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Every parent wants to come up with unique first birthday photoshoot ideas for their munchkins because firsts are always special. First birthdays are celebrated in a grand way.
Among the host of planned activities, such as theme, decorations, and cake, a photoshoot remains the most important. A photoshoot is an excellent way to look back at the celebration and create wonderful keepsakes.
Read this post as we bring you some interesting and creative first birthday photoshoot ideas to let you kick off the fun and make everyone smile. Make every moment of your child’s birthday celebration count with these ideas.
17 First Birthday Photoshoot Ideas And Tips
Whether you have a beautiful girl or a handsome boy, make use of these ideas to make the first birthday party super special.
1. Balloons
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Nothing says a celebration like balloons, and this quintessential décor for a birthday instantly conveys a theme that’s celebratory. You can capture one-year-old birthday photos with your little one holding a single bright balloon during the actual birthday party celebration. Alternatively, you can set up a photo station with a bunch in rainbow colors and other decorations to bring in the mood. This also lets other guests take photos of their own and create magical moments. Bonus: A balloon bouquet always makes the young ones smile from ear to ear!
2. A family photo
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One birthday photo idea is a family picture. It’s also the best time to get creative family photos. Once the solo shot of the birthday baby is done, it can be just the mom and dad or even include other members of the family, like cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. You can have a few staged shots and some fun candid moments too. A popular pose you can try is with parents on either side holding either hand of the child. Along with capturing the beautiful baby pictures, you can also showcase the family’s strength and the bond shared by mother, father, and child.
3. Number one sign
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The number one sign is one of the best photoshoot ideas for your tiny tot’s first birthday, a birthday. You can have a classic number-one balloon, or you can even unleash your creativity and form a one out of toys, flowers, or other props. Continuing this tradition on every birthday ensures all beautiful moments during every birthday are captured and stored forever, making you nostalgic.
4. Messy time
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Every child likes to get messy, and capturing them in their element on their special day is one of the best photoshoot tips and tricks to rely on. What you can do is have an outdoor party in your backyard where you give your child the freedom to splash in a puddle of water, play with mud, smear paint on themselves, and whatnot. Let them loose and capture these candid moments along with a few laughs. Yes, it does sound messy, but that’s the beauty! Trust the photographer to capture some amazing shots while your little one enjoys their day.
5. Little man or lady
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Every parent loves dressing up their little one. On their special day, you can dress your little one up into a man or lady for a photo session. Just imagine your boy wearing tiny suspenders and a bow tie and your girl donning on twirly tutus and long strands of pearls. This instantly ups the cute factor in your photos. You can even bring other outfit ideas to the photo session.
Quick tip6. Bubbles
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Bubbles are a thing of fascination for all children alike. If you’re looking for an outdoor photoshoot, then you can consider including bubbles in your birthday photos. They bring instant excitement, and if you’re looking for amusing or entertaining candid moments, this is the best idea. The photographer will be able to capture some priceless expressions of your child during the shoot.
7. Cake smash
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A new birthday photo idea that’s been making rounds of late is the cake smash photoshoot. If you’re into following what’s trending, don’t slip up on this opportunity. You can either get a cake that matches your child’s outfit or the actual birthday party theme and set up the photo session in front of a beautiful backdrop. Now it’s time to let your child dig into the cake and get messy. They may smear the cake all over themselves and try to eat it or just play with it. Although messy, the expressions you’ll capture are priceless.
8. Birthday shoot with props
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Every child has a favorite toy, so you can get your child something to play with during the photoshoot. A prop can come in handy to keep your child distracted and occupied, enabling you to get the best photographs of your child on this special day. Props help calm a child down and make them feel at ease. This is what you want to show in your photos. You don’t want pictures of your child looking scared or uneasy.
9. Sports
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If you’re a family who is into sports, you can combine your love for sports with a creative photoshoot on your child’s first birthday. You can do anything from a basketball-themed party where all the décor and cake are in tune with your favorite team. Alternatively, you can organize a small photo session with different sports for your child and watch them grab a ball and play. You can easily spice up the photoshoot by dressing your child up in a team jersey.
10. Bath time
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There’s nothing more adorable than children splashing and having fun in the bathtub. You can turn this cuteness into a photo session with first birthday decorations in the backdrop. If the birthday child has siblings, you can squeeze them all into the bathtub and let them have fun. Although this is not a huge party celebration, it’s definitely worth the photo session. You can throw the actual birthday party on another day.
