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Frequently
Asked Questions
in preparing for your
Baby's First Year Portraits
by Bobbie Bush Photography
The
Baby Plan sounds so exciting. What should we expect?
We
are so excited, too! To assist you in preparing for each portrait session,
we've put
together this guide on what to expect for each milestone in your baby's
first year.
 |
The
Baby Plan: 3 Months (holding the head up) |
When
should I schedule my baby's 3 month session?
The ideal 3 month session takes place when your baby is laying on his/her
tummy and is able to hold his/her head up nice and strong. Some babies
will do this at 3 months and some just a bit later. It is best to schedule
your session once your baby is able to be comfortable lifting his/her
head.
How
should we dress the baby for the 3 month session?
Much of the 3 month sesson is photographed with little or no clothing
on the baby. We always begin the session with the baby bare-chested with
just a diaper on. As a general rule, the more skin showing the better!
Babies at this age tend to get a bit swallowed up by their clothing and
besides, a naked baby is just simply adorable! While much of the session
is unclothed, please feel free to bring one or two outfits along with
you. Solid colors look best, avoiding any large patterns or logos or designs.
Think simple and classic. Shoes and socks are completely unnecessary.
What
should we bring to the 3 month session?
If you have a special receiving blanket, favorite hat or stuffed animal,
we may incorporate these items into your session. It's so wonderful to
use a prop which is sentimental or special to you.
Do you use any props?
We have a few favorite buckets and baskets which are very cute, plus they
are great for helping a 3 month old baby sit up. We also have some hats,
snuggly blankets and baby sunglasses, too.
How
long will you spend with us?
Your session will last approximately 60 minutes -- sometimes shorter or
longer -- depending on how many feedings, diaper changes or short breaks
we may need.
What
if my baby has boo boos?
No worries. Every portrait in your order will be
individually enhanced for lovely skin tones. We will smooth and soften
any blemishes, dry skin or boo boos, so not to worry!
What is it like to work with Bobbie?
Most of our clients say how much fun it is to work with us! See our behind the scenes videos on YouTube and read the reviews on Yelp.
 |
The
Baby Plan: 6 Months (sitting up unassisted) |
When
should I schedule my baby's 6 month session?
The
ideal 6 month session takes place when your baby is sitting up unassisted
with his/her back nice and straight -- without any risk of toppling over!
It might be a good idea to practice this at home to be sure we are past
the wobbly stage and ensure the safety of your baby. Some babies are ready
at six months of age, some later. We'll capture this stage when it is
just right for your baby.
How
should we dress the baby for the 6 month session?
Similar
to the 3 month session, much of the 6 month sesson is photographed with
little or no clothing on the baby. This is a wonderful time to capture
portraits of the baby's bare bottom! Big happy smiles are the norm for
this age -- as the baby finds independence by sitting up unassisted. For
clothing choices, it's best to keep your selections classic and simple.
Solid primary colors, denim and pastels work well.
What
should we bring to the 6 month session?
If you have a favorite stuffed animal, tutu,
hat or silver rattle, we are more than happy to incorporate these items
into your session.
Do you use any props?
For girls, this is great time to wear colorful
tutus! For boys, a classic look is wearing a baseball cap or holding a
rubber duckie. One of our favorite 6 month props is to sit your baby in
a shallow white bowl which is great for helping the baby sit up more easily.
It is during the 6 month session that we often create the precious images
to go into the L-O-V-E letters or B-A-B-Y composites.
 |
The
Baby Plan: 9 Months (standing & holding on) |
When
should I schedule my baby's 9 month session?
The 9 month session takes place when your baby is safely standing up while
holding onto a stationary object.
What
should I expect for the 9 month session?
The 9 month stage can be challenging as this is the first age where your
baby may experience some separation anxiety. This is natural and normal.
Some babies respond well to our peek-a-boo games and we get sweet smiles.
Others may shy away and want to cling to your leg for security. In some
cases, we will have the mother's leg as our 'prop' for the baby to hold
onto. Quite often we capture the softer, more tender side of your baby
which is so precious.
How
should we dress the baby for the 9 month session?
This is the first stage where we encourage multiple wardrobe changes.
For clothing choices, we suggest denim overalls over a bare chest, t-shirts
& shorts, christening gowns, sweet summer dresses and even bathing
suits. Shoes are not necessary -- bare feet are still the best. And in
the event we have a baby who wants to cling to mommy's leg, we recommend
that mom wear a classic pair of khakis or jeans and be prepared to be
barefoot in the portrait, so be sure to touch up your toenail polish in
advance just in case!
Do you use any props?
For boys, this is a great time to incorporate some sporting items, such
as a football or a baseball glove. We have some props on hand here, or
perhaps you wish to bring a prop of your own to make the session more
meaningful (perhaps holding daddy's baseball glove). For girls, this is
great time to wear a long string of pearls with a tutu, or have her wear
a bathing suit and swim goggles! A favorite prop of ours at this stage
is the goldfish bowl. We just fill it with water and digitally add the
goldfish into your portrait later on. It is adorable since it looks like
they are trying to grab the fish in the bowl!
 |
The
Baby Plan: 12 Months (standing and/or first steps) |
What
should I expect for the 12 month session?
At 12 months, some babies are taking their first steps and others are
very close. Either way, this session is a wonderful one!
How
should we dress the baby for the 12 month session?
Similar to the 9 month session, we encourage multiple wardrobe changes.
This is a great time for your baby's one-year formal portrait. If you
do choose to put shoes on your baby, be sure that they are cleaned, polished
and that the bottoms of the shoes look good, too.
Do you use any props?
Aside
from the first birthday cake series described below, we often use an assortment
of traditional wooden childrens chairs for a more formal look to your
baby's portrait.
I heard we can photograph the baby with a birthday cake. How does this
work?
We
love the first birthday cake series of portraits! The birthday cake series
of portraits is planned for the very end of the 12 month portrait session
since it gets really messy! If you are prepared to go home with a very
sticky, sweet-smelling baby, this is a great prop to use! Just let us
know in advance of your session and we'll be sure to have a cake on hand
for you.
Bobbie
Bush Photography is a professional photographer specializing in children's
portraits, babies & bellies, maternity, pregnancy, toddler, infant,
newborn, baby, child and family photography. Bobbie Bush is located north
of Boston, MA on the north shore of Massachusetts in historic Salem, MA.