Preparing for First Year Photos

Hooray!  It is time to celebrate your child’s first birthday!  The next thought that goes through your brain is:  Oh my goodness, you must document this milestone!!!  We need family photos! 

Hi, it’s me, Stacey.  I have been a family photographer full time for 6 years.  During that time, I have documented hundreds of first birthdays.  Let me help you prepare for how this first birthday session is likely to go so that you and your family can have the right mindset when you show up for your family photo shoot.

You may or may not have done newborn photos for your child.  If you worked with me and did posed newborn photos, you watched me wrap and pose your (hopefully) sleeping baby into cute little positions.  It was adorable and so precious, right?  I love doing those photos sooo much.  It is an art to me. 

First year photos are different than newborn photos.  Your child is no longer a sleeping baby that is decently easy to pose into the position of the photographer’s choosing.  They are their own person, who has their own opinion.  As a parent, we dream of capturing our beautiful baby with all their smiles and adorableness during this milestone session.  I want to caution you on getting your hopes stuck on perfect photos, though. Let me bring a little perspective to things.  :-)

Your child likely is super smiley and giggly at home.  They know where they like to crawl or walk to, they know what they snuggle or play with that gives them joy.  Their home and car seat are probably the places they spend the most time.   This first photo session is likely going to be at neither of those places.  Mom’s love to go outside and get beautiful photos…. you know, away from the chaos of their home.  Kids love the outdoors, right?  Well… not always.  I don’t know about you, but before my children were walking, I really didn’t take them to parks.  We may have played in the backyard, but I knew more or less what was in that dirt, but not so much the dirt at the park.  You know that the dirt goes straight in the mouth, right? 

Being at a park or a studio is a new experience.  Your child may panic.  They may be super excited at first or they may break down right away… no matter what, it is normal.  You one year old still doesn’t have the words to communicate their wishes and desires with you.  They can’t tell you they are overstimulated and just want a snuggle.  Instead, they are being asked to perform and smile for an hour… yikes!  Yet this is what we expect and dream of as parents- a smiley baby for photos! 

It is perfectly normal for your one year old to have a meltdown during their one year milestone session.  When you start a new job, don’t you at some point need to take a walk and take a breather just to recenter yourself?  Your kiddo will need to get their emotions out, and they will do that through tears.  As a parent, the best thing you can do is prepare for it and respond with grace and compassion.  Let them cry and get it all out.  I’ll put my camera down and give you all space.  Your kiddo will come around once they see how loved they are. 

Can you prevent this meltdown?  Maybe.  The best way to prevent a meltdown is to come to the park or studio with a loving, compassionate, and curious heart.  Don’t bring expectations for your child to perform.  Carry your kiddo around the park and show them new things!  Sit on a blanket (yup, even if the ground is wet) and cuddle with them.  Laying down and snuggling is beautiful too!  Enjoy your child and let them get used to the experience.  It will make for such a better photo session all around.  Slow down and think about how wonderous this park must be from their perspective. Is that dry grass they want to feel and explore? Do it! Okay… maybe try not to let them swallow rocks though. ;-)

Once your child sees that you are there for them, they will relax.  They will open up and we’ll get genuine smiles.  Even if not, that is okay.  It would be my ultimate dream if a parent let their child just be their child.  I am still learning to do that with my 10 year old.  I know it’s not easy to put aside our expectations, but when we can- it really can be for the best. 

So celebrate this milestone with a session that is genuine!  Let’s do have a photo session isn’t full of squeakers (used to grab the child’s attention) and pressure for the child to smile.  Your family will be so much more relaxed!  I’ll provide prompts for how to explore the park with your kiddo, don’t worry.  I’ll make sure that your family looks great and are taken care of!  You will be authentic and real.  I want that for you.  I want that for your child.  We can do that together, let’s do it! 

 Are you thinking you want to do a cake smash too?  Check out my cake smash tips!