Text of the nursery rhyme '10 Little Fingers and 10 Little Toes' in playful, curved font on a black background.

Newborns and Milestones

The Experience

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Capturing Precious Beginnings

Welcome to the enchanting world of newborn and milestone photography! Capturing your baby's early days is a wonderful way to preserve this fleeting and precious time. With a focus on care and safety, I ensure that every session is comfortable and enjoyable for both you and your little one. Your baby grows up in the blink of an eye—why not preserve these first special memories through a newborn portrait session or a year milestone package? Through sweet poses and a relaxed environment, I will help you present your newborn as the little work of art they are.

The best time to start thinking about your newborn session is when you're entering your third trimester. While scheduling in advance is ideal, I accommodate new bookings daily. Booking ahead ensures you're on my schedule and allows us to complete all necessary forms and questionnaires in advance. We’ll tentatively set your session date for about two weeks after your due date. Once your baby is born, please contact me within the first couple of days to confirm the actual session date.

For the best results, I typically schedule newborn sessions between 5-10 days after birth. Although I can photograph newborns at any age, I strongly encourage sessions within the first two weeks. During this period, babies are sleepier and easier to pose, allowing us to capture those dreamy, cute photos.

Newborn sessions are scheduled for mornings around 10:00 am, as babies tend to be more relaxed and sleepier at this time of day. Feeding your baby at the beginning of the session helps them become “milk drunk,” making them nice and full, which allows me to wrap, pose, and use props without disturbing their sleep.

When to Schedule

From the moment you book your session, you can rest assured that you are in good hands. I will guide you every step of the way. The first step is to complete a brochure questionnaire, where you’ll share your expectations and ideas for the session. This is your chance to let me know about any themes, colors, poses, props, or specific ideas you have in mind. This information helps me plan your session to bring your vision to life.

You will also receive a detailed newborn session prep guide, including a checklist of items to prepare ahead of time and things to bring to the session. After that, all you need to do is show up and enjoy the moment.

What to Expect

The Studio

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My home studio is designed with your baby’s comfort and safety in mind. Equipped with cozy props, soft blankets, and gentle lighting, it provides the perfect setting for capturing those heartwarming moments. The serene atmosphere ensures a stress-free experience for you and your baby, allowing me to focus on creating beautiful, timeless images.

The Images

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Scroll through the galleries below to see sweet newborn moments and joyful milestone celebrations. From peaceful, wrapped newborn portraits to giggly one-year cake smashes, every session is created with care and intention. I hope these images help you picture what your own baby’s story could look like through timeless portraits in Elk Grove and the greater Sacramento area.

