A few months before your baby’s first birthday, you may be thinking about throwing a party. Maybe you’d like a family celebration, or maybe you’re planning a party with lots of guests. Either way, first birthday photography tips and advice will help make sure you get some great photos.
Plan your photos
The first thing to do is plan your photo shoot. You may want to consider asking your friends and family to bring along a camera, but if you’re having a big party, there’ll be loads of people taking photos, and you’ll probably be too busy to think about taking photos.
Your best bet is to buy a professional camera, like a DSLR or a compact camera, with a range of different settings. You can buy accessories such as a macro lens or telephoto lens for a lot less than you’d pay for a single expensive lens.
If you’re really strapped for cash, you can always borrow a camera from a friend, or rent a digital SLR or point and shoot for a day. A friend or relative may be happy to lend you a camera so you can use it during the party, and if they don’t mind, you can keep the memory card as a memento of the occasion.
Have fun with your photography
When your baby’s first birthday comes around, you may want to get some photos to put in albums and display in your home. This is your chance to show off your gorgeous little one, so be prepared to take lots of photos. However, be careful not to take too many pictures. You don’t want to end up with a collection of blurry snaps that nobody wants to look at.
Ideally, you’ll want to take a couple of photos of your baby in each pose. If your child isn’t interested in being photographed, then have some fun with a photo booth, or use a small tripod with a camera attached to get some cool photos.
Get close
You want to get as close to your baby as possible when you take photos. Be aware that if you’re using a DSLR, you may need to stand back slightly. Also, make sure you’re taking photos at the right angle. The easiest way to achieve this is to position yourself in front of a plain background, and shoot vertically or horizontally.
For a more dynamic photo, you may need to use a camera with a viewfinder. Take several shots of your baby’s face, and try to capture your baby’s personality. This may mean trying out different poses. Have your baby laughing or smiling, and don’t forget to include the whole family.
Take some candid photos
You may be a bit nervous about taking candid photos, especially if you don’t know how to do it. In fact, this is one of the most important things to practice. Don’t worry about taking a lot of photos. Take only a few, and make sure you’re not pointing your camera directly at your baby.
The best way to learn how to take candid photos is to take a few photos of other people. Just be sure that the person you’re photographing is okay with it.
Don’t overdo it
When you take photos at a party, it’s likely that you’ll be taking a lot of photos. Don’t worry about taking too many photos, but make sure you don’t forget to take a few photos of your baby. Try to ensure that you don’t look at your phone or laptop for long. If you’re a new parent, you may be anxious to check your email, so you can relax and enjoy the party.
First Birthday Photography Ideas
