9 Tips For Taking Monthly Milestone Photos Of Your Growing Baby!
As a Detroit Newborn Photographer, I’m always so shocked about how much my littlest baby clients grow and change every few months I see them! Their thighs start to get rolls, their cheeks become so kissable and sweet, and their gummy little smiles literally melt my heart. In baby’s first year especially, they grow SO MUCH, hence, you are constantly buying new baby clothes! To capture all the changes in your baby, I love to encourage parents to take monthly photos of their little ones so you can see just HOW much they change! It is always so surprising!
What is the best way to capture these monthly photos, you ask?
Here are some ideas and tips for you!
1. Use a lovey or special stuffed animal
Take baby’s photo next to the same lovey/stuffed animal each month. You’ll easily be able to see baby’s growth when having an object for comparison!
2. Use a consistent background
You don’t have to create an immaculate background for this, no worries! Use a white furry rug, or lay out your favorite blanket for baby to be on. There are adorable monthly blankets you can get that are perfect for this, too.
3. Skip the stickers - or don’t!
There are so many adorable monthly stickers you can buy, like these, to stick onto baby each month. As baby gets older though, be aware they will likely rip the sticker right off (and put it in their mouths, of course!). Honestly, I think it is a cute stage to capture, just know it will happen! If you decide to skip the stickers, there are plenty of digital stickers you can get to slap right on your photo.
5. Get creative!
If you want to add some extra creativity into this, think about different ways to show the number of months baby is in each photo. For example, I’ve seen mamas use letterboards to display the months next to baby, or I’ve seen a pizza box with the number of slices to represent the how many months baby is, or even something seasonal like in the Fall using little pumpkins and setting them up as the number. There are so many creative ways to do this!
6. Put them in a white onesie!
I know, you have all of these adorable baby clothes you want to capture them in (I’ve been there, I understand!). While you most certainly can use a variety of outfits each month, using a white onesie keeps the focus more so on the baby and less on the fashion. It will accentuate all the little changes more!
7. Take the picture during good daylight in your home.
Take baby’s picture when your home is well lit by natural light. Have them nearby a window or sliding glass door, just not directly in the bright sunlight coming in. When laying the baby down on their back, lay them so the sunshine isn’t going up baby’s nose, but rather have then at an angle where the top of baby’s head is towards the light angling down across their face. This way the light is the most flattering on them. I drew you a professional example of this in Paint so you can visualize it better.
8. Show your face, Mama!
Hop in some of those cute photos you’re taking of your baby! Both you and your little infant will be so glad that you did.
9. Lets see it!
After 12 months of photos are taken, you’ve got to put them together with a photo collage and show that baby off! It is also perfect to display during baby’s first birthday party. I love this one on Etsy.
There you have it. I hope you found this helpful and are ready to capture those monthly baby pictures of your sweet one! You will never regret taking the time to do this, Mama.
xo,
Chelsie
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Chelsie Maurer is a professional photographer specializing in Maternity, Newborn, Child and Family sessions in Metro Detroit and surrounding areas. Her photography studio is located Downtown Utica, Michigan.