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TIPS for First Birthday Photos

Writer: Melody Coarsey
Melody Coarsey
Sep 12, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Jul 28

The first year of your baby's life can be a whirlwind.

It goes by so fast, with all the love, so many firsts, finding your groove as parents, all of it.


So, celebrating both YOU and your little one with First Birthday Photos is definitely well deserved!


But, HOW CAN YOU MAKE THESE GO SMOOTH?


I mean, no one wants additional stress in their life, so let me help you out with my Top 3 Tips for a successful session:



Smiling toddler in a gray sleeveless outfit reaches toward the camera in a grassy park with trees and a white fence.

1. KEEP THE OUTFITS SIMPLE


Unless you are that momma who changes your little one multiple times a day just to get a few minutes use out of an outfit (no judgement, I did this with my first), MOST little ones can handle maybe ONE outfit change without getting upset. They are already at a new place with some crazy lady with a big black thing making silly noises at them, pausing to change them multiple times can lead to frustration and your sweet baby not being as happy as they usually are.


(this solid colored romper is PERFECT for little boys. Comfortable, photographs well, and pretty cheap on Amazon)



Baby in a wooden crate on grass under sprawling trees, wearing a brown sleeveless outfit and looking calmly at the camera.

2. BRING A CHEAP BLANKET OR SHEET


If you are wanting a cake smash with your little one, bringing a solid colored sheet or blanket (get a cheap white one at Walmart) will make clean up easy AND you won't have to worry about grass or frosting stains.


and speaking of frosting......


Toddler in a brown outfit sits on a white bed, playing with a frosted cake on a wooden board with greenery.

3. MINIMAL OR WHITE FROSTING IS YOUR FRIEND


I know, maybe you REALLY wanted a multi-colored blue cake BUT just be aware often times the brightly colored frosting stains the clothes, blankets AND can give you a surprise later during a diaper change when there is LOTS of blue in there.


Not to mention the naked cake trend is easy to DIY, and again comes with minimal clean up afterwards.



Toddler with frosting on face and hands sits on a porch in a brown outfit, looking wide-eyed at the camera.

BONUS TIP FOR FIRST BIRTHDAY PHOTOS


Ok, no one can be surprised I had more than three tips.....BUT,

the BIGGEST tip for First Birthday and really all sessions with little ones is BE FLEXIBLE. You have no idea how many times parents are all excited to watch their baby eat their first cake and the baby wants NOTHING to do with it. I know this can be a let down, BUT putting a little frosting on their face and hands can give the appearance they dug into the cake for the photos, even if you ended up eating it on the way home instead.


If you just want to see more cuteness, keep on scrolling as I have SO much of this cutie and his Frist Birthday session, but if you are interested in booking your First Birthday session into January of 2024, CLICK HERE to grab my guide with all the information!


~Melody



Curious toddler in a gray romper stands on a sunlit park path, looking at the camera with wide eyes and parted lips.

Close-up of a toddler in a gray romper sitting on a blanket, resting a hand on their leg in a calm, soft-lit scene.

Close-up of a thoughtful baby in profile, looking down against a softly blurred beige background.

Baby sitting in a wooden crate on a grassy lawn beneath sprawling oak trees with Spanish moss, looking up in a peaceful yard.

Toddler sits in a rustic wooden crate on grass outdoors, wrapped with a white blanket, looking calmly at the camera.

one year old boy sitting in wooden box looks up at photographer during first birthday photoshoot

Close-up of a toddler clasping hands on a weathered wooden bench outdoors, wearing a gray romper.

Smiling baby in a wooden crate lined with white cloth, sitting outdoors on green grass.

Curious baby in a wooden crate outdoors, wearing a gray romper and looking up against a grassy background.

Smiling toddler in a gray romper holds his hands together in a green park with blurred trees behind him.

Smiling toddler in a gray romper reaches toward the camera in a grassy park with blurred trees and a white fence.

Toddler in gray romper crawls on a sunlit white porch beside a decorative railing, with soft outdoor greenery beyond.

Smiling baby crawls on a white porch with green shutters and railing in front of a house.

Smiling baby crawls on a white porch with green shutters, looking at the camera in soft daylight.

Baby in gray romper sits on a porch beside a white cake with a blue number 1 candle and greenery.

Close-up of a baby’s bare foot on a white bed, beside a floral blanket and small pink-orange plant sprigs.

Toddler sits on a white cloth on a porch, eating cake with a frosted cake beside them in soft daylight.

Toddler on a porch eats cake, frosting smeared on hands and mouth, in front of a white house with green shutters.

Toddler with frosting on face and hands sits on a porch in a brown romper, looking curiously at the camera.

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