Northwest Arkansas One-Year Milestone Photographer
Sweet Jaslin officially hit the big milestone—one whole year around the sun! Her birthday is July 12, and to celebrate, we planned a beautiful one-year milestone session full of soft pinks, delicate florals, and whimsical charm. Mom chose “My Fairy First Birthday” as the theme, and it couldn’t have been more perfect for this dainty girl with big brown eyes and the most expressive little face.
From the moment Jaslin arrived at the studio that morning, we had high hopes. We scheduled her session for 9 AM—because typically that’s when little ones are the happiest and most curious. But Jaslin had other plans. She was not feeling it. At all.
As soon as she walked in, she clung to her mama with the fiercest little grip and gave me the universal baby look that said, “I don’t know you, and I’m not sure I want to.” And that was the theme of our morning together, bless her heart!
We pulled out all the stops—bubbles, peekaboo, clapping, every silly song in the book (yes, even Baby Shark), and all the games in my photographer toolkit. If you can think of it, we’ve tried it. And while she was not about to let me into her inner circle, we did get a few precious seconds of smiles during her solo portraits on the simple pink backdrop. Honestly, those 20 seconds were golden—and the images from that part of the session are proof that sometimes a fleeting moment is all you need.
The set design for Jaslin’s themed portraits was dreamy. Her mom wanted something ethereal but still playful, so we curated a soft pastel palette using Tuftex balloons in “Blossom,” “Meadow,” and “Romey.” To add depth and dimension, I used my newborn backdrops to create modern arches behind the balloon garland. The mix of muted tones, romantic florals, and textured layering came together to give us a setup that felt like stepping into a fairytale.
But our fairy wasn’t impressed.
Next up was the cake smash—something Jaslin’s mom hoped would be the moment she lit up. Spoiler alert: Jaslin didn’t even give the cake a second glance. No pokes, no licks, no frosting-covered fingers. Just a big nope.
And the bath? That sweet splash session that so many babies adore? Jaslin was not about that life either. Mom had high hopes that the warm water and bubbles would turn things around, but our girl made it clear: the tub was not the vibe that day.
Even though she wasn’t her usual bubbly self and wanted nothing to do with the props, setup, or me (haha), we still managed to capture some incredibly sweet and tender moments. And honestly? This session is the perfect reminder that not every milestone session goes as planned—and that’s okay. That’s real life with a one-year-old. Sometimes they’re all giggles and cake-smashing chaos. Other times, they’re more interested in being held tight by mom and observing everything from a distance.
What matters is capturing who they are right now—even if that means documenting their sass, their curiosity, their clinginess, or their “stranger danger” phase. Because those moments are part of the story too, and they deserve to be remembered just as much as the big smiles and frosting-covered grins.
Jaslin may have made me work extra hard that morning (and made it very clear she wasn’t impressed by my dance moves), but her portraits are beautiful, timeless, and truly her. And that’s what I’ll always aim to capture: real, honest moments that reflect your child’s personality—even when it’s not what we imagined.
Happy First Birthday, Jaslin! You may not have smashed your cake or splashed in the tub, but you certainly left your mark. You are loved beyond words, and I’m so honored I got to help your family celebrate your first trip around the sun.
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