These first birthday milestone photos with this precious family were truly something special. The thing is, first birthday milestone photos don’t have to include a cake smash or fancy props. And that’s what I loved most about this session- it felt uniquely them. 

We started our session at their beautiful home which also happened to be a short walk to one of my favorite Charleston parks! The park was also such a special place for their family, so it felt like the perfect opportunity to create a truly custom, meaningful session for this sweet stage of their lives.

Customizing your family session

Mom requested to include few nursing images in their gallery and I could tell this was a big part of her motherhood story so I was happy to oblige. And what could be a better location to document this bond than the rocking chair where they’ve spent countless hours together over this sweet boy’s first year of life?

We played a bit in his nursery where he was ALL smiles before heading to the park!

This family was very relaxed and just enjoyed spending time together in a place that meant so much to them. We made sure to include their senior dog in some of the images, but for most of the session, he was pretty content relaxing.

Baby boy had the most stunning blue eyes and the best smile. He loved checking out the wooden plane I brought to the session. Though he wasn’t walking quite yet, he was happiest in Mama’s arms, so that meant lots of snuggly photos.

Wardrobe Styling

Even though this session took place in early Fall, the temps were still pretty warm. Typical Charleston, right?! Mom still wanted to incorporate some darker Fall color tones and to this day, I am still obsessed with the outcome!

Mama found her dresses at a local boutique and sent me photos to get advice on whether they would work well for the session. We also talked about how to best coordinate Dad and baby’s outfits.

I’m always happy to help with styling because I want clients to get the most out of their sessions. For this session we just added the khaki romper from the Client Wardrobe and both outfit combinations worked out perfectly.

Choosing Film

I’ve mentioned it before, but incorporating film into my session workflow and business has been one of my favorite decisions. It handles the sun so beautifully and shows the true colors in an image. It’s gorgeous with skin tones. Mostly though? It’s just SO dreamy. I ended up doing the bulk of our outdoor images on film during this session because I knew it would handle the bright sun so well. Plus, Spanish moss AND baby toes on film? It doesn’t get any better!

Film stock: Fuji 400h

Lab: Photovision Prints

Caitlyn Motycka is an award-winning Charleston Family, Maternity, and Newborn Photographer based out of Charleston, SC. Service areas include Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, James Island, Folly Beach, and surrounding areas.

If you’re interested in starting a photography journey together with your growing family, contact me here! Let’s take some pretty pictures together!