Your Wisconsin Maternity, Newborn and Baby Milestone Photographer
I'm Becky
welcome to the journal
A Minimal, Timeless Way to Celebrate Turning One
Your baby’s first birthday is such a magical milestone — that sweet mix of “How did time go so fast?” and “Look how much they’ve grown.” A cake smash session at Finch & Mae Photography is the perfect way to slow down, celebrate this chapter, and create heirloom images that feel clean, classic, and baby-focused.
I keep every cake smash session simple, neutral, and timeless. No loud themes, no distracting props — just your little one, soft studio lighting, and a beautifully minimal setup that feels perfectly Finch & Mae.
What Makes Finch & Mae Cake Smash Sessions Special
✔ Clean + minimal styling so your baby is the focus ✔ Coordinated neutrals from the studio wardrobe ✔ Access to my Rio, WI studio (a quick drive from Madison & Sun Prairie) ✔ Optional milestone add-on portraits before the cake ✔ Light, airy, and cohesive editing that matches your baby’s first-year gallery ✔ A seamless, stress-free experience for busy parents
When to Schedule Your First Birthday Session
Most families book at:
11 months (to have photos back for birthday invitations or a party)
12–13 months for a true first-birthday celebration Booking 6–8 weeks in advance ensures preferred dates, especially weekends and evenings.
What to Wear for a Cake Smash
Clients love using my studio wardrobe — soft creams, simple rompers, and organic textures that photograph beautifully. Barefoot, timeless, and sweet.
What You Get After Your Session
You’ll receive a curated proofing gallery with a minimum of 10+ images, with the option to choose your favorites or upgrade to the full gallery.
Ready to Celebrate Your Baby’s First Birthday?
Let’s create something beautiful together. 📸 Book your Madison cake smash session here ✨ Serving Madison, Sun Prairie, Rio, McFarland, Columbus & surrounding Wisconsin areas.
Your Wisconsin Maternity, Newborn and Baby Milestone Photographer
I'm Becky
welcome to the journal
Your baby’s first year is filled with more change, growth, and magic than any other time in their life. From tiny newborn stretches to first smiles, first rolls, first teeth, and first steps — it’s a year you can never get back.
Many parents start the year saying, “I’ll remember this,” but the truth is… it all goes by so quickly.
The Finch & Mae Baby Plan was created to preserve this incredibly fleeting season in a meaningful, beautiful, and effortless way — with warm, emotional, neutral imagery that grows with your baby.
If you’re looking for the best way to document your baby’s first year in Madison, Sun Prairie, Rio, Columbus, DeForest, or anywhere in south-central Wisconsin, this guide will walk you through:
✨ what the Baby Plan is ✨ what sessions are included ✨ why families LOVE it ✨ how payment plans work ✨ why it’s a better value than individual sessions ✨ and why it’s my #1 most booked offering
Let’s begin.
⭐️ Section 1: What Is the Baby Plan?
The Baby Plan is a year-long photography membership designed to document your baby’s biggest milestones — slow, sweet, intentional sessions throughout year one.
You choose the sessions that matter most to your family.
The Baby Plan ensures nothing gets missed — and gives you a warm, seamless experience the entire year.
⭐️ Section 2: Why Year One Matters Most
Your baby will grow faster in Year One than at any other time in their entire childhood.
Here’s how quickly they change:
0–3 months:
Sleepy newborn expressions turn into early smiles and bright curiosity.
4–6 months:
Rolling, grabbing, interacting with you — the sweetest mini-stage.
6–7 months (Sitter Stage):
THE most beloved milestone. Your baby is sitting, smiling, clapping, and full of personality.
9–10 months:
Wiggly, curious, playful — a magical transitional phase.
12 months:
Standing, crawling, sometimes walking… and so full of joy.
Each stage is unique, fleeting, and absolutely worth documenting.
