Lilo & Stitch–Inspired First Birthday Milestone Session in Spokane | Kailani

Little Kailani turned one back in March! This was her beachy, Lilo & Stitch Themed Milestone Session I did back in February and I’m so excited to finally share them with you!

Some sessions are full of giggles. Others are quieter, slower, and filled with those thoughtful little expressions that peek out as baby warms up to the space and the flashing lights. Kailani’s first birthday milestone session was one of those — and honestly, it was such a joy to photograph.

Kailani came to the studio with her mom, dad, and grandma, and there was so much love wrapped around her from the very start. A fun surprise for me? Her mom is the sister of another baby I photographed just the weekend before, which made this session feel even more special — like getting to document a growing family story, not just a single moment. If you missed that blog post find it here: Maielina's Ruby Bunny Themed One Year Studio Milestone Session

For Kailani’s session, her mom requested a Lilo & Stitch–inspired beach theme, so I built out a soft tropical set with a beach backdrop, palm trees, and hibiscus florals. I leaned into a bright but balanced color palette of greens, yellows, blues, and pops of red to perfectly complement Kailani’s adorable red Lilo dress with white palm leaves.

At 11 months old, Kailani was still warming up to the studio and the set — which is completely normal at this age. She gave me lots of curious, serious looks that honestly photographed beautifully. We started with her seated in a little beach chair and rotated in beachy props like a pineapple sippy cup and a Stitch stuffy. She was especially comforted by her dad, who was amazing at helping reposition her, adjust her dress, and gently encourage her when she needed a break.

Like many milestone sessions, this one took teamwork. We played music, tried peekaboo, and yes — Miss Rachel made an appearance — all in an effort to coax a smile or two. Even without big grins, Kailani’s expressions told such a sweet story of who she is right now.

Halfway through the session, after a bottle break, we brought out the cake. Kailani was cozy, full, and a little sleepy — and that led to one of those very real milestone moments parents will always remember. She sampled the cake, decided it wasn’t for her… and we paused, reset, and tried again. These things happen, especially at this age, and it’s all part of the experience.

The second round with the cake we let Kailani take the lead. We did cut her a slice to help her out too. Kailani sat with frosting on her legs, taking everything in. When mom and dad stepped back for a moment, she found the bravery to lean forward and give the cake a tiny taste — complete with the sweetest little tongue-out moment. It was one of my favorite moments from the session. 😛

By the end, she was understandably tired, but we had captured a full range of expressions, angles, and moments that truly reflected her personality.

Sessions like this are a reminder that milestone sessions don’t have to go perfectly to get amazing photos and to be meaningful experience for the whole family. Sometimes the quiet moments, the teamwork, and the real memories are what matter most, and seriously how cute did these photos turn out? Kailani is such a cutie!!