Charlotte Baby's First Year Photographer 

from sweet tummy-time smiles to first birthdays, your baby’s first year deserves to be remembered — beautifully and intentionally.

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As a Charlotte baby's first year photographer, I love capturing the magic of every stage—like this sweet baby reaching his seven-month milestone. Dressed in dusty blue to match his striking eyes, he was all smiles and curiosity, mastering his sitting skills and reaching out with excitement as he explored his growing world.

Milestone photography is all about preserving these in-between moments—no longer a newborn, but not yet a toddler. From joyful giggles to early attempts at crawling, every tiny movement is filled with wonder, making this stage one to cherish forever.

Williams - Milestone Session - 7 month Sitter

Williams
Milestone Session
7 month sitter 

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This little one’s first birthday was celebrated with a sweet and simple cake smash session, capturing the joy of this special milestone. For this Charlotte baby's first year photography session, we began with classic portraits, highlighting his bright eyes, tiny fingers, and playful spirit against a blue backdrop. The minimal setup kept the focus on him, preserving this fleeting stage in its purest form.

Then came the grand finale—his smash cake! Dressed in his adorable romper, he eagerly dug in, giggling as he made the sweetest mess. His parents also added the Big Balloon for an extra fun touch, making for even more playful moments. Every detail of this session came together beautifully, creating timeless images to celebrate his very first birthday.

Richardson - Simple Smash MIlestone Session

Richardson 
Simple Smash
session

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For this sweet girl’s first birthday, her family chose the Supreme Smash for a truly memorable Charlotte cake smash session. We started with family portraits in the Waxhaw studio, capturing love and excitement as they celebrated this special milestone together. The spotlight then shifted to their little girl, dressed in a darling green outfit, as we documented her bright-eyed expressions and playful personality.

The second setup was a magical Sesame Street-inspired wonderland, featuring pops of color and details celebrating her love for Elmo and Abby. Her excitement shone through as she explored the space, followed by the grand finale—a fun and messy cake smash! Dressed in overalls, she dove into the cake with laughter and joy, creating timeless birthday photography moments to remember.

McPhearson - Supreme smash First Birthday Session

McPhearson
Supreme Smash
session

Hear From Our Happy Families

Tobi was absolutely fantastic!! We....couldn’t have asked for a better photographer. Tobi took the time to make a backdrop that fit the theme of our daughter’s first birthday (girls just wanna be one). She HANDMADE a giant pink bow that fit perfectly for the theme we were going for .... the backdrop was perfect. During the photo shoot she was professional while also keeping the attention of our little one (which is hard to do because she just wants to be on the go)... I highly recommend Tobi for capturing those picture perfect milestones.

Lauren Bedford

Tobi works wonders with my kid’s photos . She has worked with them for years and we love how she makes them feel comfortable and loved so they really shine during their photo sessions! Great work!

Colby Hollis

Tobi is a pro! She kept our baby entertained, changed sets/ props up smoothly, and captured beautiful moments. I will cherish these photos forever. Highly recommend!

Heather Ireland

Baby's First Year Charlotte Photography 

Baby's First Year Charlotte Photography 

Your baby’s first year is full of tiny changes that happen almost overnight — from first smiles and sitting up, to clapping, standing tall, and celebrating a first birthday. These moments are fleeting, and preserving them deserves an experience that feels thoughtful and stress-free.

Your Baby’s First Year session is designed to be calm, guided, and intentional. As a Charlotte milestone photographer, I specialize in studio-based baby sessions where every detail is planned for you — from styling and setup to pacing and flow. Each session is thoughtfully styled so your images feel cohesive and timeless, telling the story of your baby’s first year without overwhelm.

You don’t need to figure out the details or worry about how it will all come together — I guide you through every step, so you can relax and enjoy this special season.
Your milestone session will feel calm, intentional, and effortless — with timeless images that allow you to pause time and remember this season just as it was.

Experience!

Experience!

scroll down, and let’s begin preserving your baby's first year!

Your

Your

Fill out the quick inquiry form and share a bit about your little one and the milestone you’d like to capture.

You’ll receive an automatic email within 2 hours with package details, current availability, and the option to reserve your session.  This gives you the time to review your options and feel confident selecting the session that’s perfect for your family.

Be sure to check your inbox (and spam, just in case!). 


