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.

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⭐️ 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.

Families choose between:

2, 3, or 4 full sessions

such as:

✔ Maternity
✔ Newborn
✔ 3–4 month milestone
✔ 6–7 month sitter session
✔ 9–10 month personality session
✔ One Year / Cake Smash

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.

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⭐️ 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.

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⭐️ 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.

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⭐️ 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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⭐️ 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.

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⭐️ 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.

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⭐️ 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

With the Baby Plan, you receive:

✔ discounted rates
✔ bundled sessions
✔ exclusive perks
✔ priority booking
✔ consistent styling
✔ full galleries
✔ a full-year experience

The Baby Plan is the best value I offer — and the most sentimental.

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⭐️ Section 8: A Year You’ll Never Regret Documenting

Parents tell me all the time:

“I can’t believe how much they changed in a year.”
“This was the best decision we made.”
“I’m so glad we have every stage.”

You will never regret having these memories — only not having them.

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⭐️ Section 9: How to Join the Baby Plan

Joining is simple:

1. Fill out the inquiry form
2. Choose your membership tier
3. Sign your contract
4. Start your payment plan
5. Your sessions are secured

Your baby’s story begins now.

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Ready to document your baby’s entire first year?
The Finch & Mae Baby Plan is the most beautiful, sentimental way to do it.

➡️ Explore the Baby Plan
➡️ Inquire for Availability

Your due date is approaching, the nursery is coming together, and you’re getting ready to meet your sweet baby. Somewhere on that long to-do list is this question:

“When should I book my newborn photographer?”

If you’re in Madison, Sun Prairie, or anywhere in south-central Wisconsin, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know — ideal timing, how newborn scheduling works, what to expect, and why booking early matters.

As a maternity + newborn photographer serving families from Madison to Fond du Lac, I’ve documented newborns in their first days of life. My goal is to make this process easy, warm, and stress-free for you.

Let’s dive in.

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⭐️ Why Booking Early Matters

Newborn photography is unique — your photographer isn’t just holding a date. They’re holding a due window.

Because babies rarely arrive “on time,” I build flexibility into every newborn booking. That means your due date secures a general timeframe, and your session is scheduled once baby arrives.

This is why photographers book up months ahead:

• Due dates overlap
• Sessions happen after birth
• Photographers can only take a limited number each month

Booking early helps ensure you have a photographer ready when your baby makes their debut.

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⭐️ Best Time to Book Your Newborn Session

1. The Ideal Time: Second Trimester (Weeks 13–28)

This is when most parents book. You know your due date, you still have availability to choose from, and you’re not yet in the sleepless “everything is urgent” third trimester.

2. Still okay: Early Third Trimester

About half of my bookings come in around 28–34 weeks.

3. Last Minute? It Happens!

If your baby is already here — reach out!
I will always try to fit in last-minute newborns if my calendar allows.

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⭐️ When the Newborn Session Actually Happens

Most parents assume the session happens right after birth — that’s not always true. At Finch & Mae, newborn sessions typically take place:

Days 5–21 after birth

This is when:

• Babies are still sleepy
• They curl naturally into womb-like poses
• Feeding transitions are stabilizing
• Peeling skin is minimal
• They tolerate swaddling beautifully

But don’t stress — beautiful newborn images can happen any time in the first 8 weeks, especially with my soft, connection-forward style.

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⭐️ In-Studio vs. In-Home Newborn Sessions

Studio Sessions (Rio, WI)

✔ The Studio has everything you need for your newborn session
✔ Neutral, timeless setups
✔ Cozy, warm environment
✔ All wraps, blankets, and textures included
✔ Perfect for families who want a clean, minimal look

In-Home Lifestyle Sessions

✔ Candid, cozy, emotional
✔ Perfect for families with siblings
✔ Beautiful for bright, light-filled homes
✔ Captures your natural environment

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⭐️ Booking Timeline Breakdown Based on Due Date

Due: January–March

Book by: September–November
Winter fills fast because of weather delays and reschedules.

Due: April–June

Book by: January–March
Spring brings a large number of newborn inquiries.

Due: July–September

Book by: March–May
Summer is when families book maternity + newborn together.

Due: October–December

Book by: June–August
Holiday minis + busy family season = fewer newborn slots.

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⭐️ Why Families Choose Finch & Mae for Newborn Photography

My newborn sessions are:

• Baby-led
• Calm and quiet
• Soft, neutral, and timeless
• Designed for emotional storytelling
• Safe, warm, and comfortable

Parents describe their session as “relaxing,” “peaceful,” and “easier than expected.”

This season is special — I treat it with the gentleness it deserves.

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⭐️ How to Reserve Your Newborn Session

1. Inquire with your due date
2. Complete your client form + choose your session type
3. Sign your contract
4. Your due-month window is reserved
5. After birth, we schedule your exact date

Baby-led, simple, stress-free.

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Ready to reserve your newborn session?
I would love to document your baby’s first days.
➡️ Inquire here
➡️ Explore The Baby Plan

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

There’s something undeniably magical about this age — the gap-toothed grin, the uninhibited giggles, the shy glances that quickly turn into belly laughs. These in-studio portraits are a celebration of authentic childhood, captured in classic black and white to let every expression and emotion shine.

At Finch & Mae Studio, I believe portraits should feel like memories — not poses. This beautiful girl stepped into the studio with a swirl of curls, confidence, and curiosity. What followed was pure gold: genuine laughter, quiet moments of thought, silly gestures, and those fleeting nuances of personality that parents never want to forget.

Why Black & White Childhood Portraits?

Black and white imagery removes distractions and leaves only what matters — expression, light, connection, and heart. These portraits feel nostalgic yet modern, the kind that hang on walls for generations.

Perfect For:

• Milestone portraits (ages 2-teen)
• Missing tooth magic & personality sessions
• Fine art school portraits
• Gift prints for parents and grandparents

A Studio Experience Made Simple & Fun

Kids don’t need stiff poses — they need space to be themselves. Sessions at Finch & Mae are relaxed, playful, and designed to capture the spark in their eyes and the story in their smile. No forced “cheese.” Just real joy.

These Moments Deserve to Be Remembered

This season of life goes quickly. One minute they’re twirling in favorite tops and laughing at their own jokes, the next they’re taller than you and ready for the world. Portrait sessions like this are a gift to your future self — reminders of who they were before they grew up.

Ready to Capture Your Child Just As They Are?

Whether they’re shy, silly, bold, or somewhere in between, I create a space where their true personality can shine. Let’s freeze this season before it slips away.

📸 Book your studio portrait session here:

👉 https://book.usesession.com/s/abdWgDYhr-