5 Tips on How to have a Belly to Baby Picture Plan

Hey y’all! I’m Erin of Erin Phillips Photography, and I’m honored to be featured here at Sixth Bloom.

With the belly2baby plan I include a maternity, newborn, sitting up, and one year session. All of these times highlight such huge changes for family and baby, and I want to showcase that in a beautiful way! I’d like to share with you some tips and tried and true examples for the baby plan.

1- At the maternity session, sometimes we have just the mama and the baby belly, and sometimes dad is incorporated as well! And siblings too! Whatever the case, be sure to include some special things to them and baby. Make it personal for them! Whether this is their first or 5th baby, this is such an important time for them! And for me, mamas hand is always on the belly somehow, I’m such a stickler for that! The bond between a mommy & baby starts immediately, and I want that to show through the photos. And don’t forget that Daddy love too!

2- For the newborn session, I love to incorporate the baby’s room colors as usually the mom and dad really love the colors together, as well as a few neutrals. I really love color though! I love incorporating anything meaningful to mom and dad as well. While I do love a squishy face pose on all of my newborns, I do love a good wrapped baby on a shaggy rug. So clean and simple!

3- Sitting up, Once baby is about 7 months old and they start sitting up on their own without wobbling, I have them come in for another session! This session is one of my favorites because they are OH so smiley and fun!!! Usually they have cute little chunky legs too.. ahhh I love baby rolls! And that gummy smile is so sweet. This session really showcases their little personality! I don’t have too many props at these sessions, maybe a pettiromper for girls and a pair of jeans with suspenders for the boys.. simple and cute. Sitting on their own with their smiles, which is the best accessory ever!

4- ONE year old, what a milestone! My baby planners one year sessions are usually planned about a month ahead of time. Me and the momma talk decor, birthday party theme, cake smash colors, all kinds of stuff! Whatever you do, make it fit THEM! You can do a some awesome decor for a one year session on a budget by doing some DIY stuff that you find on Pinterest too! All of my one year sessions come with the cake that my fabulous cake lady does in their choice of theme/colors. I then plan ahead with balloons/banners/decor. These are so much fun! I also take a few outdoor shots in some regular outfits to showcase their awesome walking/standing ability, or some shots of mom & dad with the big one year old! I just LOVE watching my baby planners grow! So sad when they graduate, but then grateful because I usually see them each year after. Being able to document a child’s life from sometimes birth to one year and beyond is just a gift in itself! I truly enjoy it and am blessed to be able to call it my other job (first job being a wife/momma!).

5- Bonus: If I could emphasize anything about capturing baby’s first year for a family is to make it theirs, incorporate some of their ideas while sticking true to your style, and keep it simple. Babies are cute all on their own! What you really want to remember are those dimples, gummy smiles, tiny toes, and little rolls. Capture who they are so it can be remembered and treasured for years to come.