⭐️ Section 3: What’s Included in the Finch & Mae Baby Plan
Every Baby Plan includes:
✨ Priority booking ✨ Flexible monthly payment plans ✨ Member access to Mini Sessions ✨ Full-service planning ✨ A calm, baby-led approach ✨ A soft, neutral, timeless aesthetic ✨ A special pricing structure not available outside the Plan
It’s designed to make your year both beautiful and stress-free.
⭐️ Section 4: Why Families LOVE the Baby Plan
1. It saves money
Booking each session individually costs significantly more. Baby Plan families receive:
✔ bundled pricing ✔ session fee savings ✔ digital collection discounts ✔ exclusive member perks
Over the span of a year, it adds up to hundreds in value.
2. It guarantees availability
I photograph only a limited number of babies per month to ensure quality and flexibility.
Baby Plan members get priority scheduling — especially for newborn and sitter sessions, which book far in advance.
3. It keeps everything cohesive and timeless
Same photographer. Same studio. Same soft editing. Same warm experience.
Your baby’s entire story flows together beautifully in one consistent, emotional collection.
4. It removes stress from your life
No more scrambling to book sessions last-minute.
Your year is planned and cared for from day one. Parents tell me all the time, “This made year one feel so much easier.”
5. It includes member mini session benefits
Baby Plan members receive:
✔ first access to Minis ✔ priority booking for holiday sessions
Minis book up FAST in Wisconsin — especially Christmas Minis — and Baby Plan families always get first pick.
6. It captures the moments you forget to remember
You think you’ll remember every detail… but babies grow so quickly, those little things fade:
• their tiny toes • the way they curl into you • their gummy smile • their soft baby rolls • the way they laugh at 6 months • the excitement at 1 year
The Baby Plan preserves every stage in a soft, emotional way.
⭐️ Section 5: What Each Milestone Session Looks Like
Newborn Session
Warm, slow, baby-led, filled with connection. Neutral tones, family snuggles, swaddles, tiny details.
3–4 Month Milestone
Smiles, tummy time, early giggles, curiosity. A beautiful stage most parents forget to document — but they LOVE the images.
Sitter Session (6–7 Months)
My personal favorite milestone. Your baby is sitting unassisted, joyful, expressive, and so incredibly photogenic.
9–10 Month Session
More mobility, more expressions, more personality. Perfect for capturing a transition between babyhood and toddlerhood.
One Year Session
Standing, clapping, exploring, laughing — plus the option for a cake smash or a timeless neutral setup without props.
⭐️ Section 6: Payment Plans Make It Easy
One of the biggest reasons parents join the Baby Plan: monthly payment plans.
Instead of paying large session fees all at once, your Baby Plan can be paid:
✔ monthly ✔ automatically ✔ interest-free
This makes documenting year one accessible for every family — without sacrificing quality or memories.
You simply sign up once, and your year is taken care of.
⭐️ Section 7: The Value vs Booking Sessions Individually
If you book each session separately, you’ll pay:
• full session fees • full digital collection prices • full heirloom pricing • individual scheduling • no guaranteed availability
Your Wisconsin Maternity, Newborn and Baby Milestone Photographer
I'm Becky
welcome to the journal
A Worthwhile Drive for Once-in-a-Lifetime Memories
When parents search for a Madison newborn photographer or maternity photography near Sun Prairie, they’re not just looking for pictures — they’re looking for someone who understands the heart of it all. At Finch & Mae Photography, families drive from Madison, Sun Prairie, McFarland, Columbus, and even Fond du Lac because they know they’ll experience something truly special: a calm, meaningful session and heirloom portraits that feel like home.
A Studio Worth the Trip
Nestled in the quiet town of Rio, Wisconsin, the Finch & Mae studio is intentionally designed for comfort and connection. Warm natural light, soft textures, and neutral tones create a peaceful environment that helps new parents and little ones relax.
Every detail — from the Finch & Mae wardrobe collection to the curated props, beautiful accents, and classic setups — reflects a timeless, light-and-airy aesthetic that clients say is “worth every mile.” Whether you’re traveling from downtown Madison or neighboring Sun Prairie, your session becomes an escape from the rush — a moment to slow down and soak in your story.
