Celebrating a One-Year-Old Birthday with a Photo Session!
You only turn one once!
Try celebrating it with an outdoor photo session! Natural light is such beautiful light for photography. Children love to be outside and what better way to capture their true spirit than by taking them outdoors for a professional photo session to celebrate their first birthday!
On this particular day, the weather could not have been better! The sun was shining, there was a beautiful cloud cover and there was no wind! (It was what photographer's dreams are made of!)
How Should I Get My Child Ready for a Photo Session?
Please make sure that your child has had a nap before our session. A well-rested child is a happy child!
Have your child eat as well before the session. Bring snacks and drinks and favorite toys to comfort him/her. (This particular session started off with the little girl screaming when she saw me as I was someone new.) I am well aware that kids will be kids and that we need to keep things flexible and on your child's terms for our session.
After we settled her down with a few songs, she was ready to roll.
What Should My Child Wear to a One-Year-Old Session?
Her pink tulle dress and matching headband were absolute perfection! Solid colors work really well in photography. I also send you a style guide to help choose your child's wardrobe (and yours) for the session. The fun thing about one-year-olds is that you get to select their outfits. In fact, this may be the only year that you get to decide what s/he wears. Have fun with the outfit! Make sure that all clothing is free from wrinkles as that is no fun to edit later.
Should I Bring Props to My Session?
Props are so fun, but they are optional! If you want to bring a favorite toy or blankie to remember it, then please bring it!
For this session, the client had been gifted a one-year-old banner that we incorporated into the photos. We also brought a solid colored light blanket to provide a lovely reflector to get her beautiful skin tones correct. (Often, if you sit on a wildly colored blanket, your skin will pick up the colors in the blanket!) We also had a matching little doll to keep her attention as I snapped my camera! Since I knew that she could stand, I brought a soft stool for her to hold onto so we could show that she was standing at age one.
She also had a floral headband which really was adorable!
If you think props will add to the personality of the session, then please bring them!
What Will We Do at a One-Year-Old Photo Shoot?
Kids will be kids. I will let your child drive the session.
At your session, we will walk around and look for the best light. We will then sing songs, wiggle funny stuffed toys at your child and be silly so they will get comfortable. We clap, try to stand or walk, and interact with other family members in the photos. I will try to stop time and catch all of the cute little details about your child.
Should I Be in the Pictures?
This is entirely up to you.
But.... look at how cute the photo above is with Mom walking with her daughter? Her daughter could not yet walk on her own, but could walk with assistance. As moms, we don't always get into the photos with our children. Make sure that you are camera ready also so that you can jump in and get some epic milestone photos with your child1
If you would like to book a milestone photo session for your one, two, or three year old, please contact me!
