100 Days Photos: A Calgary Guide to This Sweet Milestone

There's something quietly lovely about the 100 day mark. Your baby has been out in the world for a little over three months, and by now you've all found some kind of rhythm. Maybe a wobbly one, but a rhythm all the same. I've photographed a lot of babies in my Beltline studio, and 100 day photos in Calgary have become one of my favourite sessions to shoot. Here's why this milestone deserves a spot on your calendar, and how to plan a session that works around your baby's naps and feeds instead of fighting them.

Why the 100 day mark is worth photographing

You've probably heard of the first 100 days as a milestone in some cultures, a point where families celebrate a baby surviving (and thriving) through those early months. I love that idea. It's a checkpoint. You made it. Your baby made it.

From a photographer's point of view, it's also a genuinely great age to capture. Newborn sessions are sleepy and curled up. By 100 days, your baby is awake more, curious, and starting to show you who they are. That little personality is beginning to peek through, and it's worth having pictures of it.

The early weeks can be a blur of feeding, soothing, and very little sleep. If you've read about the new parent challenges in the first week of newborn life, you'll know exactly what I mean. By 100 days, most families are coming up for air. That makes it a natural time to pause and record where you've landed.

And honestly? Those first few months go fast. Calgary winters can keep you indoors more than you'd like, and suddenly your tiny baby is a chatty, wriggly little person. A 100 day session is a lovely way to hold onto this exact stage before the next one arrives.

What your baby can usually do by 100 days

Every baby is different, so take this as a rough guide rather than a checklist. But around the three to four month mark, you can often expect:

• Lifting their head and chest during tummy time, with steadier neck control

• Tracking faces and objects with their eyes, and turning toward sounds

• Smiling socially, those real smiles that melt you

• Coos, gurgles, and early babbling

• Pushing up on their arms and maybe starting to roll

• Grabbing at things, including hair and necklaces, fair warning

If your baby loves being on their tummy, have a look at my post on tummy time for a few tips. It comes in handy for photos too, because those push-up poses are some of the sweetest shots we get at this age. If your baby isn't quite there yet, that's completely fine. We work with whatever they're doing on the day.

I'll be honest: 100 day babies are not always the easiest to photograph. They're alert, opinionated about being put down, and they have a sixth sense for when the camera comes out. That's exactly why I plan these sessions differently from a newborn shoot.

How I plan a 100 day session around naps and feeding

The single biggest factor in how a 100 day session goes is timing. Not outfits, not props, not the backdrop. Timing.

Here's how we handle it.

We build the session around your baby's best window

When you book, I'll ask about your baby's day. When they wake up happiest, how long they usually stay awake before getting fussy, and when their feeds fall. We'll book the session for that sweet spot. Most babies are at their best about an hour after a feed and a nap, so that's usually where we aim.

Feeding breaks are built in, not squeezed in

If your baby needs to eat mid-session, we stop and they eat. No rushing, no watching the clock. I've got a comfortable spot in the studio for you, and I'd much rather pause for ten minutes than push through with a hungry baby. A fed baby is a happy baby, and a happy baby makes for better photos. Simple as that.

We go at your baby's pace

Some 100 day babies are happy to be posed and photographed for a good stretch. Others want to be held, bounced, or walked around the studio. Both are fine. I follow your baby's lead and we work in short bursts with breaks in between. If they need a cuddle with you, that's part of the session too, and those photos are often the ones families love most.

Bring the essentials, leave the rest

Pack a few extra diapers, a change of clothes for both of you, and whatever soothes your baby. A favourite blanket or a pacifier, if you use one. I've got the rest covered in the studio.

What a 100 day session looks like in the studio

My studio is in the Beltline, and it's set up for exactly this kind of session. Soft light, a warm room, and everything we need within arm's reach. You can read more about the space on the studio page if you're curious.

We'll usually start with some solo portraits of your baby, on their back and on their tummy if they're comfortable. Then we bring you in. Parents and siblings, if you have them. Those family photos matter, because your baby will want to see what you all looked like together when they were this small.

If you've had a newborn session with me, you'll notice the difference. Newborn photos are about that curled-up, brand-new stillness. 100 day photos are about connection and personality. Your baby looking at you. Grabbing your finger. That first proper smile. I'll capture all of it.

You can see examples of this age in my baby portfolio, and if you want to know what a session includes, the baby photography page has all the details.

What to wear and how to prepare

Keep it simple. For your baby, a plain onesie or a simple outfit in a soft neutral works beautifully. Nothing with logos or busy patterns. Skin is always welcome, so bare shoulders and little bare feet photograph beautifully at this age.

For parents, wear something you feel good in and that fits the tone of the session. Neutral tones and soft textures always work. If siblings are joining, coordinate rather than match. Think of it as a family photo in the making, because it is. My family photography blog has more tips if you're planning a group shot.

A couple of practical things that make a real difference:

1. Feed your baby right before you leave home, if you can, so they arrive content.

2. Bring them in the car seat or a carrier so they stay sleepy on the way.

3. Don't stress if the day doesn't go to plan. Babies have their own agenda, and I've never met one who couldn't be settled with a bit of patience.

If you're thinking further ahead, the 100 day stage is also a lovely bridge between newborn photos and a cake smash for their first birthday. Some families book all three and end up with a gorgeous set of milestone photos across the first year.

Booking your 100 day photos in Calgary

If your baby is approaching that three to four month mark, now's a good time to get in touch. Sessions book up, especially through the busier seasons, and I'd hate for you to miss this window. You can reach me through the contact page and we'll find a time that suits your baby's schedule.

If you're still in the earlier stages, you might also enjoy my posts on 100 day photos and newborn photography for a sense of what's ahead. And if you're planning a maternity session first, the maternity photography page has everything you need.

One last thought. Calgary weather can be unpredictable, and I know plenty of families who've had their plans thrown off by a sudden storm or a cold snap. If you've ever read about bracing for the next deluge, you'll know how fast things can change. An indoor studio session takes the weather out of the equation entirely. Rain, snow, or shine, we're warm and comfortable inside.

Your baby is only this small once. Let's capture it.