1.  Say Hello & receive all the details via email!

Once you’ve submitted your inquiry, you can reserve your session date directly from your inquiry response email.

Milestone sessions take place in my Waxhaw studio on weekday mornings, working around your little one’s naps.

Booking early ensures you get the timing that works best for your baby. Once your session is officially reserved, the countdown to unforgettable memories begins!

2. Choose Your Package & Lock in Your Date

After booking, you’ll receive a detailed planning questionnaire tailored specifically to your chosen package.

You’ll also get access to my client closet to select an outfit in your little one’s size, so we can plan the set up(s) that best represent this amazing age and stage.

A Milestone Planning Guide is included in your welcome email to help with timelines, outfit tips, and all the details needed for a smooth, stress-free session.

3. Let’s Start planning your session!

Once you arrive, it’s all about your baby!

I use the details from your planning questionnaire to set up the session perfectly, so everything is ready and tailored for your little one.

Arrive relaxed and ready to enjoy the experience — I guide you every step of the way, from posing to capturing candid smiles, while creating timeless, joyful portraits that reflect your baby’s unique personality.

4. Session Day - Let’s Make Some Magic!

Within 3–5 business days, you’ll receive a proof gallery to review and select the final images you want edited.

Your carefully curated final gallery will be delivered 7–10 business days later, ready to treasure, share, and display.

Each image captures growth, personality, and those fleeting first-year moments that pass far too quickly

5. Proofing & Final Images


From Inquiry to Treasured Moments

The Baby's First Year Portrait Process

Next review >

“Tobi was amazing while photographing my 8 month old son during his “sitter” session. She made him feel comfortable and safe, while also using her creativity and skills to make him smile for the camera. It’s clear she has a deep understanding of how to photograph children and families. I’m so glad we found her and I look forward to working with her again in the future!”

K. Williams

“My daughter had her one year old milestone photos with Tobi. Tobi helped us inside and immediately began explaining her tips and tricks to a successful session. She was very clear with what works to keep my baby feeling comfortable and giving directions for me which I found extremely helpful. Tobi was very fun and entertaining for my baby which kept my almost one year olds attention and spirits up and smiling for her pictures! My baby wasn’t a fan of the cake smash but Tobi didn’t sweat it and was patient as she captured those moments as well. I completely recommend using Tobi to capture your family’s big moments!


K. Palmer

cherished moments: parent reflections on milestone sessions

Celebrate the sweetest moments!

Baby’s First Year Collections

Thoughtfully designed sessions to celebrate every milestone of your baby’s first year.

Session includes:
  • Baby-only session
  • 1 client closet outfit included (or use your own)
  • Access to my client closet for milestone outfits
  • 10 final gallery images
  • Focused on clean, classic portraits of milestones like tummy time, sitting, standing, or first smiles

Perfect for parents who want a single, beautifully guided session to capture sweet stages and the personality of their baby throughout the first year.

Simple Smash Session

Supreme Smash Session

Classic Milestone Session

A timeless way to document your baby’s first year

The full first-year experience, beautifully styled and memorable

Celebrate the birthday — joyful, simple, and timeless

Session includes:
  • Baby-only session
  • 2 outfits: milestone portraits include access to my client closet
  • cake smash outfit provided by parents
  • 25 final gallery images
  • Includes 2 full set ups.
  • A classic milestone set for polished milestone photos
  • A second customized cake smash + optional splash moment
  • A fully guided, multi-step session capturing multiple moments and milestones in your baby’s first year

Best for families who want an elevated multiple set up, signature experience with those “wow” moments built in.
Session includes:
  • Baby-only session
  • 1 outfit (parents may bring from home)
  • 15 final gallery images
  • One simple cake smash setup (cake provided by parents or optional add-on)
  • Minimal styling for a joyful, stress-free first birthday

Perfect for families looking for a playful first birthday celebration that stays focused on their baby in a simple aesthetic.

 Baby's First Year Session Package Enhancements

Customize your Baby's First Year session with these enhancements—
add them during booking for an elevated experience!

