Baby Milestone Portraits

CELEBRATING EVERY STAGE OF THEIR FIRST YEAR

A black background with text that reads: 'Tiny moments today. Memories forever.', with a pink heart in between.

Your baby's first year is filled with incredible milestones, and each stage brings something new to celebrate. From those first smiles and curious expressions to sitting up, crawling, and celebrating a first birthday, these moments pass by far more quickly than most parents expect. Every stage brings new expressions, new abilities, and even more of your baby's unique personality. Milestone sessions are designed to capture each of these unforgettable moments, preserving the memories of your baby's first year for your family to enjoy for years to come.

The Milestone Experience

Celebrating Every Stage

Your baby changes so much throughout the first year. Each milestone session preserves more than how they looked at a certain age—it captures their growing personality, new expressions, and the little accomplishments that make each stage so special.

Tiny fingers, wispy hair, chubby cheeks, and all the sweet little features that change far too quickly during the first year.

Little Details

From first smiles and tummy time to sitting, crawling, and standing, every stage brings exciting new accomplishments worth remembering.

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New Discoveries

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Curious expressions, contagious giggles, and the unique personality that becomes more apparent with every passing month.

Growing Personality

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When to Schedule

While every baby develops at their own pace, these are the stages I typically recommend capturing during your baby's first year.

3 Months

First Smiles & Sweet Expressions

Smiling three-month-old baby laying on a fur background during a studio milestone portrait session in Elk Grove, California

As your baby becomes more alert, this is a wonderful time to capture bright eyes, adorable smiles, and those first glimpses of their personality. Babies at this age are also beginning to enjoy tummy time and making eye contact.

6 Months

Sitting & Lots of Personality

Smiling six-month-old baby girl during a tummy time milestone portrait in Shawn Spencer Photography's Elk Grove studio

Around six months is one of my favorite stages to photograph. Babies are often sitting independently, full of smiles and laughter, and their personalities are really beginning to shine..

9 Months

Curious & On the Move

Nine-month-old baby boy sitting in the grass holding a favorite children's book during an outdoor milestone photography session in Elk Grove, California.

Whether they're crawling, standing with support, or exploring everything around them, nine-month sessions capture an exciting stage filled with curiosity, movement, and joyful expressions.

12 Months

Celebrate Turning ONE

Your baby's first birthday deserves to be celebrated! These outdoor sessions include three beautifully styled setups, ending with a fun cake smash to capture the joy of this unforgettable milestone.

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What to Expect

Every milestone session is designed to be relaxed, fun, and centered around your baby's comfort. Before your session, you'll complete a questionnaire that helps me personalize the colors, styling, and overall feel of your session. From there, I'll guide the experience every step of the way, allowing plenty of time for smiles, snuggles, outfit changes, and breaks whenever they're needed.

Every session moves at your baby's pace, allowing time for feeding, cuddles, outfit changes, and breaks whenever they're needed.

With multiple outfits and thoughtfully styled setups, you'll receive a gallery filled with a wonderful variety of portraits that celebrate this stage.

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Baby Led Experience

Beautiful Variety

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I'll gently guide the session with plenty of interaction and encouragement, creating a fun, comfortable experience for both you and your little one.

Relaxed & Enjoyable

Studio & Outdoor Sessions

Every stage of your baby's first year is a little different, which is why each milestone session is thoughtfully planned in either my studio or outdoors. Three- and six-month milestone sessions are photographed in the comfort of my studio, while nine-month milestone sessions and first birthday cake smash sessions are captured outdoors in beautiful natural light. Each setting is carefully chosen to create the best experience and the most beautiful portraits for your baby's age and stage.

Studio Sessions

Happy six-month-old baby girl celebrating her half birthday with donuts during a studio milestone photography session in Elk Grove, California.

Ideal for:
3-month and 6-month milestone sessions

Outdoor Sessions

One-year-old boy wearing a cowboy hat while sitting in a wooden crate with "ONE" letters during an outdoor first birthday portrait session in Elk Grove, California.

Ideal for:
9-month milestones & first birthday cake smash sessions

The Images

Milestones Gallery

Scroll through the galleries below to see babies at every stage of their incredible first year. From first smiles and sitting up to crawling adventures and joyful first birthday cake smash celebrations, each session is thoughtfully designed to capture the milestones, growing personality, and little details that make this season of life so unforgettable. I hope these images inspire you as you imagine your own baby's milestone journey through beautiful portraits in Elk Grove and the greater Sacramento area.

