When my family started singing “Happy Birthday” to my oldest daughter on her first birthday, I was totally caught off-guard. I had an overwhelming urge to burst into tears. How was my baby a whole year old already? Anyone with children will tell you, the years fly by, but the first seems to go especially quick. Maybe it’s the constantly changing phases or the lack of sleep. Whatever it is, that first year flies by. The goal of my first year collection is to help you document that year. I promise you won’t arrive at your cake smash, unsure of where the year went.
What is a first year collection?
A first year collection is a set of three sessions that happen over the course of a year. When booked together, these sessions are discounted. The three sessions include the newborn session, a sitter session and first year portraits with cake smash. If you decide to book this collection, you will receive a discount off all three sessions and an additional discount for booking early.
Why should I book a first year collection?
It’s a great question. Remember how we talked about how quick that first year goes by? Yeah, that’s why! When you come in for your session, sleep-deprived, fresh from the hospital, imagining six months away seems impossible. I make this easier for you. With your first year collection, I will check in with you about your child’s development and to schedule your session well in advance. Some months, especially in the late summer and early fall, book quickly. You can be assured with the first year collection that your session will be on the books ahead of anyone else’s.
What if I can’t decide right now?
There’s absolutely no pressure to! If you want to wait until after your little one is born, you can opt into the first year collection at any time. Around six months, I check in with my newborn families to see how they’re fairing and give them first dibs to my calendar if they decide to do a sitter session or a cake smash. One of the things I love most about my job is watching these kiddos grow. It is the biggest honor to have a front row seat to their milestones. I will never take it for granted.
Can families be included in first year collections?
Immediate families are always included at no extra cost in my newborn sessions. Because sitter sessions and cake smashes are mostly about your little one, I do charge an additional fee to include families. This is because the sets aren’t usually geared towards families, so we may need to do some additional planning and it will add time on to your session. All that being said though, I absolutely loving capturing memories with you and your growing baby, so definitely think about whether or not it’s something you would like to do.
What do I need to do to prepare for the first year collection?
Nothing – that’s the best part! Once you’ve signed up for the collection and paid your deposit, the ball is in my court. I will prepare props, sets and even the cake for the cake smash. All you have to do is bring your little one and a smile, the rest is on me.
In conclusion, first year collections are a great way to purposefully plan to capture the little details that go by so fast in the first year. If you’re still on the fence, check out my recent cake smashes and sitter sessions to get a sense of what they may look like. And as always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
