If you’re expecting a baby, you’re probably already thinking about newborn photos. And those are beautiful. As an Alameda family photographer, I photograph them all the time, and I love them.
But here’s something you might not have considered: video.
I know, I know. Video feels complicated, like it requires more bandwidth than you have. But what if I told you it doesn’t have to be? And more importantly, what if video could capture all those fleeting first-year moments that photos simply can’t?
I’m talking about your baby’s first coos. The sound of their giggles. The way their little fingers wiggle. The padding of unsteady feet as they learn to walk. The “babababa” that might be their first attempt at words. These moments disappear so fast—and a still photo, as beautiful as it is, can only capture so much.
This is why I started offering first-year films in addition to newborn photography sessions. Because as a mom of a teenager, I understand intimately how time is a thief. And I wanted to offer families a way to capture the fuller experience—the movement, the audio, the realness—of this impossibly precious time.
What Video Captures That Photos Can’t
Here’s the thing about photographs: they’re incredible at freezing a moment in time. But baby’s first year isn’t really about frozen moments—it’s about all the sensory experiences that make this time so impossibly sweet and fleeting.
Video captures:
The sounds. Those tiny coos that sound like questions. The belly laughs. The first attempts at “mama” and “dada”. The sound of their breathing while they sleep. These auditory memories fade so much faster than you think.
The movement. Little fingers and toes constantly wiggling. The Olympic-level wrestling during diaper changes. Frenetic arm-flailing during feedings (especially breastfeeding—we see you, mama). First solid food reactions. The determined, awkward crawling. The unsteady padding of feet along furniture. The way they light up and reach for you when you walk in the room.
The personality. How they scrunch their nose when they smile. The way they study new things. Their specific brand of chaos. Photos can hint at personality, but video shows you exactly who they’re becoming.
When I was in the thick of it with my own daughter, I wish someone had told me to prioritize video. Because here’s what I’ve learned as she’s grown into a teenager: you think you’ll remember the sound of their laugh or the way they grabbed your finger, but it fades. Video preserves what your memory can’t.
It’s Not Just About Baby—It’s About Your Whole Family’s Journey
When expectant parents think about documenting their baby’s first year, they usually focus on the baby milestones. First smile, first tooth, first steps. And yes, those are important.
But here’s what often gets overlooked: this year is about your entire family learning to be a family together.
For you and your partner: You’re learning how to parent as a team. The dance of who gets up for the 3 AM feeding, who’s better at burping, who can change a diaper one-handed while holding coffee. These dynamics become the foundation of your parenting partnership.
For older siblings: They’re figuring out their new role. The mix of excitement, jealousy, protectiveness, and “wait, is this tiny human staying?” is real and worth capturing.
For pets: Your dog or cat is adjusting to this new pack member too. (Because furry babies are family, too.)
For you as individuals: You’re not just becoming parents—you’re watching yourself transform. The exhaustion, the joy, the “I had no idea I could function on this little sleep” moments.
This transformation happens so gradually that you don’t notice it while you’re in it. But when you watch it back on film? You see your family becoming exactly who you are. That’s powerful.
What to Expect: Real Life, Not Pinterest
Before you worry that your house needs to be spotless or that you need to have it all together—let me stop you right there.
These sessions capture your actual life, not some curated version of it. Here’s what that means:
Sleepless nights show. You might have dark circles. Your hair might not be brushed. That’s not a problem—that’s the truth of this season.
Your house will be a mess. Toys everywhere, laundry piled up, dishes in the sink. We’re not staging a home tour. We’re documenting your real, beautiful chaos.
Things go wrong. Toddlers have meltdowns. Babies spit up. Dogs bark at inopportune moments. You forget things. (I once forgot to feed my dog for an entire day after my daughter was born.) This is all part of the story.
These sessions exist in a judgment-free zone. As a mom myself, I understand how fast this time goes and how impossible it feels to “have it together.” What matters is capturing the truth of your family exactly as you are—perfectly imperfect.
