Having five and three year old daughters, not only have I taken 1 year old sessions, but I have also prepared for them. Between cakes, themes, locations, and outfits, the task can seem a bit overwhelming to some. Have no fear! This article will give you ideas and simple checklists you can use when preparing for your 1 year old's photo shoot.
Your baby is now 1, you've found your photographer, and you've booked your 1 year old photo session. Now what? What is the next step for you as the parent? When preparing for my own two daughters' one year old sessions the first thing that came to mind was what theme I wanted. For my oldest, we were limited on options. She turned 1 in April of 2020, so the pandemic had us cancelling her birthday party. Instead of ordering the mermaid party decorations I had been saving on my Amazon list, I decided to use things from around my house to create a cute background for her photos. We ended up hanging up all her "firsts" outfits behind her (first church dress, first Halloween costume, first 4th of July outfit, etc.). With my second daughter, she was allergic to eggs, so having a cake was out. Instead, we decided to have a party themed "One in a Melon". Instead of having a smash cake, we cut a watermelon in half, and she dug right in. We got the cutest pictures of both girls, and I am so happy with the results.
Next on your checklist is outfits. When doing a photo shoot with Katie Thomas Photography, I offer a session where the birthday boy or girl can have 2 outfits. Parents or siblings can get in a couple photos, but I limit them to just one outfit. Once again, when deciding on an outfit, think about what theme the photo shoot and party are. With my younger girl, we decided to put her in a red and white dress to match the watermelon. I've seen the most beautiful party dresses for little girls with unicorn themes and little boys wearing baseball jerseys and caps. The possibilities are endless. If you are local to Navarro County, I recommend The Children's Shop on N Beaton. Dillard's and Macy's always have beautiful options, and Amazon offers really cute styles that are very affordable.
Location. Location. Location. Our next topic is where would you want hold your portrait session. There are so many options. I do not have a studio, so I depend on locations that either my client comes up with or places I can find, myself. With my oldest, we used our back yard, and with my younger girl, we went to my in-law's patio. The secret to good photography is you don't need a super fancy location to get amazing portraits! Great options are the local parks, ball fields, or even the playground.
The smash cake can create some of the best and most adorable photos for of your 1 year old. I always feel like they are unsure if they should just dig in or wait for mommy to cut it up for them! Store bakeries offer options for the classic, round smash cakes. With my oldest, we had a family friend make her cake, so finding a friend or family member with baking skills is a nice option as well. If you have an allergy kiddo, like mine, or maybe you like the idea of changing things up, there are more options than just cake. There's always fruit, doughnuts, pancakes, spaghetti, and so much more!
Finally, printing your photos after your session can be a sweet way to remember your baby's first birthday forever. When I send out my client galleries, I always provide the option of buying prints, canvases, photo albums, and birthday invitations. The gallery I use goes through a professional printer who offers high quality prints. I always recommend purchasing prints through your photographer's gallery rather than printing them at a local retail store. Not only is the quality better, but you have option to print birthday cards and photo albums to cherish for years to come.
Ultimately, your baby's 1 year old pictures will be a part of the first birthday memories. The star of the show is the little 1 year old, and it is my goal as a photographer to make sure to capture their sweetness and make sure this milestone is chronicled for you and your family to cherish. If you like these ideas and would like to book a 1 year old portrait session with me, click the button below to get started.
1 Year Old Portrait Session Tips
