Everything You Need to Know About Baby Milestone Sessions in Virginia Beach, Virginia

One of my favorite parts about photographing little ones is getting to document your baby as he/she grows!

That’s why I’m obsessed with our First Year Membership! You already know, your baby changes SO fast, which is why pre-scheduling these sessions makes sure you’ll have these moments and details of your baby’s fastest year don’t slip by, with lots of fun bonuses!

How Baby Milestone Sessions Work at Jessica Jeremiah Photography

Baby milestone sessions are photoshoots that capture the key stages of your baby’s first year, from bump to birthday!

These stages include:

• Maternity: You’ll never regret documenting your belly! It’s such a special, fleeting time even if you don’t feel your best.
• Newborn: The first sleepy, squishy, curled up days go by the fastest!
• 3 Months: Baby isn’t mobile, but I love documeting their first smiles, the cheeks filling out, and snuggles with Mom and Dad!
• 6 months: The sitting session, when your baby can sit up on their own but generally aren’t super mobile, and the TOE GRABS are the best!
• 12 months: The first birthday session, celebrating your baby turning one. This can be in studio or outside, with our without a cake smash!

With the JJP First Year Membership, you can choose to document any combination of these milestones!

When to Book Baby Milestone Sessions?

Many parents book these sessions during their newborn ordering appointment. Planning ahead ensures you have a spot on the calendar and reduces stress during those busy months.

Plus, having everything lined up allows you to focus more on enjoying the moments rather than worrying about logistics.

What to Expect from Each Session

Maternity Session

Maternity sessions can include just Mom, Mom and Dad, or the whole family! In studio, outside or in home are all amazing options. In studio, you can select multiple outfits, and even add on a milk bath!

Newborn Session

Again, newborn sessions can include just the baby, or baby and parents and siblings! The studio is a really sweet, relaxed space for newborn sessions without having to worry about the light or cleaning up your own space, but of course I’m happy to come to you. Outside newborn sessions can also be really special during warmer months!

3-Month Session

At three months, we may be able to document some sweet smiles, and the focus will be on preserving the little details that change so fast!

6-Month Sitting Session

At six months, your baby is likely sitting up on their own and may even be starting to crawl or roll over. 

This session focuses on capturing their adorable personality and curiosity as they explore their world. Babies at this age are full of smiles and giggles, making it a delightful time to take photos. The toe grabs are my absolute favorite!

Props and Outfits: Think cute chairs, their favorite toy, and adorable outfits. (don’t worry, I provide props, chairs and outfits!)

Personal Props: Bring along their favorite toy or book. These personal items can add a unique touch to the photos and make your baby feel more comfortable.

Location Options: You can choose from my studio, your home, or an outdoor setting. My studio or another local studio offers a controlled environment with lots of props, while home sessions can capture your baby in their familiar space. Outdoor sessions can provide beautiful natural light and scenic backgrounds.

12-Month First Birthday Session

The big one-year milestone is here! Your baby is likely standing, taking their first steps, and babbling. This session celebrates your baby’s first birthday and all the joy it brings. It’s a wonderful opportunity to capture their growing independence and playful nature. These sessions can be all about baby, or it’s a great time for family photos too!

Themes and Props: Cake smashes, balloons, and special birthday outfits are popular choices. Cake smashes are especially fun and make for some adorable and messy photos, or I have a classic wooden cake if you want to avoid the mess! Balloons and themed decorations can add to the festive atmosphere.

Personal Props: Consider bringing a special birthday gift or a keepsake. Items like a favorite book, a cherished stuffed animal, or a handmade blanket can add a personal touch to the session.

Location Options: A studio provides a controlled environment where you can manage lighting and props more easily. Outdoor sessions offer natural light and open spaces for your baby to explore. Both settings can result in beautiful photos that capture the excitement of this milestone.

On on recent cake smash, older sister joined the fun and showed her baby brother how it was done!

It’s my job to make this easy for you!!

Don’t worry about bringing tons of props or outfits. I provide these to make things easier for you, and we will brainstorm about what will make your session feel unique and special! I love incorporating fun little touches, like florals, fun sunglasses, pinwheels, etc.

