STAGES WHEN YOU SHOULD PHOTOGRAPH YOUR CHILDREN

The milestones of childhood can never be repeated. But they can be captured in portraits that tell the story of a child's growing up… as he or she passes through a series of stages … moving ever closer to adulthood.

Your baby's first year…
At no time during your child's life will physical changes occur so rapidly. In what seems like the blink of an eye, a tiny, helpless bundle of joy is transformed into an active, robust and inquisitive youngster.

3 Months
At three months, babies are fresh, new, human beings. Everything in their world is brand new… starting to become familiar… but often strange. They are totally dependent on the important people in their lives, recognising their family members, and just beginning to respond to others.

A three-month portrait will preserve that time of newness. Moreover, when photographed with one or more parents or siblings, a portrait at this age will capture forever that fleeting time when family members are the centres of your baby's intimate world.

6 Months
By the sixth or seventh month babies are so much more developed. They are very aware of their environments and are much more affectionate and responsive to those around them. It is at this stage when a new baby can sit up for the first time to freely enjoy the world around them. They are still dependant, craving attention and delight in having an audience. Portraits at this age are a perfect time to reveal chubby little hands, arms, and legs.

9 Months
Around the ninth month, many babies begin to show their first signs of independence. They start to explore an ever - expanding world …well on the way to becoming a real little person and letting everyone know "You won't hold on to me for long! "

1 Year old
At one year old, the permanent facial characteristics begin to reveal a family likeness and individual character…still a baby, yet emerging as a robust and inquisitive child who is ready to meet the world. For the child who is walking, the perfect message of the portrait is " I am free! "

2 Year old
Around the second birthday, a major milestone is achieved as the child begins to speak. The toddler now responds to reason, humour, and action…beginning to explore a widening world.

4 Year old
Between the third and fourth birthdays is the cutest, most endearing age for "little" boys and girls. With the ability to speak and reason growing stronger every day, these youngsters now display individuality of character and action. This should be portrayed before the baby teeth are lost and replaced by permanent ones… forever altering the endearing look of early childhood.

9 Year old
During the next two or three years the permanent teeth reveal a changing facial expression. A developing mind usually is portrayed with a more mature, inquiring outlook. Portraits at this age may show special interests that help to define who they are.

12 Year old
As the twelfth year progresses the child is about to enter the teenage years…a kind of dress rehearsal for adulthood… when physical, emotional, and attitude changes occur. The child you know so well is about to become a more complex and less dependant young person. Peer acceptance is now important, and portraits can capture the child's sense of style and expanding horizons.