The 6-Month Session Sweet Spot

The 6-Month Session Sweet Spot

If you’re planning baby photos and trying to decide what’s “most important,”

I’m going to be super direct: don’t skip the 6-month session. I have had so many clients regret skipping this session in particular!

Newborn photos are amazing, and first birthday photos are an important milestone.
But around 6 months is the sweet spot where everything just works.

This is when your baby is still very much a baby, but they’re starting to show you who they are. And the photos? They are the kind you’ll keep coming back to.

Why 6 Months Is My Favorite Age to Photograph

1) The expressions are everything
At this age, babies are more interactive. They smile on purpose. They lock eyes with you. They react to my voice, my goofy noises, or mom or dad standing behind me. This is when personality really starts showing up in a way that photographs beautifully.

2) They’ve got that “baby look” still
The rolls, the cheeks, the tiny fingers, the squishy legs. This is peak baby photo age. A few months later, it starts shifting into toddler territory and it happens fast, and you will wonder where you baby went!

3) The session feels easier
Newborn sessions can be unpredictable, and that’s normal. Around 6 months, babies are usually more alert, they give me more, and we can move through the session with a smoother flow. That means more variety and more images you’ll love. This is also a great age to really capture them with their siblings, including the 4 legged variety.

Super Important Timing Tip: Wait Until They’re Sitting Up Well

Here’s the part that matters if you want the best results:

I love photographing babies around 6 months, but what I really want is for them to be sitting up confidently.

Not just wobbling for one second. Not propped up and immediately falling forward.
Sitting up well gives us:

• more variety

• better expressions (because your baby is comfortable)

• cleaner, classic portraits

• and a session that feels fun

And yes, some babies sit at 5 months and some sit closer to 7 or 8 months. Totally normal. That’s why I’d rather plan this around milestones than a specific birthday on the calendar. Speaking of planning, the time of day for this shoot is important, you know your baby best, make sure we book this during a time they are typically happy, not right before or directly after a nap, you know that sweet spot when they are the happiest of the whole day!

What If My Baby Isn’t Sitting Yet?

Then we wait a bit. Seriously.

If your baby is close, sometimes giving it even 2 to 4 weeks makes a huge difference. I’d rather you have a session with a confident sitter than rush it and end up with limited options or a frustrated baby.

And if you’re not sure? Tell me what they’re doing right now (rolling, pushing up, sitting with support), and we’ll make a plan that actually makes sense for your baby.

Why This Session Gets Missed (And Why You’ll Be Glad You Didn’t)

A lot of families do newborn photos, then jump to the first birthday. I get it. Life is busy.

But the 6-month stage is such a big change and it’s so easy to miss because it’s not tied to a big “event.” And honestly, it’s one of the most photogenic stages of the entire first year.

First birthday sessions are so cute and I always love doing them, but babies are on the move at this point, and they start to look a little less like a baby and more into the toddlers that they are becoming!

Six-month sessions are different: simple, classic, expressive, and focused on their face and personality.

Want the Quick Rule?

If you take nothing else from this post, take this:

Book the 6-month session when your baby is sitting up well.
That’s the magic combo.

If you want help timing it, reach out and I’ll guide you based on milestones so we can make this work and get you the kind of portraits you’ll actually print.

Ready to book your 6-month sitter session?
Great, just contact me via my email at carol@deandaphotography.com or at the inquiry form at the bottom of the page here.
Sessions take place at my studio in Algonquin, and I photograph families across Chicagoland and the northwest suburbs in their homes. You can see my session pricing by clicking here.