Why The First Year Feels Like a Blur
If there’s one phrase I hear from parents again and again, it’s this: “I can’t believe how fast it went.”
Pregnancy feels long when you’re in it — those last few weeks can drag on forever — but then you blink, and suddenly your baby is here. And once they arrive? Time speeds up. What felt like endless newborn days suddenly tumble into first smiles, first giggles, first steps.
When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t always notice the changes. You’re just getting through each day — the sleepless nights, the feeding schedules, the laundry that never seems to end. But then you look back, maybe at a photo on your phone, and realize how much has changed in just a matter of weeks.
That’s why connecting maternity, newborn, and milestone photography matters. It’s not about a single gallery or one beautiful portrait. It’s about building a story — chapter by chapter — that you and your child can return to for the rest of your lives.
Families often come to me saying, “I don’t want to miss anything.” And I get it. Because you don’t just want to remember how your baby looked — you want to remember how it felt.
Maternity Sessions: The Chapter of Anticipation
Maternity photography is where the story begins.
And let me be clear: maternity sessions aren’t just about documenting a belly. They’re about capturing the anticipation, the emotion, and even the nerves that come with waiting for your baby.
I’ve had moms tell me they almost skipped maternity photos because they “didn’t feel beautiful” or they thought they’d rather wait for newborn pictures. But every single one who went through with it told me later, “I’m so glad I did this.” Why? Because those images become proof of how deeply they loved their baby before they even arrived.
But honestly, some of my favorite maternity sessions happen right in a family’s home. Sitting in the nursery, reading a book together on the couch, sipping coffee in the kitchen — those photos might not be “epic” in the Instagram sense, but they’re real. And years from now, they’ll mean everything.
Newborn Sessions: The Chapter of Arrival
If maternity is about anticipation, newborn photography is about arrival.
Those first weeks are unlike anything else. Your baby is tiny in a way that feels impossible to describe unless you have photos to prove it later. Their features change daily, their expressions shift, and before long, the newborn stage is gone.
I’ve photographed families in Seattle apartments, Edmonds houses, Shoreline condos — and the details are always different. But the feeling? Always the same: awe, exhaustion, love so big it almost hurts.
Lifestyle newborn sessions are perfect for telling the “real life” side of this chapter. I’ll photograph your baby in their crib, in your arms on the couch, or being rocked in the chair you’ve probably already logged countless hours in. Siblings often climb into the frame, pets sniff curiously, and parents get to just be.
Studio newborn sessions, on the other hand, focus on classic, timeless portraits. Baby swaddled in soft wraps, posed gently and safely, often asleep and peaceful. These images are the ones that feel like heirlooms — the ones that get printed and hung on walls for decades.
Both are beautiful. Both tell a story. And both become even more powerful when you pair them with maternity photos — because then you see the transition: from waiting to welcoming.
Milestone Sessions: The In-Between Chapters
If maternity and newborn photos are the opening chapters, milestone sessions are the plot twists.
Babies change dramatically in their first year. One day they’re floppy newborns who can’t hold their heads up, and before you know it, they’re crawling across the room, grabbing your phone, and laughing so hard they fall over. Milestone sessions capture those transformations.
At three months, your baby is likely smiling and engaging with the world for the first time. At six months — the sitter stage — they’re full of personality, often laughing, grabbing, and interacting with everything around them. Nine months brings crawling and curiosity. And the first birthday? That’s the grand finale of year one — often celebrated with cake, balloons, or simply quiet family snuggles.
Each milestone session fills in the blanks between newborn and toddlerhood. Without them, the story feels like it jumps from “just born” to “already walking.” With them, you get to see every step along the way.
The Emotional Thread That Connects Them
When parents put their maternity, newborn, and milestone photos side by side, the effect is powerful.
One mom in Edmonds told me that looking at her galleries in sequence was like watching her baby grow in fast-forward. “It almost made me cry,” she said. “I could see not just how much he changed, but how much we changed too.”
That’s what these connected sessions do. They don’t just show your baby growing — they show you growing, too. From anticipation, to arrival, to resilience and joy, these photos capture the full arc of becoming a family.
Your Family’s Legacy
From baby bumps to first steps, photography connects the dots of your family’s story. Each session is a chapter. Together, they become a book your child will hold onto for the rest of their life.
If you’re ready to start telling your story, I’d love to help. Contact me here to book your maternity, newborn, or milestone photography session in Seattle, Edmonds, or Shoreline.
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