More Giggles, More Memories: Why 6-Month & 1-Year Baby Photos Are So Worth It | Cedar
If you’re a parent in Nashville (or anywhere, really!), baby milestone sessions are one of the sweetest ways to celebrate your little one’s first year. And trust me — future you will be so grateful for every photo that documents how quickly your baby goes from teeny newborn to curious, giggly, wildly expressive one-year-old.
Let me introduce you to Cedar.
His mama, Liza, is a longtime client of mine (and honestly, a total dream). She traveled from out of state to Nashville for her maternity session — which, already, had me feeling beyond honored. After that, I made the trip to their home in Kentucky to document Cedar’s newborn session… and again around 6 months… and then again at 12 months.
(And yes — I say “around” on purpose. Whether your baby is 5 months or 7 months, 11 months or 13 — it’s all good. The magic is in capturing this season, not hitting a date exactly. Done is always better than perfect.)
Watching Cedar grow through his first year was such a full-circle moment — and a beautiful reminder of why milestone sessions are so meaningful. So let’s talk about what makes each stage so worth capturing, using this little guy’s journey as proof.
📸 Newborn: Tiny, Tender Beginnings
Cedar’s newborn session was peaceful, snuggly, and slow in the best way. These early days are a blur of sleepy yawns, soft skin, and that perfectly squishy “just born” look that fades way too fast. At this stage, we captured his curled-up little limbs, the way he fit perfectly in his parents’ arms, and those quiet, sacred family moments that only happen in the early weeks.
For any new parent, this session is all about remembering how small they were and how full your heart felt — even if you were running on three hours of sleep.
As a Nashville newborn photographer, I know these images become absolute treasures — especially once those tiny features start changing almost overnight.
💛 6-Month: Personality On the Rise (and the Rolls!)
By the time I returned to see Cedar again, he had chunked up in the most adorable way (hello, baby rolls and squishable cheeks!). This age is the best for catching big gummy smiles, first belly laughs, and the start of all that emerging personality.
At this session, Cedar was sitting up with just a little wobble, exploring the world with wide eyes and total wonder. His joy was contagious, and the way he lit up when his parents talked to him? Pure gold.
This is the stage where your baby suddenly seems so expressive — and if you wait until one year to take more photos, you miss that in-between magic.
As a Nashville baby milestone photographer, I can tell you — this age is golden. Six month baby photos are some of my favorites because babies are so expressive and curious, but still very much in the squishy-snuggle stage.
🎂 12-Month: Wobbly Steps & Big Celebrations
And just like that — Cedar turned one.
Our final session of the year felt like a celebration. He was standing (mostly steady), smiling with new little teeth, and full of energy. There’s this fun sense of independence at this age — like babies know they’re doing something big. And capturing those early steps, cheeky grins, and even the chaos of a cake smash (if that’s your thing!) makes for such meaningful keepsakes.
What I love most about one-year sessions is how they tie the whole year together. You can see the transformation — from tiny newborn to growing toddler — and you realize just how many beautiful moments happened in between.
If you’re wondering how to plan your baby photo session timeline, I usually recommend three key milestones: newborn, 6-ish months, and 12-ish months. It’s the perfect way to document your baby’s first year in a beautifully cohesive way.
Why Milestone Sessions Matter (More Than You Think)
Sure, the newborn stage gets a lot of attention — and rightly so. But your baby doesn’t stop changing at 4 weeks old. They’re constantly growing, learning, becoming. And these milestone sessions freeze time in a way that lets you relive it all again and again.
You’re not just booking a photo session — you’re giving yourself future memories. You’re building your baby’s first-year story, one giggle and gummy smile at a time.
So if you’re on the fence about milestone sessions, let this be your nudge. You won’t regret having too many photos of your baby — but you might wish you had more.
Want to chat about what milestone sessions could look like for your family? I’d love to help you tell your baby’s story — every sweet, squishy, joy-filled chapter of it.
@sarahsidwellphotography
