Planning Your Baby’s Studio Session (12 Months)
Timeless milestone baby photography in Crawley Down
Looking for fun way to celebrate your baby’s first birthday? Then a 12 month photo shoot definitely fits the bill. These milestone sessions capture the sweetest stage — from classic baby portraits through sticky cake smashes and fun filled tub splashes, my Crawley Down studio is the ideal place to celebrate and commemorate this very special occasion – ideal for families across West Sussex and the surrounding areas.
What to Expect at This Age
By 12 months, your little one will definitely be showing off their personality and a whole raft of new skills from walking, pointing out things that interest them, to even some of those very first words. A photo shoot with a 12 month old is always a fast paced adventure as we work to make sure they have fun and we capture them doing it!
For Families Too
These sessions aren’t just for babies — I always include a mix of images with parents and siblings if you’d like. Family portraits at this age tend to feel natural and connected, especially as babies start to engage and show their personalities.
Welcome! If you’ve landed here from Pinterest, you’re in exactly the right place to start planning your baby’s milestone session.
You’ve made it to your baby’s first birthday and that’s a milestone worth celebrating! So whether you want family portraits, portraits of your one year old on their own or with siblings, a cake smash, a tub splash or all of these, I’m here for it.
Session Style Options
There are a few ways we can structure your session, depending on your (and your baby’s) preference!
Simple & Classic – Clean backdrops, soft colours, clean baby, sibling and family photos.
Character & Dress-Up – Outfits from the studio wardrobe, like rompers, tutus, or even animal costumes.
Cake Smash – let them have fun with their very own birthday cake
Tub Splash – clean up and get great splashing photos with bubbles and giggles aplenty.
- Mix and Match – do all of these things or just choose what you fancy!
What to Bring
Nappies and all the usual baby stuff, snacks, and a favourite toy for comfort.
Water for your baby – to wash down the cake
- Towel if you’re tub splashing (but no drama if you forget, I always have clean ones on hand)
Any personal outfits you’d like included (you’re welcome to use studio pieces too). I recommend up to three.
A plain vest or bodysuit is perfect for some of the simpler setups.
Planning Your Session on Pinterest (Optional)
If you’re a Pinterest fan—or just want to browse beautifully curated ideas—you’re welcome to explore the “Plan Your First Birthday Session” board I’ve created.
Here’s how it can help you:
- Browse styling ideas – See ready-made backdrops, outfits, props, and seasonal themes that work beautifully at this age
- Save your favourites – Pin the looks you love so you can refer back—even after booking. You don’t need to only pin from the board, you can add your favourite posts from insta, facebook, the website or any stuff that inspires you.
- Share with me – Either invite me to collaborate on your board, or send a link later so I can see your vision – totally up to you!
- No pressure – I shape your session from your session options form. You don’t have to use Pinterest—but it’s there if it helps and if you love a good Pin session!
Bottom line:
Pinterest is a friendly tool to spark inspiration and share your vision, but there’s absolutely no requirement to use it. I’ve got everything covered through our client hub and pre-session prep—think of the board as your creative playground!
Recent Blog Posts
Pinterest Ideas, Black and White, and a Pose That Looks Better Than It Feels
A four month Baby Club session with a mum who came armed with a Pinterest board, a love of black and white, and a very game partner willing to bend themselves into position.
Into the Woods – A Baby Club Session on the Woodland Set
A Baby Club session at eight months old - sitting steady in the woodland set, completely unbothered by the giant mushrooms or the hedgehog next to him.
Albie Came to the Newborn Session. Albie Came to the First Birthday.
Albie the cocker spaniel came to the newborn session and the first birthday session and looked equally majestic about proceedings on both occasions.
Getting Things Moving — Why the Warm-Up Is Part of the Session
A first birthday session where the warm-up produced some of the best shots - a good reminder that photos don't need to be formal and static to be worth having.