As a family photographer, I have the absolute pleasure of helping families capture the sweet stages of their kids’ childhoods, from those early baby days through your child’s adolescence as they grow into adulthood. Many of the families I work with will ask the same question: how often should you have professional photos taken for your kids? Here’s the advice I give about taking childhood portraits in Camp Hill, PA.
The Short Answer: As Often as You Like!
At the end of the day, childhood photography is all about your family’s preferences – they’re your memories and your portraits so it’s up to you! There’s no consistent recommendation that works for every family, it all depends on how frequently you want professional portraits as well as what is reasonable for your schedule and budget.
Is It Time for New Childhood Portraits in Camp Hill, PA?
With all of that said, I certainly understand that some families want guidance and recommendations, so I’m happy to help. While nothing is set in stone, here are a few signals that it might be time for updated childhood portraits.
Your child has reached a new developmental level since their last photo session. For example, maybe your little one was a toddler in their last portraits but now they’re elementary age – a new stage of life is a great time for fresh portraits.
You find yourself wishing you had professional photos of your child at this age, even if you love the day-to-day snapshots you take on special occasions or around the house. Both professional portraits and at-home photos have their place in your family’s prized memories.
Your child has reached or is approaching a meaningful milestone in their childhood, like starting elementary school or starting middle school, or a cultural milestone like their bar/bat mitzvah or quinceañera.
While there are no hard-and-fast rules that work for every family, these little life markers can be helpful ways to gauge when you’ll want new milestone photos.
Time for New Childhood Portraits? Here’s How to Get Started
If you’ve decided your family is due for some new professional photos, I can help! Contact Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning your childhood portraits in Camp Hill, PA.
Hershey Child PhotographyYoung girl poses with pink Hydrangeas at The Peter Allen House near Harrisburg PAChild portraits in the creek at photo session with Mechanicsburg Family Photographer
Sitter session photography can create some of the most beautiful, treasured baby portraits you will ever have. Your baby is more alert than they were at their newborn session, able to engage with the session more and showcase their adorable budding personality. But, as with any photo session, parents always have one question for a Carlisle PA sitter session: what should we wear?
Carlisle Baby Photography Session
Tips for Planning Your Baby’s Sitter Session Outfits
Planning your baby’s sitter session outfits might be easier than you think! If you have a session in the books, follow these tips.
Baby Boy 6 Month Sitter PhotographyBaby Boy Photoshoot
Find Out What Your Carlisle PA Sitter Session Photographer Provides
First things first, when it comes to wardrobe, talk to your photographer and find out what they have available. I have a well-stocked client closet so I can provide all the outfits and accessories you need for your sitter session! You can just come with your baby and your diaper bag.
Some families still want to bring some outfit options of their own too, and if you do, the rest of these tips can help.
Baby boy and big sister photoshoot
Consider the Overall Looks for the Session
Before your photo shoot, I’ll take some time with you to plan and style your session, including the looks and themes you want to incorporate. Whether you’re envisioning a particular theme, a vintage aesthetic, a feminine look, or something classic and timeless, I’ll design your session in a way that captures the look you want along with my artistic style.
If you’re planning to bring some outfits or accessories to add to the selection for the photo shoot, keep that planning conversation in mind. Choose items that align well with the looks we’re going for.
Go for Snug Over Loose
It’s common to buy clothes that are slightly big on your baby because they grow so quickly, and that’s a great strategy for your home wardrobe…but not for a photo session. It’s better to choose pieces that fit your baby well and aren’t too loose on them. Otherwise, the items won’t lay as nicely and will be constantly moving around and needing to be adjusted during the photo shoot.
P.S., here’s a bonus tip: always have your baby try on the outfits you’re bringing to your sitter session a few days in advance. You always want to know for sure how they’ll fit rather than making your best guess.
Carlisle PA baby photographer
When in Doubt, Go Neutral
For any baby photography (or any photography in general), you can’t go wrong with neutrals. Every baby looks great in white!
If you don’t go for neutrals, stick with pastels and items that aren’t overly attention-grabbing. Avoid bold patterns, bright colors, and anything else that could take attention away from your baby, unless we’re purposely incorporating a particular look or color scheme that we’ve discussed in your planning session.
