6 month milestone photos are one of my favorite ways to document a baby’s first year. One of the biggest surprises for new parents is just how quickly babies change during those first twelve months. Those sleepy newborn days quickly turn into smiles, rolling, grabbing tiny toes, and big belly laughs.

As a Wisconsin baby photographer, one question I hear all the time is:

“When should we schedule milestone photos?”

6 Month Milestone Photos Is the Perfect Age

While every stage is worth remembering, six months is one of my favorite ages to photograph. Babies are happy, expressive, and full of personality, making it the perfect time to preserve this special season before they become constantly on the move.

Why Six Months Is the Perfect Age for Milestone Photos

Around six months, babies have changed so much since their newborn session.

At this age, many babies are:

• Smiling constantly
• Laughing and interacting
• Rolling over
• Beginning to sit with little or no support
• Discovering their toes
• Making adorable facial expressions
• Showing their unique personalities

Unlike one-year-olds, most six-month-olds aren’t trying to crawl out of every setup, making for a relaxed session with lots of natural smiles.

What Happens During a 6 Month Milestone Session?

My milestone sessions are designed to be simple, timeless, and completely focused on your baby.

Rather than elaborate props or trendy themes, I use soft neutral tones that keep the attention exactly where it belongs—on your little one.

During a typical session we’ll capture:

• Smiling portraits
• Tummy time
• Rolling milestones
• Tiny fingers and toes
• Natural expressions
• Simple outfit changes
• Parent interaction if you’d like to be included

Every session is relaxed and follows your baby’s mood.

Capturing Your Baby’s Personality

One of my favorite things about photographing six-month-olds is watching their personalities begin to shine.

Some babies spend the entire session giggling.

Others carefully study everything happening around them with wide curious eyes.

Every expression tells part of your baby’s story.

Whether they’re grabbing your finger, laughing at peek-a-boo, or proudly showing off those adorable baby rolls, these are the moments parents never want to forget.

Timeless Milestone Photography

Years from now, I don’t want your photographs to feel dated.

That’s why my studio focuses on clean white backgrounds, cozy textures, and neutral styling that allows your baby to remain the center of every image.

Simple portraits age beautifully and become heirlooms your family will treasure for decades.

When Should You Book a 6 Month Milestone Session?

I recommend reserving your milestone session when your baby is between five and six months old.

This allows us to schedule your session when they’re sitting confidently—or just beginning to—without waiting until they’re constantly crawling away.

If you booked your newborn session with Finch & Mae Photography, your complimentary milestone session makes this stage even easier to celebrate.

How Much Does a 6 Month Milestone Session Cost?

One of the most common questions parents ask is about pricing.

My Milestone Sessions are designed to beautifully document your baby’s biggest milestones without requiring the time commitment of a full portrait session.

Milestone Session | $199 + tax

✔ 30-minute studio session
✔ One simple, timeless setup
✔ Access to the studio baby wardrobe
✔ 10 professionally edited digital images
✔ Ideal for babies around 4–10 months of age

Parents are also welcome to hop into a few photographs for an additional $99, creating beautiful images together during this special stage.

If you’re planning to document your baby’s entire first year, be sure to ask about my newborn and milestone options, including the complimentary six-month milestone session available with qualifying newborn bookings.

Serving Families Throughout Wisconsin

Finch & Mae Photography welcomes families from Rio, Sun Prairie, Madison, Beaver Dam, Columbus, Pardeeville, Portage, and surrounding Wisconsin communities.

Whether this is your baby’s first professional portrait session or part of documenting the entire first year, I’d love to help preserve these memories.

If you’re ready to schedule your baby’s milestone session, I’d love to welcome you into the studio.

Send us a message

Learn more about milestone sessions

View a milestone gallery

Smash Cake Saturdays are designed for busy parents who want beautiful first birthday portraits without the stress of planning an elaborate cake smash. Your baby only turns one once, and these sessions make it easy to celebrate this milestone with timeless photographs.

That’s exactly why I created Smash Cake Saturdays at Finch & Mae Photography.

These simple, stress-free sessions are designed for busy parents who want beautiful portraits of their baby’s first birthday without the overwhelm of planning a full cake smash setup.

What Are Smash Cake Saturdays?

Smash Cake Saturdays are short and sweet one-year portrait sessions held on select Saturdays in my Rio, Wisconsin studio.

Everything is designed to be simple:

• A clean, timeless white studio setup
• You bring the cake – need a baker? I have one.
• You bring the outfit – I am more than happy to help find the perfect outfit.
• A relaxed experience focused entirely on your baby
• All edited images included

No balloon arches. No character themes. No Pinterest pressure.

Just classic portraits that will still look beautiful years from now.

