Lara celebrated turning three with her favorite treat—watermelon—and the sweetest birthday milestone session full of smiles, personality, and plenty of summer fun.

Some families become more than just clients—they become familiar faces that you look forward to seeing year after year. I've had the privilege of photographing Lara and her family for the past three years, and before that, I had the honor of documenting milestones for her older brother as well. Watching these little ones grow up in front of my camera is one of the best parts of being a photographer.

When it came time to celebrate Lara's third birthday, we wanted to make her session as unique as she is. Instead of traditional birthday props, we built the entire session around one very important thing...

Her favorite food.

Watermelon.

The moment she saw all that watermelon waiting for her, her face absolutely lit up. It didn't take long before she was happily digging in, laughing, and enjoying every minute of having her favorite snack all to herself. There's something so genuine about letting kids be themselves during a session, and Lara made it easy. Every smile, giggle, and sticky little watermelon bite told the story of exactly who she is at three years old.

One of my favorite parts of planning birthday milestone sessions is finding creative ways to make them personal. A favorite food, hobby, toy, or activity helps create photographs that truly reflect a child's personality instead of feeling like every other birthday session. Years from now, these images won't just remind Lara what she looked like at three—they'll remind her family that she was completely obsessed with watermelon.

Of course, I couldn't help but compare her session to her big brother's. When he celebrated turning three, he chose donuts and M&Ms as the stars of his birthday photos. Clearly, great taste runs in the family, even if everyone has a different favorite treat!

Lara even had the perfect outfit for the occasion—a watermelon dress that couldn't have matched the theme any better. By the end of the session, she loved it so much that she wore it home. Honestly, who could say no to that sweet face? It ended up becoming the perfect extra birthday surprise.

Moments like these are exactly why I love milestone photography. Childhood is filled with little phases, favorite foods, funny personalities, and unforgettable traditions that often change before we realize it. Capturing those little details makes these sessions so much more meaningful than simply taking birthday portraits.

Happy Birthday, Lara! It's been such a joy watching you grow over the past three years, and I'm so thankful your wonderful family continues to trust me with these special memories. I can't wait to see what your next adventure brings!

If you're looking for birthday milestone photography in Peoria, IL, Pat Hermann Photography loves creating personalized sessions that celebrate your child's unique personality. Whether your little one loves watermelon, donuts, dinosaurs, trucks, princesses, or anything in between, we'll create a session that's every bit as fun and memorable as they are.