Do you remember Parker’s in-home newborn session in their Hoboken home? Or her 6-month session in their home and outdoors? I am so excited to be sharing the third and final session celebrating her first year. It has been so fun to watch her grow! Parker’s family has since moved from Hoboken to a gorgeous home in Chatham, NJ, and she is going to be a big sister soon. 

For this session, my clients visited our Maplewood, New Jersey, studio. Late winter or early spring birthdays are perfect for a studio session. While spring outdoors is lovely, it doesn’t truly warm up in New Jersey until May, and the unpredictable rain makes scheduling outdoor sessions tough. We wanted to document not just Parker’s birthday but the milestone of her walking and leaving the baby days for toddlerdom. We had a framed fine art print of her as a newborn, a beautiful sitting portrait from her 6-month session, and I had a vision for her first birthday portrait. Sure, we could have done a smash cake, but that is not really my style. Also, a messy cake did not fit the beautiful, timeless three-piece set that I was building for this family to commemorate Parker’s first year. 

We did get a small, tasteful cake from a local bakery. Most first-birthday families do like to have cake at the studio session, but no one has ever selected me for a "cake smash" photo shoot. The cake is there to complement the classic baby portraits and fun family portraits and add context to the time period. 

I was so happy to have Parker’s pup join in the session, as one of my ideas for the final piece in the frame set was an updated portrait of the two of them. We ended up selecting a beautiful, happy walking image of Parker to frame, but the images of Parker and her pup make me so happy, and Mom and Dad loved them, too. Fur babies are absolutely a part of your family, and they are always welcome in your family portrait session, whether at home, outdoors, or in my studio. 

Clients who order a set of three or more frames (or a statement piece) and live within 30 minutes of the studio are offered complimentary installation. After we have decided on the right placement, my professionals will come to you and install your new artwork. Parker’s room in her new home was beautifully decorated, and the space between the windows was perfect to finally put the three companion pieces together.