100 days portrait sessions: family photographs

I love photographing babies to celebrate their 100 days milestone.

In traditional Chinese culture, a baby’s 100 day celebrations is a key date. The celebration of this day represents the family’s wish that the baby will live for 100 years. Other reasons behind this celebration are to mark the fact the baby has been alive for 100 days, and has reached the end of the fourth trimester – and it being a full year from the date of conception.

Happily, this age also correlates well with an ideal age for baby portraits – so celebrating the 100 days milestone with a portrait session is a golden opportunity. Lots of Chinese families living in London miss having a traditional 100 days celebration, and opt for a portrait session to mark the occasion instead. And if you do have a party, why not use some of the photographs for your thank you cards!

At three months old, babies tend to be smiling and laughing, and they can often hold their heads up – and even do mini push-ups if they enjoy some tummy time. Babies are also beginning to roll, and can identify their parents’ voices – all lovely milestones to capture in photographs. At 100 days, babies are generally starting to smile at strangers, and becoming more excitable and engaged. All this makes for gorgeous baby portraits!

Three months is also a great age for the baby’s parents – sleep tends to be getting more consistent, and life can start to feel a lot easier. Yet another reason to celebrate! The developing routine can make it easier for parents to plan the day, and know how a portrait session will fit into it – my portrait sessions are two hours long, allowing time for lots of stops, feeds and any other surprises. Most babies are at their best in the morning, which happily is also when the light is best – so a baby portrait session will typically start at 10am, but this is up to you.

I love to include parents in portrait sessions, as the photographs will belong to the baby in years to come – and everyone loves having photographs of themselves with their parents. I know that mine are some of my most treasured possessions, so I really encourage parents to step in front of the camera too.

My baby portrait sessions are all about capturing your little one’s emerging personality, in a calm and relaxed atmosphere. Taking the photographs in the comfort of your own home means your baby will be at their most comfortable, and I’ll get the most out of them – and you’ll get stunning photographs to treasure for years to come.