Newborn Gallery

A sleeping baby wrapped in a white blanket, wearing a white hat with bear ears, lying on a fluffy gray blanket, holding a small white teddy bear.
A sleeping baby girl wearing a pink knit wrap, with a matching headband with a large fabric flower, sitting in a woven basket on a floral backdrop.
Sleeping newborn baby girl wearing a deep purple lace outfit and bow headband, posed on a soft backdrop in an Elk Grove newborn studio.
A sleeping newborn baby wearing a light blue striped hat and pajama, resting head on fold of arm on yellow surface.
Close-up of a baby wrapped in green cloth, holding two rings with one hand, with a blurred face in the background.
Sleeping newborn baby in a soft blue outfit posed on a crescent moon prop with a starry backdrop in an Elk Grove home studio.
Sleeping newborn baby in a cream knit outfit and bonnet posed on a rustic wooden prop in an Elk Grove newborn photography studio.
Newborn baby wrapped in deep blue fabric and bonnet holding a small stuffed bunny during a studio session in Elk Grove, CA.
Sleeping newborn baby girl wrapped in blush fabric with a floral headband, photographed in a home studio in Elk Grove, California.
Newborn baby wrapped in a soft brown wrap and bonnet sleeping in a basket during a studio session in Elk Grove, California.
Close-up portrait of a sleeping newborn baby boy wearing a green bonnet against a warm neutral background in an Elk Grove home studio.
Sleeping newborn baby girl wrapped in soft lavender fabric with a floral headband, photographed in a home studio in Elk Grove, California.
Newborn baby girl wrapped in blush fabric with floral accents posed on a soft peach backdrop in Elk Grove, CA.
A sleeping baby dressed in a bear costume, lying in a heart-shaped wooden box surrounded by green leaves.
Newborn baby wrapped in a soft yellow blanket holding a small stuffed bunny, posed in a basket during a studio session in Elk Grove, California.
Sleeping newborn baby boy in a soft blue knit outfit cuddling a teddy bear during a studio session in Elk Grove, CA.
Sleeping newborn baby girl wrapped in soft blush fabric in a wicker basket with delicate floral accents, photographed in an Elk Grove home studio.
Close-up detail of newborn baby feet wrapped in soft green fabric holding a small white heart during an Elk Grove newborn photography session.
Newborn baby girl in a soft purple outfit surrounded by lavender flowers during a studio session in Elk Grove, CA.
Sleeping newborn baby girl posed in a basket with soft pink roses and a pastel backdrop during a studio session in Elk Grove, California.
Newborn baby boy wearing a brown knit outfit posed on a decorative swing with greenery accents in an Elk Grove newborn studio.
Newborn baby girl wrapped in soft pink fabric wearing a delicate floral headband photographed in an Elk Grove home studio.
Newborn baby girl wrapped in sage green fabric with a floral headband and wooden hello world sign during a studio session in Elk Grove, California.
A sleeping newborn baby with a floral headband, surrounded by pink daisies and pink flowers, resting on a soft surface.
Close-up portrait of a sleeping newborn baby girl wearing a soft blush lace outfit and bow headband in an Elk Grove home studio.
Sleeping newborn baby girl wrapped in soft lavender fabric on a textured fur backdrop in an Elk Grove newborn studio.
Newborn baby girl wrapped in lavender fabric posed in a basket with vibrant purple flowers during an Elk Grove newborn photography session.
Sleeping newborn baby girl in a wicker basket surrounded by bright yellow sunflowers during a studio session in Elk Grove, California.
A sleeping baby dressed as Harry Potter, wearing glasses and holding a wand, is lying on a small chest surrounded by Harry Potter books and a photo of Platform 9 3/4. A plush owl sits on top of the books to the right, and a yellow, fold-out map is in
Sleeping baby in a brown bear outfit lying between two plush teddy bears.

Milestones Gallery

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

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  • I offer both newborn and milestone session packages to document your baby’s entire first year. Milestone sessions are available at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year (including cake smash options). Families can book individual sessions or choose a bundled first-year collection for a cohesive story from newborn through birthday. Newborn packages start at $375, and each collection includes your session plus professionally edited digital images and product options. Reach out for full pricing details and help selecting the right package for your family.

  • There is a variety of products that are available for additional purchase through the online gallery including: Prints, digitals, Photo books, image boxes, mini accordion albums, canvases, announcements and more.

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

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  • As soon as you reach your 3rd trimester it is never too early to get on my schedule. The best time to do a newborn session is 2-3 weeks after birth.

  • Many babies do not sleep thru their session. Some are wide awake the entire time!! I can usually still achieve some amazing images, especially if they are wrapped! Babies are babies and they will cry! I do everything I can to soothe and comfort them and surround them with a comfortable environment. It is important to remain calm as babies can sense anxiety. I work around the baby and have tips and tricks to soothe baby.

  • My home studio is fully equipped with everything needed for you newborn's portrait session. However, some parents like to bring a special prop or blanket for the baby. After booking you are sent a prep guide which will walk you through what you will want to possibly bring to the session.

  • Newborn sessions usually last between 2 to 3 hours. This allows plenty of time for feeding, comforting, and capturing a variety of poses.

  • Your baby's safety is my top priority. I have extensive experience in handling newborns and use safe posing techniques. I also keep the studio environment warm and clean, with sanitized props and blankets. I work with an assistant who is always on hand to watch and spot the baby.

** I have additional FAQ’s in my welcome brochure I send out after you contact me.

Contact Me

If you would like additional information or are ready to book, reach out to me and I would love to send you my welcome brochure. The brochure walks your through every step of the process, outlines my family portrait packages including pricing and products included, gives more specific information on the family portrait experience, and answers FAQs. 

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Contact me

“Shawn was amazing!! She did my son’s newborn pictures and I just loved how patient and loving she was when my baby got fussy. She truly cares and is passionate about her line of work. I felt so comfortable throughout the whole session and loved the way the pictures turned out! She’s creative, warm and has a beautiful newborn studio 🤍 I would book her again in a heartbeat!”

~Daisy Castillo