Family Mini Session


mommy & me mini

Add a Family Mini Session → 
  • Available for milestone sessions or supreme smash sessions only
  • Includes additional time and images

The BIg balloon

Add on a big balloon to your child's First Year or Simple Smash Session. 
The balloon is white and coordinates best with a colored background.  
Add a Mommy & Me Mini Session → 
  • Available for milestone sessions or supreme smash sessions only
  • Includes additional time and images

collections begin at $300

payment  plans are available  upon request 

If you’re looking for a photographer who will guide you through every step, keep things calm and baby-led, and celebrate every little win along the way—I’m your girl. From sweet tummy time smiles, to clapping and sitting up for the first time, all the way to celebrating that final first birthday milestone, I create sessions that feel relaxed, joyful, and completely focused on your baby.

When it comes to booking, I keep things simple and intentional. We’ll look at which milestones you’re hoping to capture, how many images you’d love in your final gallery, and whether a classic milestone session or a cake smash best fits this season of your baby’s first year. I offer three thoughtfully designed collections so families can choose what fits their vision—without stress or overwhelm.

Payment plans are always available, because these moments matter. Your baby’s first year goes by in a blink, and these images become the memories you’ll look back on for decades.

Have questions or ready to start planning your baby’s milestone session? Just fill out the inquiry form below—I’d love to celebrate this sweet season with you 🤍

Pricing

questions and answers

Most FREQUENTLY asked 

What are the best ages/stages for taking Milestone photos?

The simple answer is:
3-4 months - aka the best age and stage for tummy time and big smiles
7-8 months - the “sitter age” and age of sitting up, laughing, and clapping
The Big ONE Year - the final milestone of that first year.  

How far in advance should I book my session?

All sessions should be booked one-two months in advance to account for time to select your final gallery images and editing.  For the more specialized cake smash sessions I remind parents that a minimum of 30+ days is required so we can plan the perfect sets. For other milestone sessions I would try to book at a minimum 3 weeks for best results.

Do you bundle your Milestone packages?

For families that want to book multiple milestone packages and document more of those amazing moments while their little one grows, I am happy to bundle a package together at a discounted rate to ensure you have memories of all the ages and stages!  
I frequently recommend bundling the 7 month sitter session with a one year old session after your newborn session!

What is provided during the milestone session?

Each session is set up a little differently. Depending on the session you book, I customize the set to include props such as chairs, benches, baskets, etc and all the fun little letters and numbers you see in my portfolio. I love being able to take one more item off mamas plate so I also provide access to my client closet for littles sized 3-24 months.

How long do the sessions last?

Kids — especially little ones — have short attention spans, which actually keeps sessions fun and full of smiles! Most sessions are completed within 30–45 minutes, but timing can vary depending on your baby’s personality. Extroverted babies often jump right in, creating tons of joyful moments from start to finish. Shy babies or those who need a little extra time to warm up may take a few additional minutes, and we happily accommodate as much as possible so every moment is captured.

(sessions may run a bit longer if including a few optional family or mommy and me photos.)

Can family take part in the session?

Each milestone session is designed to focus on your child, capturing their personality, growth, and milestones.  If family images are important, you can add a Mommy-and-Me or Family Mini Session to select milestone packages for an additional charge.

For babies who take a little longer to warm up, a Mommy-and-Me session can be a gentle transition into their solo portraits. For babies under 7–8 months, I generally recommend keeping the session baby-only, as younger little ones tend to tire more quickly — though the add-on option is still available if you’d like.

This approach keeps the session child-focused while giving you the flexibility to include loved ones and capture those special family moments.

What should we bring to the session?

Every milestone session is unique, and I provide a detailed guide for each client to help you plan and prepare so your child’s session goes smoothly and everyone enjoys the experience.

Your guide will cover everything you need to know to get ready for your specific milestone session — from outfits and props to timing and session flow. Each guide is tailored to your child’s age, personality, and the milestone we’re capturing, ensuring a calm, organized, and fun experience for everyone.

whre is your studio located?

I have a studio in Waxhaw, NC and serve the greater Charlotte, NC area, including  Indian Land, Fort Mill, Matthews, Stallings, Monroe, and Weddington. My studio is designed to capture a variety of  images for your baby's first year!

Book Your Baby’s First-Year Session

Celebrate every tiny milestone and memory with a session designed just for your little one. Fill out the inquiry form below to get started — I’ll guide you every step of the way to create timeless, joyful portraits you’ll treasure forever.

Freeze These Precious Moments