Charlotte Baby's First Year Photographer
from sweet tummy-time smiles to first birthdays celebrations
your baby’s first year deserves to be remembered — beautifully and intentionally.
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Rand - Simple Smash
Richardson - Simple Smash
Featured Baby’s First Year Galleries
A look at real sessions, real babies, and Baby's First Year Moments families treasure most.
Williams - sitter Milestone
McPherson - Supreme Smash
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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
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This session was extra special, celebrating a little boy I first photographed as a newborn, now back in the studio to mark his very first birthday. His mom envisioned a clean, classic birthday session that felt timeless and simple, letting his sweet expressions take center stage. With a soft, neutral setup, a simple iced cake, and a birthday crown that perfectly completed the look, we captured all the curious smiles, tiny hands, and proud “one-year-old” moments. A joyful, heartfelt way to document the very first birthday in a style that will never feel dated.
Rand - Simple smash First Birthday Session
McPhearson
Supreme Smash
session
Baby's First Year Charlotte Photography
Baby's First Year Charlotte Photography
Experience!
Experience!
scroll down, and let’s begin preserving your baby's first year!
Your
Your
One day they're curled up sleeping in your arms, and the next they're sitting, clapping, then standing tall, and celebrating their first birthday. These milestones happen almost overnight, and they deserve to be remembered.
Your Baby’s First Year experience is designed to make preserving these moments simple and stress-free. As a Charlotte milestone photographer, I create calm, thoughtfully planned studio sessions where every detail is taken care of for you. From styling to setup, each session is intentionally designed to create timeless images that tell the story of your baby's first year.
Because before you know it, that tiny baby you brought home will be turning one — and you'll have beautiful images that allow you to revisit this season long after it has passed.
From the moment they placed that tiny baby in your arms, you never imagined just how quickly time would fly. And yes, the days may feel long at times, but...
that first year passes in the blink of an eye.
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
“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.
A baby-only milestone session focused on capturing the sweet expressions, growing personality, and developmental milestones that make this stage unique
10 final gallery images
A simple, timeless way to preserve a specific stage of your baby's first year with clean, classic portraits that keep the focus right where it belongs—on your baby.
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
2 fully styled setups for baby to include:
- A classic milestone setup for timeless portraits
- A customized cake smash setup with optional splash tub finale
25 final gallery images
A personalized first birthday experience that pairs timeless milestone portraits with a custom-designed cake smash celebration, creating a gallery filled with personality, joy, and memories you'll treasure forever.
A simple, timeless baby-only cake smash experience on a seamless backdrop where we begin with classic milestone portraits before celebrating all the fun of your baby's first cake smash
15 final gallery images
A joyful way to celebrate your baby's first birthday featuring a clean, classic setup and a focus on genuine expressions, messy fingers, sweet reactions, and the excitement of turning one.
collections begin at $300
payment plans are available upon request
Your baby's first year is filled with milestones that seem to happen overnight, and my goal is to make preserving them simple and stress-free. From first smiles and tummy time to sitting, standing, and celebrating a first birthday, every session is designed to feel relaxed, joyful, and completely centered on your baby.
Whether you already have a vision in mind or aren't quite sure which session is the best fit, I'm happy to guide you through the options. With thoughtfully designed collections and payment plans available, documenting your baby's first year can be both meaningful and effortless.
Have questions or ready to start planning? Simply fill out the inquiry form below—I can't wait to help you celebrate this sweet season.
Pricing
Let's Chat About 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
questions and answers
where is your studio located?
How long do the sessions last?
What should we bring to the session?
Can family take part in the session?
What are the best ages/stages for taking Milestone photos?
Do you bundle your Milestone packages?
How far in advance should I book my session?
What is provided during the milestone session?
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?
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.