Why Parents Love Cake Smash Sessions

The first birthday is one of the biggest milestones of babyhood.

In just twelve short months, your little one has gone from a tiny newborn to a curious, personality-filled toddler.

A cake smash session captures:

• Those chubby baby cheeks
• Tiny fingers covered in frosting
• Big expressions and belly laughs
• Emerging personalities
• The final chapter of baby’s first year

Your baby’s images often become some of a family’s favorite photographs because they preserve a season that passes so quickly.

A Timeless Approach to Cake Smash Photography

At Finch & Mae Photography, I believe the focus should always be on your baby—not the decorations.

My cake smash sessions feature:

• Neutral, timeless styling
• Soft colors
• Clean backgrounds
• Natural expressions
• Minimal distractions

The result is a gallery that feels elegant and classic rather than trendy.

Years from now, you’ll still love these portraits because they center on what matters most: your child.

What’s Included?

Each Smash Cake Saturday session includes:
✔ Cake Smash Portraits
✔ All Edited Images Included

Serving Families Throughout Southern Wisconsin

Families travel from:

• Rio
• Columbus
• Pardeeville
• Portage
• Baraboo
• Sun Prairie
• DeForest
• Madison
• Beaver Dam
• Wisconsin Dells

and surrounding Wisconsin communities for milestone and first birthday photography.

Ready to Celebrate Your Baby’s First Birthday?

Interested in cake smash with one year portraits and parent shots? Learn more here.

If your little one is turning one soon, now is the perfect time to reserve your session.

Smash Cake Saturdays are offered on limited dates throughout the year and are designed to make celebrating your baby’s first birthday easy, beautiful, and memorable.

Whether your baby dives face-first into the frosting or cautiously pokes at the cake, every reaction is worth remembering.

Because they are only little for one year.

If you’re looking for a Madison maternity and newborn photographer, a maternity and newborn bundle is one of the best ways to document your baby’s first year.
As a mama of three, I can tell you that pregnancy has a way of feeling both incredibly long and unbelievably short.

One moment you’re counting down the weeks until you meet your baby, and the next you’re holding them in your arms, changing diapers, getting up for late night feeds and wondering where the time went.

At Finch & Mae Studio, one of the most popular ways families document this season is through our Bump to Baby Bundle — combining both maternity and newborn portraits into one seamless experience.

Families who reserve both sessions receive:

✓ $100 Off
✓ A Complimentary 6-Month Milestone Session

Because your story doesn’t end when your baby arrives.

Madison Maternity Photographer Capturing the Beginning

Your maternity session celebrates the anticipation, excitement, and love that already exists before your baby is born.

Whether you choose a studio maternity session with clean, timeless styling or a relaxed outdoor session, these images become the first chapter of your baby’s story.

As a maternity photographer serving Madison, Sun Prairie, Baraboo, Beaver Dam, Columbus, and surrounding Wisconsin communities, I focus on creating portraits that feel elegant, natural, and connected.

As a Madison maternity and newborn photographer, I love helping families preserve every stage from pregnancy through baby’s first year.

What to Expect During Your Maternity Session

• Access to the studio wardrobe
• Guidance with posing from start to finish
• Family and partner portraits included
• A relaxed, stress-free experience
• Timeless editing that won’t feel trendy years from now

Newborn Photography Designed to Be Easy for Parents

Once your little one arrives, your newborn session captures all the tiny details that change far too quickly.

The sleepy stretches.

The curled-up toes.

The way they fit perfectly in your arms.

Our studio newborn sessions are intentionally simple and baby-led, allowing parents to relax while every detail is taken care of.

Why Parents Love Studio Newborn Sessions

• Wraps, props, and accessories are provided
• Family and sibling portraits
• A warm, comfortable studio environment
• Flexible scheduling around your due date
• A timeless style focused on your baby, not trends

Don’t Skip the Milestones

One of the biggest things parents tell me?

“I can’t believe how fast it went.”

That is exactly why this promotion includes a complimentary 6-month milestone session.

Six months is one of the sweetest ages to photograph. Babies are often sitting, smiling, laughing, and showing their personalities long before their first birthday.

The combination of maternity, newborn, and six-month portraits creates a beautiful collection that tells a complete story of your baby’s first year.

The Benefits of Booking a Maternity and Newborn Bundle

When you reserve both sessions together, you receive:

• $100 savings
• Priority scheduling
• Consistent editing and styling across sessions
• A complimentary 6-month milestone session
• A complete story from pregnancy through baby’s first year

Rather than piecing together memories later, you’ll have a cohesive collection that documents every stage.

Working with a Madison maternity and newborn photographer ensures your images feel cohesive from maternity through milestone portraits.

