Your baby's first birthday is almost here! You're probably swinging on a pendulum between “It's been a year already?” and “Ah, am I supposed to plan a party?!” Taking your baby's milestone photo is one thing that doesn't have to be complicated. We've rounded up eight precious 1st birthday picture ideas that you can DIY. Commemorate your baby's birthday with a heartwarming photo to round out their baby book.
DIY Photography Tips
Before you jump into your DIY photo session, here are some tips to get the best looking photos possible.
1. Find great light.
If you're taking your photos indoors, natural light is ideal. Position your baby near a window with bright indirect sunlight. For photos outdoors, mornings and evenings are the best time for soft, glowy sunlight. It will give you the light you need without being too harsh for your baby.
2. Get organized.
Set up everything before you bring your baby to the place you're going to take the photo. If you have props, get them in place in advance. That minimizes the time your baby has to “explore” all of your hard work before you get the picture you want.
3. Have fun!
As tough as it can be with milestones like a first birthday, let go of perfectionism. The more fun you have, the more you'll enjoy looking back on this photo with your little one years from now.
8 1st Birthday Picture Ideas You Can DIY
Here are eight of our favorite 1st birthday picture ideas that you can DIY at home or the park.
1. Birthday Balloon
There's something so adorable about a little baby next to a giant balloon. It's so whimsical.
What You Need
Get a helium balloon in the shape of the number one. If you've got a really wiggly kiddo, a cursive ‘one' that you can tape to your wall will work just fine too.
How to Do It
If using a helium 1 balloon, sit your baby beside it. Depending on how ambitious you're feeling, you can create a little balloon arch to place behind your baby and the number balloon, but a plain wall or backdrop will work just fine too. You want the focus to be baby. If you're using a cursive ‘one' balloon for your wiggly kiddo, sit them in a high chair instead.
2. Baby's Favorites
Our favorite 1st birthday picture ideas showcase your baby's personality. Prop your baby's favorite things around them to commemorate who they're becoming.
What You Need
Gather your baby's favorite toys and other items. It could be a puzzle, a blanket, or even a pet. Go for whatever makes your child's personality emerge.
How to Do It
Arrange your child's favorites in natural light in front of a blank space like a wall. You'll probably have to take this photo quickly as your baby is bound to get excited about all their favorite things in one spot.
3. Cozy Family Photo
Your baby isn't turning one in a vacuum. Your whole family is reaching a milestone. Why not get everyone in on the fun of the photoshoot?
What You Need
Gather your family in natural light in your house or yard. If you have the capacity, pick a color palette for everyone's outfits. If you're all mismatched, you can always change the photo to black and white later.
How to Do It
Put your baby on a parent's lap and gather close. Use your phone camera's self-timer. Instead of having everyone smile directly at the camera, try kissing your baby's cheeks. Take a few different shots while your little one is a willing participant.
4. Music Hour
If you haven't gathered by now, we like 1st birthday picture ideas that let kids be kids. Music is always a way to bring joy and energy to time with your baby.
What You Need
Get a rattle, xylophone, or drum. If your little one is already walking, standing and dancing, turning on their favorite music works too!
How to Do It
Seat your baby in the desired spot with the instrument you've chosen. Encourage them to make as much noise as they want while you snap photos of their happy face.
5. Classic Cake Smash
Cake smash photos have been around for decades. If you have one from your first birthday, you'll love seeing it side by side with your baby's.
What You Need
You just need cake and a high chair. Some people opt for cupcakes or a small smash cake as more aesthetic options than a conventional cake slice. Make sure your baby is wearing something that can get messy. (This is a cake smash.)
How to Do It
Put the cake or a small cutting cake at your baby's place. Let them explore the treat at their own pace. You're bound to get some sweet candid smiles.
6. Festive Letterboard
1st birthday picture ideas don't need to reinvent the wheel. If you've used a letterboard for monthly photos throughout your baby's first year, you can use it for this too.
What You Need
Grab your letterboard and a photogenic outfit for your baby.
How to Do It
Seat your baby next to the letterboard. To make this milestone feel extra special, add a birthday wish to the letterboard.
7. Playground Fun
Does your kid live for the playground? Photograph them in their favorite place!
What You Need
Just take your baby to your family's favorite playground.
How to Do It
Playgrounds offer lots of opportunities for playful photos. Try posing your baby in a swing, at the top of a slide, or in the sandbox.
8. Candid Joy
At Baby Notebook, we're big fans of lifestyle photography. This approach documents your family as it truly is with less emphasis on posing than traditional photography.
What You Need
This doesn't take much planning at all. It's all about capturing the moment.
How to Do It
At your first year celebration or throughout the week as you spend time with family, capture photos of your one-year-old engaging with others.
How to Preserve Those Precious Photos
Now that you've looked through these 1st birthday picture ideas, you'll want to think about how you're going to preserve your precious photo. A custom baby book is the perfect way to commemorate your child's first year. Check out Baby Notebook's aesthetic baby book.
Our app makes it easy to start and finish your baby book. Customizable reminders and user-friendly features make it so that you can complete an entire memory book in just minutes a week over the course of the year.
Download the Baby Notebook app for free and start your baby book!