So How Does a First Year Film Actually Work?
I offer two ways to incorporate video into your baby’s first year, depending on what feels right for you:
Option 1: Year in the Life Film (The Full Experience)
This is the full collaboration—perfect if you want a comprehensive time capsule of the entire first year.
I’ll teach you how to capture video on your phone. That’s it. Your phone. The one you already have. Because let’s face it: as much as I want to be there for every moment, I can’t be. (I mean, I could, but that would be weird for everyone involved.) So between our sessions, you’ll capture the everyday stuff: the 2 AM feedings, the first time they grab their toes, the pure joy on their face when the dog walks by.
Then I’ll visit you three times throughout the year. Each session is about 1.5 hours, and we focus on that particular season of life. Maybe they’re tiny and sleepy in the first session. Learning to sit up in the second. Cruising around furniture in the third. Whatever’s happening, we roll with it.
At the end of the year, I take all our footage—mine and yours—and weave it together into a 5+ minute cinematic film set to licensed music. It’s your family’s time capsule, this beautiful collaboration between us. (And yes, you’ll get photos too, because I can’t help myself.)
Option 2: Individual Newborn Video Sessions (Dip Your Toes In)
Not ready to commit to a full year? I get it. Video can feel like a big leap, especially when you’re already overwhelmed with preparing for a new baby.
You can book a single newborn video session instead—just like you would a newborn photo session, but captured on film. We’ll document those early weeks. You’ll get a shorter film (3 minutes) that captures this specific season. No year-long commitment required. And if you love it? You can always add more sessions later to document other milestones throughout the first year.
The key with either option: This is about collaboration and capturing real life. We’re not aiming for perfection—we’re preserving memories.
→ Explore all family video services and pricing
Lucy’s Story: A Year of Firsts
Let me tell you about Lucy. Because Lucy’s film is exactly what I’m talking about when I say these projects become something so much bigger than just documentation—they become family heirlooms.
Filming started during mom’s contractions. (Yes, really!!!) Then came those incredible first moments at the hospital—the kind that are impossibly tender and also slightly terrifying when you’re holding a brand new human for the first time.
When they brought Lucy home, they captured her meeting her siblings—all of them holding her one by one. It was love at first sight.
Throughout the year, we filmed their everyday life. It took place during early COVID, which as we all know was a doozy of a time. Our first film session coincidentally fell on the 365th day of sheltering in place. We captured this poignant time of togetherness and their happy place on the pier. Lucy also learned to wave for the first time while her dad cast his nets. It was beautiful weekend morning with the best kind of chaos.
But what makes Lucy’s film truly special is how her parents contributed their own footage: her determined crawling attempts, the glorious mess of first solids, and those morning cuddle puddles. Between my three visits, they captured all the little in-between moments on their phones. When we combined everything together, it created this incredibly complete picture of their first year together.
I get weepy every single time I watch it. (I’m getting a little weepy just writing about it, to be honest.) It’s almost too special to share, but they insisted, because they want other families to know this is possible.
What About Traditional Newborn Photos?
Yes! Traditional newborn photo sessions are still beautiful and important—those posed portraits of your brand new baby, all curled up and peaceful.
Here’s how the options work:
Newborn photo session: Still, timeless portraits. Perfect for framing and announcements.
Individual newborn video session: Documentary footage of your first weeks. Captures movement and sound. A gentle introduction to video.
Year in the Life film: Three sessions across 12 months, combined with your phone footage, woven into one cinematic film.
Many families do both photos and video—they complement each other beautifully. One gives you images to hang on your wall. The other gives you the movement, sound, and full sensory experience you can revisit years later.
→ See all family photography packages
→ View family video packages
→ Explore newborn and family portfolio
Let’s capture your baby’s first year with
the reverence, humility, and humor it deserves.
These films are love letters to families in this fleeting season. I only take on four first-year films per year because each deserves thoughtful care. If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear from you.
→ Reach out to start the conversation
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