+ What is the best age for photos in the first year?

6-9 months is by far the best age for photos within the first year. At this age, babies are mellow, comfortable around strangers, and sitting but not yet mobile. They are (typically) very cooperative for photos, don't mind outfit changes and are very cheerful!

+ Why do you include family photos with a cakesmash?

11-12 month olds are in the "object permanence" phase, which means they often become very clingy to their parents and afraid of strangers. In my years of doing this, I've found that giving babies some time to be photographed while still in their family's arms helps them warm up to me and leads to a much more successful cakesmask, versus simply putting them down on their own from the start. If your baby hates the cake or simply hates being put down (this can happen!), it still allows us to capture a big and beautiful gallery. I also love to give families the chance to take photos together whenever I can, because they are so important!

+ How many outfits can we choose from?

I'm happy to place no limit on outfits, but your baby will probably have a different opinion. Depending on the temperament and age of your baby, most happily cooperate for two outfits but anything beyond that can make them grumpy and not lead to the best photos. We can also include some tasteful nudies, which is a great way to get another looking without actually changing outits.

+ What do you include for our session?

Outfits are included, and props / headbands / accessories will also be included and styled around your outfit choices. I can provide a cakestand for your cakesmash, but I do not provide the cake. I will give you extensive information on ordering a cake, and simple cakes can be purchased for less than $20.

+ When should we schedule birthday pictures?

If you'd like your entire gallery delivered to you prior to your child's birthday, I recommend scheduling at least three weeks out. This also ensures we have wiggle room in case we need to reschedule due to weather or illness. If you opt to schedule the session sooner, I can get you an expedited preview to print/share but cannot guarantee the entire session will be edited faster than typical turnaround time.

+ How soon after the session will I have my images?

You will have a social media preview within three days. If your gallery comes with a set number of images, you will receive unedited proofs within one week to select your images from. Once your proofs are selected, you will have your edited images back you within three weeks. If your package is all inclusive, you will skip the proofing gallery and just have to wait for editing. While my contract states three weeks for editing to allow for busy season, illness, and travel, I am typically ahead of schedule and deliver galleries sooner.