A Personalized Experience
Finch & Mae clients love that their sessions never feel rushed. From the first inquiry to the final gallery delivery, each family receives personalized communication, thoughtful styling, and flexibility with payment plans to make luxury photography accessible.
Whether you choose a full newborn collection, a lifestyle maternity session in our Pardeeville studio, or a milestone session for your baby’s first year, the experience is about connection over perfection. Every image captures emotion, softness, and the quiet in-between moments that define family life.
Serving Families Across Wisconsin
Finch & Mae proudly serves families from:
Madison, WI – maternity, newborn, and milestone sessions
Sun Prairie, WI – Baby Plan members and seasonal minis
Columbus & Beaver Dam – family sessions and motherhood portraits
Fond du Lac, McFarland & beyond – cake smash, Fresh 48, and membership clients
No matter where you’re traveling from, the Rio studio is an easy drive — and many families make a day of it, stopping for lunch or a coffee before heading home with lasting memories.
The Finch & Mae Promise
Every family deserves portraits that tell their story beautifully. At Finch & Mae, sessions are light and airy, yet full of emotion. They’re timeless, personal, and artfully crafted to last generations.
Whether this is your first baby or your family’s yearly tradition, you’ll find warmth, care, and artistry in every step of the process — and that’s why families keep coming back, year after year.
Ready to Plan Your Session?
If you’re searching for a Madison or Sun Prairie newborn photographer, we’d love to welcome you to the Finch & Mae studio in Rio, Wisconsin. ✨ Book your session today ✨ or explore our Baby Plan Membership to document your little one’s first year.
Your Wisconsin Maternity, Newborn and Baby Milestone Photographer
I'm Becky
welcome to the journal
There’s nothing sweeter than celebrating your little one’s very first birthday with a milestone session and cake smash! This gallery featuring baby Fritz captures all the charm, personality, and pure joy of turning one. From classic portraits to messy, laughter-filled cake moments, it’s the perfect way to document this once-in-a-lifetime milestone.
Classic Baby Milestone Portraits
Before the cake came out, we started with timeless milestone photos. Fritz wore the sweetest green gingham romper with delicate piping details, paired with classic white shoes. The soft pastel backdrops gave a clean, airy feel while letting his big expressions shine through. These milestone portraits are perfect for parents looking to remember their baby’s gentle, curious stage before toddlerhood takes over.
For milestone sessions, I keep the focus on your little one—minimal props, beautiful light, and heirloom styling that never goes out of fashion.
A Colorful Cake Smash Celebration
Once the milestone portraits were complete, it was time to celebrate! Fritz changed into a playful chambray romper with rainbow buttons and wore a custom felt birthday crown with his name stitched in bold colors. The bright pops of red, blue, and yellow brought so much fun energy into the session.
His cake was decorated with whimsical brush-stroke details and colorful button accents—just right for curious little fingers to dive into. And dive in he did! Fritz smashed, tasted, squished, and laughed his way through every bite. From cake-covered smiles to frosting-filled fists, the photos capture everything we love about first birthdays.
Why Book a Cake Smash & Milestone Session?
Your baby only turns one once, and photos like these become treasured family heirlooms. A first birthday session is more than just fun—it’s a chance to pause, celebrate, and preserve the joy of this milestone year forever.
At Finch & Mae Photography, I specialize in milestone and cake smash photography in the Madison and Sun Prairie, WI areas. Sessions are fully styled to fit your family’s personality while keeping the focus on your baby’s unique expressions and story.
All cake smashes are without themes and balloon arches. Why? Over the last few years of working cake smash sessions, I have found that the focus tends to leave baby and it starts to concentrate more on the themes. By having sessions simple and classic, it truly focuses specifically on baby and their exciting milestone of turning one.
Book Your Baby’s First Birthday Session
If your little one is about to turn one, now is the perfect time to plan their milestone and cake smash session. Sessions are best scheduled a few weeks before their birthday so you can have your images ready to display at their party or print for keepsakes.
✨ Ready to celebrate your baby’s first year in the sweetest way? Contact me today to reserve your session!
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