Tips for Parents

Preparing for a milestone session doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some tips to make it smooth and enjoyable:

• Naps and Feeding: Of course, make sure your baby is well-rested and fed before the session to keep them happy and comfortable. If that means we need to schedule your session at 8am – let’s do it!!

• Favorite Toys or Blankets: Bringing familiar items can help your baby feel more at ease.

• Puffs/Snacks Welcome!: Oftentimes your baby’s favorite snack or bottle can get them happily to the end of their session

Don’t worry – if you’re a client you don’t have to remember all these details! I’ll send you a prep guide before each session!

If you’re excited to capture your baby’s milestones in Virginia Beach, Virginia, click here to contact me!

I’m here to answer any questions and help you plan the perfect milestone sessions for your family!

There’s something so magical about photographing dear friends as they await the arrival of their baby. This stunning garden maternity session was extra special—not just because of the sweet little boy on the way, but because it was captured during a winter getaway to Miami!

While our home in Chesapeake, VA was buried under a foot of snow, we were soaking in the sunshine, surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant blooms. The unique architecture and dreamy gardens provided the most beautiful backdrop, and it was so fun to feel inspired again!

As much as I loved photographing this Miami session, there’s no place like home. If you’re expecting and dreaming of a light-filled, timeless maternity session, let’s plan something just as magical right here in Hampton Roads!

Ready to document this beautiful season of life? Fill out my contact form to book your maternity session!

This gorgeous blue linen Femme & Fawn dress is part of the JJP Client Closet and available for client use!

Kelly + Hazel

It was such a treat to have this stunning mama in the studio a few weeks ago! Kelly is my neighbor, and also the amazing hair + makeup artist who is responsible for making so many of my clients extra gorgeous for their photos! We snuck in her Chesapeake maternity session just in time, since baby boy made his entrance early!

I was so excited to have the perfect model for several of my new Client Closet additions! This gorgeous blue floral is a favorite, and its so flattering with a belly or not! After I posted this photo on IG so many people wanted to buy it for themselves! It’s that good, and I have 2 other similar options in other sizes! This one is from Red Dress + I waited for months for it to come back in stock!

I’m also completely smitten with this blush beauty from Fillyboo! It was a total splurge + I’m obsessed! It’s so dreamy on Kelly’s beautiful belly! The lace details + buttons are totally swoon worthy.

I love that we were able to include sweet Hazel in her last days as the baby! She was so precious in her Zara dress, and wasn’t giving up that cupcake for anything! Those little details are my favorite. I know she will be the sweetest big sister!

 

Jessica Jeremiah Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, motherhood, and family sessions in Hampton Roads, VA. Jessica creates dreamy, joyful images outdoors + in her all white lifestyle studio located in Chesapeake. All dresses shown are included in my Client Closet + available for client use.

I am so passionate about serving my clients + making it so easy to preserve precious memories, every step of the way. If you’d like to know more about the JJP experience, schedule a custom portrait session, or reserve your date, please visit my website or email me directly at jessica.jeremiah@gmail.com. 

 

 

I was a little nervous about starting my business over when we moved back to Virginia, but our neighborhood has been such a blessing! I’ve love meeting each new family, and having so many of them become both friends + clients is so fun!

I was so excited to finally connect with Sarah + Josh – Not only do they live a few blocks down,  Josh’s parents live right next door! We randomly met at the park one day + haven’t looked back since!

Sarah has become my gardening friend, and it’s so fun to have someone to learn + celebrate with. No one else was as excited for that first tiny tomato sprout! She is the absolutely sweetest, and always popping over to drop off a new fertilizer, pea trellis, or bunny fence!

It was such a joy to photograph sweet Annalise’s newborn days. She was such a precious, sleepy baby, and made my job so easy! Isn’t it so crazy how much Annalise resembles mom, and big sister Abigail is her dad’s twin? One of my favorite things about this beautiful family is how excited + involved Josh was. So many times, dads are just taking photos to make their wives happy. But Josh? Sarah says he’s the memory keeper of the family. What a sweet, sweet thing to have a dad who cares so much about preserving these precious, fleeting moments. As a newborn photographer, it doesn’t get any better!

