Last week, I shared all about Family Milestone Sessions. This week, I’m sharing a bit more info on the best age to book a milestone session for baby.

Clients and prospective clients alike always ask the best questions. The one I get the most often is when is the best age to book a milestone session for baby. My answer depends a bit on the situation, but here are my best tips for discerning when the best time might be for you!

Why to Book A Milestone Session

Did you know milestone sessions aren’t just to document baby up to age one? Personally, I feel up to the age of ten is perfect when deciding the best age to book a milestone session. There are so many important moments in your child’s first decade, and they don’t stop after the baby and toddler years. Losing their first tooth, their first “big kid” hair cut, their grown up features, these all happen after the toddler years.

I love helping you celebrate your babies each year, and we certainly don’t have to call it quits after the cake smash session. Milestone sessions are the perfect way to continue documenting their life, long after the sleepless newborn nights and first steps.

Whether you opt for the Signature Session experience or a Simplicity Session, milestones are a fabulous way to keep those gallery walls updated and ensure your little ones’ first chapters of life are well preserved.

The Typical Baby Milestones

If you’re wondering the best age to book a milestone session, our favorites to document are around 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. These don’t have to be exact, of course, but let’s break them down more below.

Three Months

Typically around three months is when baby starts to hold his or her head up. They may be rolling and are just generally looking more filled out and a bit older.

Six Months

Six months is my FAVORITE age to photograph, and unfortunately many people consider twelve months the best age to book a milestone session. Typically parents focus on maternity, newborn and one year. But that sweet spot in the middle is one you don’t want to miss. Baby is starting to sit up, show lots of facial expressions and the rolls are usually endless.

Nine Months

At nine months, baby is probably pulling up onto things, standing and maybe even walking. This is a sweet time to photograph your little one, to document them graduating out of the “baby” phase.

Twelve Months

This is pretty self explanatory. Baby may be walking at this point. It’s a big milestone in their growth and lots of times we celebrate with a cake smash. Often times, we include the full family in our twelve month sessions. I get lots of questions about the cute little party hats for our cake smash sessions. You can find them at Cutest Little Party on Etsy.

Just a Note: While these are the “typical” best age to book a milestone session, that may not be true for your kiddo, and that’s OK. We can choose to document them in their own time, when they do master these skills.

Documenting Older Milestones

While these first year milestones are so important. As mentioned above, it is so important to continue to document your little ones after their first year of life. I do a session for each of my kiddos every year and my oldest is 12. It’s so fun to see them change and evolve through the years of growing and it’s something I promise you will not regret. There is no best age to book a milestone session. Every age is important.

Taytum’s One Year Milestone

Taytum wore the most adorable two-piece set for her six-month session! Mom loved this outfit so much that she bought it in every milestone size, from newborn photos to first year! We can’t wait to see her again soon for her one-year session!

If you’re a new mom or expecting, when are you planning to schedule your maternity photo shoot? Contact us below! Check out other newborn blog posts HERE.