Serving Madison and Southern Wisconsin Families

Finch & Mae Studio proudly serves families throughout:

• Madison
• Sun Prairie
• Deforest
• McFarland
• Columbus
• Beaver Dam
• Baraboo
• Rio
• Pardeeville
• Surrounding Southern Wisconsin communities

If you’re expecting and would love timeless portraits that document your journey from bump to baby, now is the perfect time to reserve your due date.

Ready to Book Your Bump to Baby Bundle?

Learn more about my maternity photography sessions.

View milestone sessions for babies.

Reserve your maternity and newborn sessions today and receive $100 off plus a complimentary 6-month milestone session.

Because these moments deserve more than a phone photo.

If you are expecting a baby and searching for a Sn Prairie newborn photographer in the Madison, Sun Prairie or surrounding Wisconsin areas, now is the time to book your studio newborn photography session. Newborn sessions are best photographed within the first 7-21 days after birth, when babies are still sleepy, curly and comfortable being gently posed.

At Finch & Mae Photography Studio, newborn sessions take place in a calm, cozy studio just outside of Madison, designed specifically for newb parents. Every session includes expert newborn safety, full styling guidance and access to a curated client wardrobe for moms. This makes the experience easy and stress-free from start to finish.

What’s Included In A Studio Newborn Session Near Sun Prairie

-Newborn Only or Newborn + Family Portraits | Depends on your chosen collection

-Soft, neutral styling with timeless tones

-Studio props, wraps, headbands, bonnets, outfits and textures provided

-Client wardrobe available for moms, for cohesive and elevated portraits

-Weekday morning sessions for optimal newborn comfort

I specialize in emotional newborn photography that feels natural, organic, and heirloom-worthy images that you will love decades from now.

Limited Newborn Availability

Newborn availability is very limited each month (especially in the summer) to ensure flexibility for due dates. If your baby is due soon – or has already arrived – reach out as soon as possible to secure a spot on my calendar.

Bundle & Save On Baby’s First Year

Many Sun Prairie families choose to bundle sessions to document more than just the newborn stage:

-Discounts available when you bundle newborn sessions with maternity or milestone portraits

-10% off cake smash sessions when you book any newborn session

-Complimentary 6 month milestone session when you book an In-Home session, Fresh 48, Petite or Heirloom Newborn Session

-Ask about the Baby Plan, a signature collection designed to document your baby’s first year – from newborn to milestone to cake smash or every maternity through the first year cake smash – with built in savings and priority scheduling

These options are perfect for families who want a consistent, beautifully cohesive gallery across baby’s first year without re-planning every session.

Serving Sun Prairie, Madison, Rio, Pardeeville, and surrounding Wisconsin communities.

Newborn Photography FAQs | Sun Prairie & Madison, WI

When should I book my newborn photography session?

Newborn sessions are best booked during the second trimester or early third trimester. This allows flexibility around your due date. Sessions take place when babies are 7-21 days old, when they are the sleepiest, and most comfortable being posed.

Where do newborn sessions take place?

Unless you had booked an In-Home session or a Fresh 48, your newborn session will take place at my Rio, WI studio – Finch & Mae Photography. Easily accessible for Madison and surrounding Wisconsin communities.

Do you provide outfits or styling?

Yes. Studio props, wraps, headbands, bonnets and textures are provided. Moms also have access to a curated client wardrobe for a soft, cohesive look. I do offer a few different neutral toned sweaters for dad to use. Styling is neutral, timeless and designed to photograph beautifully for years to come.

Can I bundle newborn photos with maternity or milestone sessions?

Absolutely and I actually recommend it. Bundled collections are available when you book any newborn session alongside maternity, milestone or one year portraits. This offers built-in savings, and priority scheduling throughout baby’s first year.

Is there a discount on cake smash sessions?

Yes. When you book any newborn session (Fresh 48 and In-Home included) you will receive 10% off a cake smash session. This makes it easy to document your baby’s first birthday with the same photographer and aesthetic.

What is included with Petite or Heirloom Newborn Sessions?

Families who book Petite or Heirloom Newborn Sessions, receive a complimentary 6 month milestone session, perfect for families who want to capture the smiles and growing personality.

What is the Baby Plan?

The Baby Plan is a signature collection designed to document your baby’s entire first year. Typically families choose to do maternity, newborn, milestone and cake smash portraits. It offers exclusive savings, simplified planning, and a consistent look across all portrait sessions. It is our most chosen collection and offers a monthly payment plan if needed.

How far in advance should I inquire?

Newborn availability is limited each month to allow flexibility for due dates. If your baby has already arrived, now is the time to book.

Inquire today to reserve your newborn session

Learn more about The Baby Plan

Learn about Wrapped Newborn Minis + Booking Link

Learn about Petite + Heirloom Newborn Sessions + Booking Link