake smash outfit which was an adorable chambray romper.
Cakes are totally optional for First Birthday sessions! Most clients opt to include one since it’s a fun way to celebrate and enjoy watching your child explore their cake without the pressure of a birthday party or worrying about documenting it. We’ve also had donuts, cupcakes, and pies - so feel free to think outside the box. If you do choose to bring a cake, we’ll give you some cake tips beforehand. Believe it or not, the size and icing type/color do matter! If we’re shooting an outdoor session with a cake, you’ll also bring a blanket along as well. This ensures we are respectful of the environment and also makes cleanup much easier for you!
I photographed Anjali alone for a few solo portraits and then we put down the blanket for the cake. I always encourage parents and siblings to join in too and have some fun. Those images are ALWAYS amazing and so much fun to have to look back on. All the other photos are done, so who cares if you get a little icing in your hair? ;) Plus, you get to eat cake. I mean…. need I say more?
Enjoy a few of my favorites from this wonderful family’s session! I can’t wait to photograph them again in the future for another family session!