I have such a soft spot for sisters, and I can’t wait to watch these two grow up together. Abigail is just a few months younger than Everly. It’s so crazy for me to imagine her as a big sister, since there are 7 years between my girls. Sending all my patience + coffee to Sarah + Josh, and any other parents of two in diapers!

Client wardrobe provided by JJP. Session photographed in my studio.

Jessica Jeremiah Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, motherhood, and family sessions in Hampton Roads, VA. Jessica creates dreamy, joyful images outdoors + in her all white lifestyle studio located in Chesapeake. 

I am so passionate about serving my clients + making it so easy to preserve precious memories, every step of the way. If you’d like to know more about the JJP newborn experience, schedule a custom portrait session, or reserve your date, please visit my website or email me directly at jessica.jeremiah@gmail.com.

When my soul sister, Sharon, came to visit last month, It was the first time I’d seen her with a baby belly! We have been best friends for 24 years, since we met in a Hanson chatroom on AOL when we were 13. We’ve been through it all together. From frizzy hair middle school days, first boyfriends, boy band obsessions, bachelorette parties, traveling the world, and now motherhood!

The last few years have been full of change, uncertainty, and taking big leaps in faith.  I get emotional thinking about the beautiful place she is now.

Of course, I had to document her beautiful baby belly with some intimate maternity portraits!

I so love minimalist, natural maternity photos, with a simple color palate + beautiful textures. They’re so breathtaking + timeless, without a bunch of props or distractions. It’s the same philosophy I take while documenting newborns- tiny babies + bellies are so beautiful just as they are! My sweet white studio is the perfect place for an organic, intimate maternity portrait session!

I can’t wait to meet her sweet boy in just a few months!

Wardrobe provided by Jessica Jeremiah Photography + is available for client use. This session was held in my Chesapeake, VA studio + is the perfect option for lifestyle maternity portraits.

Jessica Jeremiah Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, motherhood, and family sessions in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Jessica creates dreamy, joyful images outdoors + in her all white lifestyle studio located in Chesapeake.

I am so passionate about serving my clients + making it so easy to preserve precious memories, every step of the way. If you’d like to know more about the JJP experience, schedule a custom maternity portrait session, or reserve your date, please visit my website or email me directly at jessica.jeremiah@gmail.com.

One of my most favorite parts of being a photographer is getting to document sweet families as they grow! I first worked with Kristina + her adorable family for their fall portraits when Alice was 6 months old.

Now, they’re in the studio for a Motherhood/Milestone session now that Baby Girl is 9 months! Alice has *the* brightest blue eyes + the most expressive little face. She was SUCH a joy!

I’m so passionate about getting mamas in front of the camera- think about it…especially in the iPhone age, our kids will be very well documented, but who is so often absent is the one who is taking the photo! There are a million reasons to hide behind the camera, but honestly, most of them just won’t matter in a few years, and you + your kids will cherish having images with you in them!

I just love how joyful Kristina is. It’s so obvious how much she just adores her little one! These are moments that go so quickly, and even though you think you’ll never forget, even these memories start to fade eventually.

Let’s Start Planning Your Motherhood Portraits!

So, Mamas- I’m making it easy for you! I’ve got a beautifully curated Client Closet that both photographs well + is flattering that you can shop. I also have an incredible hair + makeup artist who can help you feel like the most gorgeous version of yourself. So let’s do this! Don’t let all of those million reasons stop you from getting in the photo + snuggling your babes. My sweet little studio is the most perfect place for Milestone + Motherhood sessions, with dreamy light + neutral tones (and bonus, you can get the lifestyle look without having to clean up your house!). This motherhood journey is full of challenges + joys, and you don’t want to forget any of these precious moments!

 

 

Wardrobe, accessories + props provided by Jessica Jeremiah Photography + are available for client use. Session photographed in my Chesapeake, VA studio.

Jessica Jeremiah Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, motherhood, and family sessions in Hampton Roads, VA. Jessica creates dreamy, joyful images outdoors + in her all white lifestyle studio located in Chesapeake.

I am so passionate about serving my clients + making it so easy to preserve precious memories, every step of the way. If you’d like to know more about the JJP experience, schedule a custom portrait session, or reserve your date, please visit my website or email me directly at jessica.jeremiah@gmail.com.