Smiling baby girl sitting on a wooden bench with colorful spring flowers during a milestone session in Elk Grove, California.

Adorable baby girl in a blue dress sitting in a wicker basket, with flowers and a white nightstand with pink blocks and flowers, against a pastel blue background.

One-year cake smash session with white picket fence backdrop and daisy decor photographed in Elk Grove, CA.

Six-month milestone portrait of baby girl in a purple outfit sitting in a wooden crate with floral accents photographed in Elk Grove, California.

Baby girl wearing a gold crown sitting in front of a white fence with floral decorations during a one-year milestone session in Elk Grove, California.

Outdoor first birthday cake smash session with pastel decor and stuffed animals photographed in Elk Grove, CA.

One-year milestone portrait of baby girl standing beside a white stool with floral accents during an outdoor session in Elk Grove, California.

First birthday cake smash session with baby girl surrounded by balloons, flowers, and stuffed animals during an outdoor milestone session in Elk Grove, CA

First birthday cake smash session with baby boy and blue cake surrounded by balloons and wooden backdrop in Elk Grove, CA.

One-year milestone portrait of baby girl sitting outdoors with floral decor and first birthday banner in Elk Grove, California.

Floral themed first birthday cake smash session with lace teepee backdrop photographed during an Elk Grove milestone session.

Outdoor first birthday cake smash with rustic wooden backdrop and one-year decor during a milestone session in Elk Grove, California.

Fall themed first birthday cake smash with pumpkins and burlap birthday banner photographed in Elk Grove, CA.

Pricing

Whether you're celebrating your baby's first smiles, sitting milestones, or a fun-filled first birthday cake smash, there's a pricing option designed for every stage of the first year. Milestone sessions start at $375 and include a one-hour portrait session with 10 professionally edited digital images. Cake smash sessions are also available, with an optional package that includes a beautiful 8×8 hardcover photobook.

Your online gallery also gives you the opportunity to purchase beautiful print products, photobooks, wall art, image boxes, mini accordion albums, and other keepsakes—giving you many fun ways to enjoy your baby’s milestone images long after your session is over.

In every session, I put my personal touch into the editing process! My vibrant, light, bright, and vivid colors style will give you a gallery full of images you will be proud to show off!

FAQs

Milestone sessions are designed to focus entirely on your baby, so parents and siblings are not included in 3, 6, or 9-month sessions. This allows us to make the most of our one-hour session and capture a wonderful variety of milestone portraits. For first birthday cake smash sessions, I'm happy to include a quick family portrait at the beginning before we move into the cake smash.
I recommend simple, timeless outfits in soft, neutral colors that keep the focus on your baby's personality. Most milestone sessions include up to three outfit changes, and I'm always happy to help you choose outfits that photograph beautifully.
No worries at all! Babies have their own schedules, and I always allow time for cuddles, feeding, diaper changes, or simply taking a little break. My sessions are relaxed and baby-led, so there's never any pressure to rush.
Yes! I provide a thoughtfully curated collection of props, backdrops, blankets, select outfits, and styling accessories for every milestone session. Before your session, you'll complete a questionnaire where you can share your favorite colors, themes, and inspiration, and I'll use that information to design a personalized session just for your baby. You're also welcome to bring one sentimental item if you'd like to incorporate it into a few portraits.
Absolutely! Every baby develops at their own pace, and I always tailor the session to your baby's abilities. I use posing aids and supportive props to safely position babies when needed, allowing me to create beautiful portraits while keeping your baby comfortable and secure.
Absolutely! Whether it's a special stuffed animal, heirloom blanket, or another meaningful keepsake, I'd love to incorporate it into a few portraits whenever possible. These personal touches often become some of the most treasured images from the session.

** Have more questions? My Baby Milestones and Cake Smash Portraits Welcome Brochures include additional FAQs and helpful information to guide you through the booking process and the entire portrait experience after you reach out.

Contact Me

If you'd like to learn more or you're ready to book your baby's milestone session or first birthday cake smash, I'd love to send you the appropriate Welcome Brochure. I offer separate Welcome Brochures for milestone sessions and cake smash sessions, each explaining the booking process, available packages, and answers to many of the most common questions I receive.