"The days are long, but the years are short." This quote rings true in many ways, but from my experience, it's most true when it comes to parenthood. I can't begin to tell you how many times I hear parents say they don't know how the time flew by so fast. Kids grow quickly, and on top of that, being a parent is hard, wild work.
With time whizzing by, it's easy to get lost in the daily routine and miss out on those precious details that make parenthood so incredibly special. Soon, those chubby little thighs will get long and lean from racing around the playground at top-speed. Soon, that gummy smile will start sprouting teeth. Soon, those special first words will turn into full sentences.
As a photographer, I take great joy in being able to preserve those precious moments forever. I love providing my families with the opportunity to revisit those overwhelming early days when they felt enveloped in the chaos. Years from now, you'll be so grateful that you prioritized preserving those memories so that your entire family can enjoy them together.
In this blog post, I'll explain why I think every family should consider monthly milestone sessions for their baby's first year, and how I think they'll benefit your family in the long run.
Catalog Every Milestone
The first year of your baby's life will be filled with exciting milestones, from the first time they lift their head, to their first real giggle, to the moment they take their first steps. Monthly photos will allow you to capture those milestones forever. You can do this by including a milestone board in each of their photo sessions that explains what exciting new thing your little one has accomplished, so that later these images can be compiled into their baby book or into a photo album cataloging each of these special moments.
Capture an Entire Year of Beautiful Memories
If milestones aren't your focus, you can use a monthly session to simply document the growth and change that your little one goes through during their first year. Babies grow fast, so capturing each month of their first year will truly allow you to relive this wild and amazing time in their life. With monthly sessions you'll be able to capture the beautiful memories your family shared in that first year so you can reflect on it later and create even more fun memories with your children.
Time Flies - Freeze Time Through Monthly Photos
Having a new life to take care of is A LOT of work, and the time will fly by faster than you could ever imagine. While you're in the trenches changing diapers, cleaning bottles, and navigating the wild wild west of parenthood, you may not have all the time in the world to document your little one's life. A monthly photo session will allow you to preserve the precious memories of your child's first year - how they looked and acted at each phase - before those moments are gone.
Create a Photo Album Keepsake for Your Child
Children have a natural curiosity about what life was like before their long-term memory kicked in. Monthly photoshoots can be turned into a beautiful keepsake album to show your child what they were like when they were a baby and reminisce about those special days and how much they changed your life. You could even consider saving the album to give them as a special gift when they turn 18, graduate college, get married, or have kids. These albums make a wonderful keepsake to pass down through generations!
Give a Wonderful Gift to Your Child's Grandparents
There's no greater day in a grandparent's life than the day they get to meet their grandchild. Since grandparents don't usually get to see their grandchildren every single day, they often miss out on seeing the changes that happen every single day. They don't always get to hear that first laugh, see their grandchild sit up on their own for the first time, or watch them take their first bite of solid food. A monthly album that celebrates the growth your child experiences and the milestones they achieve is a precious gift for any grandparent.
You Can Document the Things Your Child Loves
It's fun to see how kids' personalities evolve so quickly! With monthly sessions you can photograph your baby with some of their favorite things to show how quickly they change in the first year.
Share Your Child's Growth with Extended Family - Send Milestone Cards/e-Cards
If your family isn't local to you, having documentation of your child's growth throughout their first year can be really fun to share on your holiday card (or monthly cards/e-cards). Keep your non-local family in the loop and send them updates on your little one throughout the year or at the end of the year, so they don't miss a thing.
Every Child is Different - Celebrate Their Unique Stories
Think about a set of siblings you've known in your life - I bet they're all incredibly different from one another, huh? If you have (or plan to have) multiple kids, they'll have their own unique personalities, quirks, and traits, too! Having a documentation of their early lives will be a fun way to see how they started and how they continue to grow and change throughout their lives. You may have one child who is active and gregarious, while another might be reserved and enjoy watching the world go by. Being able to see how they started and where they go in life will be a wonderful celebration of the unique joy they each bring to the world!
Your Grandchildren Will Thank You
Photos are a great way for kids to learn about their family history. When your grandchildren are old enough, they'll start expressing interest in what their parents were like as babies. Having this kind of documentation allows them to have a window into what life was like when your little one was a baby, and it will give them something special to hold on to as they get older.
They're Just So Darn Cute!
Okay, I'm sure you knew this one already, but it had to be said. Your little one is the light of your life - you should celebrate that! It's normal to have a thousand photos of your baby on your phone at any given point, but why not take the time to get high-quality photos taken that intentionally celebrate the adorable life you created? If you think having monthly photos of your little one would bring you joy, then you should do it. They'll only be this little once.
Interested in Booking a Milestone Photography Package?
My milestone photo package includes a total of 60 images of your choice (5 images from each of the 12 sessions) and a professionally designed First Year photo album for you to enjoy for years to come! Additional photos can also be purchased if you simply can't decide on your favorites. Please contact me via the link below if you are interested in pricing or booking a session at my studio in Colorado Springs, CO.
Are you interested in scheduling your Colorado Springs milestone photography series? Click here