Don’t Stress About Your Carlisle PA Sitter Session Outfits - I’ve Got You!
You have a big job at home: raising that adorable little one of yours. Please don’t add to your stress by trying to find beautiful sitter session outfits! I have everything you need. If you have items you love and want to bring to the session, that’s great, but if not, I have enough items to create a beautiful and truly special sitter session for your baby.
Booking Your Carlisle PA Sitter Session
Sitter session photography is an opportunity to get stunning baby photos at this fun time in your baby’s developmental journey, and I’m honored to make this happen for families throughout the Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, and Harrisburg areas. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today to book your sitter session and start planning the baby portraits of your dreams.
When you have a beautiful baby at home, calling it “love” doesn’t feel descriptive enough. You’re *obsessed* with your new little one and you absolutely adore watching them grow and discover the world around them. If you want to preserve the memories of this exciting time of life, Harrisburg sitter session photography is a great way to do that.
Harrisburg PA Baby Photography Session
What Is Sitter Session Photography?
Sitter session photography is a photo session that occurs while your baby is confidently sitting up on their own but isn’t yet crawling confidently. This generally happens around 6-9 months of age.
6 Month old Baby Photography near Harrisburg PA
Benefits of Sitter Session Photography
Why do we choose this particular time in a baby’s first year to take portraits? There are several benefits, actually.
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Preserve a Beautiful Developmental Stage
Your baby’s sitter stage is such a fun time in their infancy! With sitting up, they can be more engaged with you and with everything around them, and it’s such a joy to watch their little eyes take it all in.
Sitter Session Baby Photography
Flexible Posing Options
A large part of why sitter session photography is so popular is its practicality. We can get a much better variety of poses and portrait options because your baby can sit up on their own and look at the camera. However, they haven’t yet hit the point when they’re mobile and wanting to explore. The sitter stage is a perfect opportunity to get precious baby photos you’ll love for decades without having to chase your baby around the studio.
Compared to their newborn days, your baby is showing so much more personality in their sitter stage! You’re starting to see some of their little mannerisms, expressions, and quirks. Now is a great time to capture those on camera so you can look back on them when your child is older and see when that sweet personality started.
What’s the verdict? Every family has to answer that for themselves, but for many, the answer is a resounding “yes,” sitter session photography is worth it! To get the ball rolling, contact my Harrisburg photo studio today and let’s chat!
You’ve heard of newborn photography and you’ve heard of first birthday photography. But what about the time between your baby’s birth and their first birthday? You don’t want to miss those amazing milestones either! That’s why, in the world of Camp Hill baby photography, every parent loves a sitter session.
Ever heard of sitter sessions? All the answers you need to know are right here.
What Is a Sitter Session in Baby Photography?
A sitter session is a baby photography session to celebrate the milestone of your baby sitting up on its own. Each baby develops at its own pace, so timing can vary. Usually, though, babies are ready for a sitter session around six to nine months.
What Are Sitter Sessions So Popular for Camp Hill Baby Photography?
The sitting stage happens to be one of the most adorable stages in a baby’s first year. First of all, who doesn’t love to see a beautiful baby sitting up on those precious chubby legs? Second, the sitter stage is a perfect time for photos. Your baby is alert and aware but not yet mobile. That means we can get plenty of portraits of those stunning baby eyes but your baby isn’t constantly crawling out of the frame.
Finally, this age is when we start seeing hints of your baby’s one-of-a-kind personality. It tends to be a very smiley, giggly age, so it’s the perfect time to capture those amazing baby smiles on camera.
All that combined makes for one thing: a gallery of gorgeous baby portraits you can’t help but love.
When Should I Schedule a Sitter Session for My Baby?
My schedule often books up months in advance, so it’s a good idea to call me a few months before you expect your baby to be sitting. If your baby hits that milestone sooner or later than expected, it’s more likely that I can adjust my schedule if I already have time reserved for you.
What Can I Expect During a Sitter Session?
When you book your sitter session at my Camp Hill baby photography studio, the customization begins. We’ll chat in advance to find out what you envision for your baby’s portraits. If you’d prefer to have my artistic sense lead the way, I’m happy to do so.
