Come As You Are- Kendall’s Story

You only turn one once — and when you’ve spent a whole year watching your baby grow in ways you couldn’t have imagined, that first birthday deserves to be celebrated in a way that feels real. For Kendall and her son Beau, that meant cake, giggles, and one of the cutest race car themes I’ve ever seen.

As a Milwaukee milestone photographer, I’ve seen all kinds of first birthday sessions — simple, bold, chaotic, emotional — and every single one has been meaningful. Because here’s the thing: it’s not about the setup or the smiles. It’s about freezing a season that’s racing by faster than anyone’s ready for.

And what better way to capture that feeling than a racecar-themed cake smash? For Kendall, it couldn’t have been more perfect. “This season of life is so fast,” she told me. “It seems to never slow down. We are trying to soak in every moment with our sweet boy.”

Beau had changed so much over the past year — every day brought something new. “Whether it’s a new skill or a new word, there’s always some sort of difference,” she said. “It’s the sweetest and most sad reality of having a growing baby.”

That blend of joy and nostalgia? It’s why milestone sessions matter so much. They’re not just for the birthday invitation or the Instagram post. They’re for you. They’re for the mama who’s been in the thick of it, loving hard, giving her all, and realizing this chapter won’t last forever.

“I never, ever want to forget what he was like at his first birthday,” Kendall shared. And that’s what led her to book a cake smash session with a Milwaukee milestone photographer — something she now says she’ll cherish for the rest of her life.

Of course, like many one-year-olds, Beau didn’t make it easy. “I was so nervous it would be impossible to get him to smile,” Kendall laughed. “Which it almost was.” But that’s where the Come As You Are magic comes in — because I promise you, perfect behavior isn’t required here.

“Tara was so patient and easygoing,” she said. “She just went with the flow.” That flexibility — the ability to slow down and let the session unfold naturally — is what helps the real moments shine through.

And yes, even with a little resistance, Beau gave us some unforgettable giggles. “My boy’s sweet laugh made me smile the most,” Kendall said. “Even when it took forever to get there.”

After the frosting and the cake crumbs, we wrapped up the session with one of my favorite traditions — a little tub time to wash it all off and squeeze in a few more sweet shots. And it ended up being Kendall’s favorite part.

“His little rolls in the bathtub pics will be a core memory of his first birthday pictures,” she said.

Because these sessions? They’re not just portraits. They’re stories. They’re memories frozen in time, especially when everything feels like it’s speeding by.

“Beau is constantly changing,” Kendall told me. “His serious face, his giggle, his gummy smile — I want to remember it all.”

And when I asked how it felt to have this season captured, she didn’t hesitate.
“These pictures are irreplaceable,” she said. “I will cherish them for the rest of my life.”

That’s the heart of what I do as a Milwaukee milestone photographer — holding space for families to just be. Whether your baby smiles the whole session or refuses to give you more than a blank stare, we still create something beautiful — because it’s honest, and it’s yours.

Looking ahead, Kendall hopes Beau sees something really special when he flips through his birthday photos someday:
“That we did the most — and did the most extra things for him, haha.”

And honestly? I think he will.