One of my favorite baby photography trends is the “baby in a bucket” look paired with a floral bonnet. It’s whimsical, timeless, and just SO ridiculously cute.

Sitter sessions are seriously my favorite! They usually happen when babies are around six to nine months old, when they can sit steadily on their own but aren’t quite crawling yet. It’s such a sweet spot because they’re so full of smiles and personality, but not mobile enough to wiggle out of the frame.

My youngest daughter had her sitter session when she was eight months old and they’re still some of my favorite photos in the house! I knew I wanted to bring that same magic into my own photography studio one day.

Funny enough, I wasn’t planning on making my own bonnets at all! I actually went to buy some from a photographer who was selling her whole studio on Facebook Marketplace as she’s closing down. But the experience was so unpleasant that I left empty-handed and drove straight to the craft store instead. Out of pure spite, I gathered up supplies, made two myself that same day… and they turned out to be so much easier (and more fun) than I expected!

Floral Bonnet Process

I didn’t reinvent the wheel. I used a simple baby bonnet sewing pattern I found online as the base. I made mine out of a soft fleece fabric, then layered a pleated ribbon along the front edge. This not only frames baby’s face beautifully, but also gives a little separation so the flowers won’t sit directly against the skin.

For structure, I used something a little unconventional: the bottoms of foam cups! I cut them into half circles and glued them around the top of the bonnet, almost like sun rays or flower petals. They added height and gave me forward-facing surfaces to attach flowers to, which made the whole arrangement look fuller.

From there, it was all about playing florist. I bought two different faux flower bunches for each bonnet so I could mix and match styles. I started by placing the largest blooms first, filling in gaps with smaller flowers, and finally tucking in stems and greenery to give everything a natural, garden-like flow.

Why I Love Them

These little bonnets ended up being such a simple project, but they bring so much charm to a sitter session. Babies at this stage are so expressive and joyful, and pairing that with oversized floral crowns just feels magical.

I also love that no two bonnets will ever be exactly alike. The flowers I choose, the way they’re arranged, the mix of colors, it’s all unique, which makes each session feel personal.

I may not have set out to be a bonnet-maker, but sometimes a little DIY detour leads to something you didn’t know you needed. And in this case, it’s become one of my favorite handmade touches for milestone sessions.

Ready to Book

I’m so excited to keep creating pieces like this as I get closer to opening my studio. I’ll officially be ready to start taking bookings in September, and I would love to work with families who want to capture this sweet stage. If you’d like to be one of my first sessions, you can get in touch here.