Plan Once. Enjoy All Year. Meet The Collective Membership.

If you have ever scheduled the dentist six months ahead, set a reminder to buy matching pajamas in September, or stashed a backup lovey because you know how life works, you are already a planner. You are also exactly who The Collective Membership was made for. This is the simple way to plan your baby’s first year of photography in one calm moment so you can spend the rest of the year focusing on the good stuff. Think sleepy grins, new rolls, and a cake smash that ends in frosting on everyone.

The Collective Membership gives you a clear path through the whirlwind of the first year. You make one smart decision now. Then you enjoy a beautifully photographed year without scrambling for dates, outfits, or last minute ideas when milestones sneak up on you. Twin Cities families love the ease of it, from cozy studio days in Northeast Minneapolis to fresh air sessions once spring shows off again.

Why planning ahead pays off

Babies do not wait for your calendar to open up. One minute you are photographing a bump in your favorite white dress. The next your newborn has outgrown the tiniest onesie and your camera roll is full of blur and love. Planning ahead is how you make space for the moments you will miss if you leave it to chance. The Collective Membership maps out the sessions that matter, then gives you the freedom to live them.

This is exactly why 1st year baby plans are so helpful. When you plan the year at once, you get a cohesive story that unfolds naturally, a visual thread from bump to birthday, and the comfort of knowing your next session is already secured. You will show up feeling prepared and you will actually be in the photos instead of behind the phone.

It Starts Here with Maternity Sessions

What you get with The Collective Membership

Your membership covers 18 months of possibility. You have access to multiple sessions within eighteen months and you do not pay additional creative fees for those sessions. That means you can photograph the chapters that matter most to your family, from maternity and newborn to three, six, nine months and a first birthday celebration. You choose the rhythm, and I keep everything easy.

Membership perks include priority booking so your preferred dates are set before everyone else rushes into the calendar. You receive a welcome box at the start of your journey, a small celebration that says we are doing this together. You have full access to my studio wardrobe for moms, shirts for dads, and outfits for children under five, which takes the guesswork out of styling and keeps your gallery looking elegant and cohesive. You will also choose between session types that fit each moment, whether that is a Signature Session, a Petite Session, or a Mini Milestone, and after each session you select one of three collections, just as you would with a traditional session. When you purchase a collection, you receive a keepsake slideshow download to enjoy and share.

There are little delights tucked in as well. Members get early booking for spring events and first access to any holiday minis that are offered. You receive one set of cards, either birth announcements or holiday cards, included with your membership. You also enjoy additional savings on heirloom products in your gallery store, which makes finishing your walls or album that much easier.

All of it works beautifully for parents across the Twin Cities. You can anchor your year with a studio newborn session in Minneapolis, add a six month session at a favorite park when the leaves return, and wrap with a first birthday session that feels like your family. The result is a graceful, consistent look that feels intentional from start to finish.

How it works from hello to happy tears

First, you join and receive your welcome box. Then we sketch your year together. Most families choose maternity, newborn, six month, and one year, with the option to add three and nine month milestones if you love documenting all the little changes. The schedule is flexible, which matters when babies decide their own timelines. If your due date shifts or naps adjust, we adjust too.

Before each session, you receive an easy guide that covers what to wear, how to prep, and what to expect. Wardrobe access takes the stress out of outfits. Priority booking keeps your dates locked in. After each session, you view a curated slideshow and gallery, then purchase your preferred collection and decide where these images will live, whether that is a framed series in the hallway, an album that becomes a bedtime favorite, or a keepsake box of matted prints you will pull out on birthdays. The keepsake slideshow download becomes the sweetest highlight reel to send to grandparents once your collection is purchased.

If you are one of the many moms who want to bundle maternity and newborn, The Collective Membership is the simplest way to do it. Your styling stays cohesive, your images flow seamlessly, and you never have to cross your fingers for availability. It is the practical heart of 1st year baby plans with all the thoughtful polish you want.

Who The Collective Membership is perfect for

This membership is for the mom who loves a plan and also loves to breathe. You care about quality and you also care about convenience. You want portraits that look refined and feel like you. You want your child to see these photographs on the wall and know that this is what love looks like.

It is a beautiful fit for families who want consistency across sessions. Same soft approach, same calm experience, and the same eye for connection whether we are photographing at home, in the studio, or at a favorite Twin Cities location. It is also a lifesaver for the wannabe planner who likes the idea of a system but prefers someone else to set it up. You will get reminders and styling help and you will never have to ask where that outfit link went because it is already handled.

For even more inspiration around family life in Minnesota, Twin Cities Families is a wonderful resource for local events, parenting tips, and ways to explore the city with little ones.

When Baby Comes

FAQs about The Collective Membership

Do I really get unlimited sessions within eighteen months with no additional creative fees

Yes. Your membership gives you the freedom to schedule as many sessions as you would like within that window, and you will not pay additional creative fees for those sessions. You will purchase your preferred collection after each session, just like a traditional booking.

Can I start if I already did maternity photos somewhere else

Absolutely. You can begin at any point in your motherhood journey. We can start with newborn, a mid year milestone, or plan a first birthday session that ties your favorite details together. This is more than a baby plan it's a collective.

What kinds of sessions can I choose inside the membership

You can choose the format that suits each moment. Signature Sessions, Petite Sessions, and Mini Milestone sessions are all available to members, and you can mix them through the year. After each one, you select from three collections and receive a keepsake slideshow download with your collection purchase.

Are there extra perks I should know about

Yes. Members receive priority booking, early booking for spring events, first access to any holiday minis, one set of cards such as birth announcements or holiday cards, and additional savings on heirloom products in your gallery store. You also receive a welcome box when you join, which is such a lovely way to begin.

Where do you photograph Twin Cities families

Many sessions take place in my Northeast Minneapolis studio. I also work on location throughout the Twin Cities and nearby suburbs, including Edina, Minnetonka, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, and St. Paul. The membership gives you flexibility to choose the settings that fit each season.

If you have ever wished for a big friendly button that says make it easier, this is it. The Collective Membership lets you plan once and enjoy all year. You get the calm of a clear plan, the joy of being in the photos, and a gallery that grows into a legacy your child will love.

You do not need to plan everything today. You just need to take the first step.

Learn more about The Collective Membership on my site and tell me in the comments which milestone you are most excited to document this year. I cannot wait to hear your ideas.

Michele is a Twin Cities family photographer with more than fifteen years of experience capturing maternity, newborn, and milestone portraits that blend simplicity, warmth, and connection. From her natural light studio in Northeast Minneapolis, she helps families document their stories with ease through her signature Collective Membership, a thoughtful way to plan a baby's first year of sessions and create a cohesive collection of meaningful images.

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