11. Movie theme
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Turn up the fun at your child’s first birthday by including a movie theme in the party. One way for the entire family to do this is to dress as characters of a movie of your choice. Otherwise, each member of the party can sport a different character. Your child will be fully dressed, looking cute, and ready for a quick photo session. This exciting experience will create some moments you can cherish forever.
12. Twinning
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A great photo opportunity for the whole family is dressing up alike or twinning with the birthday child. You can wear similar outfits and capture some beautiful memories. A group photo brings out the bond between mother, father, and child and evokes different emotions. This idea is best for the fall birthdays, where the changing leaves can be captured in the backdrop.
Quick tip13. Animal
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The first year of a child is when they start to learn about things around them, including animals. Does your child resonate with a dog, cat, or even a zebra? If yes, you can pick up their favorite animal and dress them up in that manner. You can create a backdrop of a forest or a home, depending on the animal, and click away! You can even play animal noises in the backdrop, so they get into the character.
14. Unicorn
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Children have an undying obsession with unicorns, so why turn this into a photo session. You can dress up your child as a cute unicorn, arrange a variety of props around and even have a magical backdrop that completes the setup. With such a magical theme, the photos will turn out to be nothing short of magical!
15. Growth collage
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With a little bit of patience and a whole lot of creativity, you can make this amazing collage come to life. This involves a photograph of your child from the day they were born until their first birthday. You can keep the one leading up to the first birthday relatively simple and make the big day special, with extra décor and props.
16. Clouds
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From a young age, you can teach your children to reach for the stars. In this magical photo opportunity, you can make your child’s fairy-tale dreams come true. Other than clouds, you can create the entire sky with stars, the moon, the sun, and whatever your heart desires. This is even an excellent DIY opportunity for the family to make the stars and clouds from scratch. All in all, your child will look like they’re in seventh heaven!
17. Swimmer
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Whether it’s at the beach, in a pool, or a makeshift water body, you can bring in summer vibes with a swim-themed photoshoot. You can dress your child in a cute swimsuit and sunglasses and even have them pose next to a sandcastle! Besides, you can use props like a beach towel, an umbrella, a volleyball, and more to make the picture truly come to life.
Seven Tips For A First Birthday Photo Session
- It’s crucial to make sure you and your tiny tot are well rested before the big day. You don’t want them to be cranky during the photo session.
- You also need to ensure your child is well-fed so they don’t get cranky and the photoshoot goes smoothly.
- When you dress your child, it’s important to pick comfortable outfits, so your child can sit through the photoshoot in peace.
- Don’t stress too much about your child looking into the camera during photos. Candid photos are equally cute and memorable.
- Don’t lay focus only on the photoshoot, it’s important to have fun along the way.
- Too much staging can look bad. It’s good to keep the setting decorated yet natural at the same time.
- You can consider hiring a professional photographer as you don’t want to be stuck behind the camera and miss out on the entire event and all the fun.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What items should I have handy for a 1st birthday photoshoot?
Preparing a list of items and making necessary arrangements way ahead of the birthday photoshoot can help prepare for the function in a stress-free manner. Some essential items include props such as balloons, banners, toys, and items that adhere to the theme of the party. Arrange for a cake if you have included a cake smash in the photo shoot. Keep extra clothes, towels, tissues, and wipes handy as birthday shoots can get messy. Carrying or keeping snacks and drinks for the baby can help if the child gets hungry or thirsty during the photoshoot.
2. What type of lighting works best for a 1st birthday photoshoot?
If you are doing the shoot yourself, conduct the photoshoot in natural light, if possible, as it provides a soft and flattering light that can enhance the child’s features. If shooting indoors, position the child near a window with natural light streaming in. Avoid shooting midday if you are outside. A professional photographer will have the correct lighting set up for a cake smash session already set up.
Your baby’s first birthday is a special occasion that you await eagerly. Make this day memorable by having a unique photoshoot for your baby. You can pick one of the 1st birthday photoshoot ideas from our post or use a few of them as inspiration to plan a personalized photoshoot for your munchkin. Whatever idea you choose, ensure you and your child enjoy every moment f the birthday, and your photo shoot captures your candid moments with your baby. As your baby grows, their first birthday pictures can become memorabilia that you can cherish eternally.
Infographic: First Birthday Photoshoot Ideas
You capture every moment of your little one, running after them with a camera to capture the goofy and cute gestures. So why hold back on one of the most important milestones? If your little one’s competing one year, we present unique and beautiful photoshoot ideas to freeze this day in a photograph. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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