When Is The Best Time To Book A Baby Milestone Session?

So you’re thinking about booking a Baby Milestone Session?

That’s great news!

Having a photo shoot is something that most of us don’t do very often, and you might be wondering when the best time to book your session is.

In this article I’ll explain the best times for having a baby milestone session, and when you should get in touch to schedule it.

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What Is A Baby Milestone Session?

Before we dive in, it might be helpful to explain what a baby milestone session is.

A Baby Milestone Session is a photo shoot at my studio for babies aged between 3 months and 13 months and their families.

The session focuses on capturing natural, timeless photographs of your baby to document all of their gorgeous details, their cute little personality and their amazing new skills – whether that’s rolling, sitting, crawling or even walking.

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What Is The Best Age For A Baby Milestone Session?

It’s always going to be special to have photographs from your baby’s first year – freezing a moment in time so that you can remember just how your gorgeous baby was when they were little.

So from that perspective, it’s never a bad time to have a baby milestone session.

But at some stages of your baby’s development we’ll be able to capture a greater variety of photographs and your baby may enjoy the shoot more than at other stages.

With this in mind I recommend scheduling a milestone session for between 4 months, when your baby can confidently support their own head and push themselves up during tummy time, and 9-10 months when they are confidently sitting but not yet crawling.

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Why Is 4 to 10 Months The Best Age For A Milestone Session?

So why is this window the best time for a milestone session?

By 4 months babies can typically support their head confidently, and are also able to push up for short periods of time during tummy time. This gives us many more photo opportunities than with younger babies who haven’t yet mastered these skills.

After reaching these early milestones, babies will then learn to roll and sit, and as they grow older we start to see more and more of their personality, which makes for lovely photographs. 

Up until 9-10 months when babies start to crawl they are usually very content to sit or lie down in the studio and engage with me and their parents. We can capture lots of different photographs, and lots of each baby’s personality.

Once some babies have mastered crawling and even walking, they can be less content to sit down, lie down or engage. They love their new independence, and want to be on the move all the time. 

As they approach one year, babies may also become more cautious of new people and places, and want to stay closer to their parents.

The combination of these factors can mean that we capture less variety and less of your baby’s personality in the photographs from 10 months onwards than we would at a younger age.

best age milestone session clare murthy

When Should You Book Your Baby Milestone Session?

It’s best to book your Baby Milestone Session in advance, as my diary can be booked up a few months ahead.

If you would like to have a weekday session I recommend booking around 2 months in advance.

For Saturday morning sessions it’s better to book at least 3 months before you would like to have your session, as these dates tend to get booked up further ahead.

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Ready To Book? Here’s What Happens Next…

In summary, for the best variety of photographs I recommend scheduling your milestone session for after 4 months of age and before your baby starts crawling.

To book your milestone session please fill in this form letting me know you’d like to book, any preferred weeks or months and how old your baby is.

I’ll get back to you within 24 hours to confirm availability.

Once we’ve settled on a date for your session I’ll send you a booking form and an invoice for the session fee. You can complete the form and pay the session fee online – by credit or debit card or bank transfer.

Once you return the form and pay the session fee your booking is confirmed. 

Between then and your session I’ll send you lots of information to help you prepare for a relaxed, enjoyable session. And closer to the date we’ll speak on the phone to run through all the final details.

london baby photographer clare murthy

Clare Murthy

Clare Murthy

I’m a newborn, baby and family photographer working with families from South West London and Surrey. I specialise in timeless, natural photography with no props or unnatural posing. I photograph babies at my studio, and families in beautiful outdoor locations. I'm based on the Surrey / London border, close to Hampton Court.
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