Your sitter session will take place in my comfortable, well-stock studio. It takes about one to two hours, so it’s shorter than a newborn session because your baby is more independent.
During your baby’s sitter session, your helping hands will be much appreciated! I may call on you to coax some smiles out of your baby, help them stay in a pose, and so on. Every session is customized to my client, so rest assured that I’ll create portraits that bring out the best in your baby’s personality.
A few weeks later, you’ll enjoy the magic moment: your gallery reveal. You’ll return to my studio to see a display of your baby’s sweet portraits. From there, I’ll work with you to design your one-of-a-kind portrait art pieces you’ll forever treasure as family heirlooms.
How to Book a Camp Hill Baby Photography Sitter Session
Your beautiful baby is turning one: congratulations! You’ve made it through that magical yet chaotic year of infancy, and now it’s time to celebrate while also capturing this amazing milestone in your baby’s life. What better way to do that than with a first birthday photo session?
As much fun as a first birthday photoshoot is, it can be intimidating if it’s your first time. Where do you begin? How do you plan for it? What should you bring? Don’t worry, I’m here to help with your ultimate guide to your baby’s 1st birthday cake smash photos.
First Birthday Cake smash session with photographer near Camp Hill PA
What Can I Expect from a First Birthday Photoshoot?
While every photographer has their own process, I’ve been working with one-year milestone photos for many years, so I’m happy to guide you through my process when I book a first birthday photoshoot near me.
We always begin with a consultation. This is when we’ll discuss your vision for your baby’s portraits and what you want from your photoshoot. We’ll talk about where you want your session to be, what specific types of images you love, and so on. I can also answer all your questions about outfit ideas for your baby, how to prepare for the session, and so on.
I offer first birthday photo sessions in two parts – usually on the same day if the weather permits. The first part is a cake smash session for your baby in my studio early in the day, where we’ll capture all those adorably messy cake smash photos. All that fun tends to make babies pretty tired, so I’ll then send you home with your baby so you can get them thoroughly cleaned up and they can enjoy a nice rest.
Then, we’ll meet back up outdoors in the late afternoon/early evening (or “golden hour” as it’s often called) for a small outdoor session. Throughout the session, you can relax, watch, and enjoy as I capture a mixture of posed portraits and candid photos that showcase your baby’s personality. We can also incorporate you and the rest of your family into these photos if you would like.
Afterward, I’ll hand edit all the best photos from your session. We’ll schedule a viewing and ordering appointment for two to three weeks after your photo session. That’s when you’ll see all your baby’s beautiful photos in a presented slideshow and you can choose the images and products you want.
Baby’s First Birthday Photo session by Karissa Zimmer Photography in Camp Hill PA
Where Do I Get a Cake Smash Cake?
If you want to make it simple, I can source your cake smash cake for you for an additional fee. However, a lot of families choose to get their cake from any local bakery, or you can even bake it yourself if you’re so inclined. There are a few things to keep in mind, though.
First of all, if you’re getting the cake from a bakery, make sure to tell them that it is for cake smash pictures. Sometimes bakeries will have a stabilizer stick inside the cake, and you want to be sure there isn’t one for a smash cake.
Second, while you can get any color and type of cake you want, there are a few things to avoid. It’s best to steer clear of chocolate cake or chocolate icing because it doesn’t photograph well. The same is true for red icing. I also suggest getting a cake with icing instead of fondant, because fondant is hard to chew so it can present a choking hazard.
First Birthday Photographer near Camp Hill Karissa Zimmer Photography
Do I Need to Do Cake Smash Photos for My Baby’s First Birthday Photos?
Absolutely not! Your baby’s first birthday photos are memorializing a special milestone in your family’s life, and you can make it whatever you want it to be. While 1st birthday cake smash photos are a popular tradition, you can do whatever you want for your photos.
Should I Choose a Theme for My Baby’s Milestone Photos?
Whether or not to have a theme for your baby’s milestone photos is entirely your decision. Some families want their portraits to center around a special interest the family has like their favorite sports team or their baby’s favorite cartoon. But a theme isn’t necessary. When I’m doing a 1st birthday photoshoot near me, I typically combine candid photos of the baby being their amazing self with some first birthday décor so the occasion is clear to see.
One year old baby girl cake smash photos in Camp Hill PA Photography Studio
What Should I Bring to My Baby’s Cake Smash Photo Session?
When you’re getting ready for your cake smash photography session, there are a few items you’ll want to bring along. These sessions generally last one to two hours, so bring anything you might need to keep your baby (and you!) comfortable during that time. That can include diapers, wipes, bottles, snacks, and so on.
It’s also a good idea to bring an extra outfit for your baby’s trip home. I always save the cake smash photos for the end of the session because babies get MESSY! Still, you’ll want to bring anything you need to clean up your baby afterward as well as an outfit for them to wear on the way home. You might get messy in the process too, so it’s a good idea to bring an extra outfit for yourself as well.
Camp Hill PA Cake Smash Photographer
Making Your Cake Smash Photos Special
Your baby’s first birthday is an amazing occasion to celebrate, and I’d love to help! Now that you have the lowdown on everything you need to know, it’s time to get your session on the schedule. Contact my Camp Hill photography studio today.
Camp Hill PA Baby Photographer Cake Smash PhotoshootFirst Birthday Photoshoot near Camp Hill PA by Karissa Zimmer PhotographyFirst Birthday Cake Smash Photography Session near Camp Hill PA
Are you looking for a Camp Hill Baby Photography Studio? Look no further! A little bit of cake smash anxiety for the birthday girl did not stop us from capturing some of the most adorable images of Miss Hannah! I love everything about her sunflower theme! But most of all, I love that she was one of my tiny 2020 newborn clients who came back to see me! I was so excited that Hannah’s parents booked her a first birthday cake smash session way back when they were in the studio for her newborn ordering appointment. And, to me, that says they loved her newborn images so much! So much that they trusted me enough to capture this special milestone also! There is nothing that fills this photographer’s heart more than the opportunity to photograph my clients again and again! To watch and document my little clients as they grow up is truly the biggest honor!
Sunflower Cake Smash Photo shoot
Sunflower Theme First Birthday Shoot
One Year Sunflower photoshoot
First Birthday Photography Studio
Sunflower theme photoshoot
First Birthday Photography near Camp Hill PA
Camp Hill PA Cake Smash Photography Session
Cake Smash Photography Session
Sunflower Theme Cake Smash
First Birthday Cake Smash studio session
Baby’s First Birthday Photography
First Birthday photography studio cake smash session
Cake Smash Photographer
Camp Hill Cake Smash Photography
Sunflower Naked Cake
Planning a Cake Smash Session in the Camp Hill Baby Photography Studio
When it was time to start planning Hannah’s cake smash session, her mama threw me a few ideas that she liked. Ultimately, she gave me the reigns! She trusted me to plan something beautiful for her baby girl’s special session. When she said she liked bright pops of color including yellow I just knew where I was going to go with this! I think the fall season and sunflowers pair so perfectly! It’s always my goal to plan and create a cake smash theme that is beautiful and timeless. I think everything about Hannah’s sunflower session is perfect for an October baby! Once I knew where I was going with this, I contacted my favorite baker, Brittany at Baked By Brittany in Mechanicsburg, PA. Although I opt for simple cakes for my sessions, she is a truly talented artist and creates some of the most elaborate cakes I’ve seen! Be sure to check her out!
When to book a cake smash studio session?
Will your baby turn one this year? If you’re wondering when to book your baby’s studio cake smash session the answer is: It’s never too early! As with all sessions, planning ahead is best! There is quite a process that goes into planning, customizing and making a first birthday cake smash session special! A first birthday session is something you’ll want to have reserved at least two months prior to your baby’s first birthday. Although, even further in advance is best!
My baby has a first birthday coming up! Where do I start?
Send me a message! I am here to help walk you through the entire portrait process! From the very first phone call we will have, through planning the most special cake smash session and all the way through delivery of your portrait art work! The first step is to reach out to me via my contact form. You can expect a phone call from me to start planning your baby’s milestone magic!
