YOU GUYS!!! I can’t hold back any longer, I’m so excited to share these ideas with you!

Hello lovely ladies! It’s Jen, your Orange County photographer here at Hostess With The Mostess. I adore working with you and your families. You always trust me to come up with creative ideas, and execute the most stunning photo shoots (if you’re looking for inspiration, head on over to my Facebook page, right here).

So today, I wanted to share with you a few simple ideas to help you create an amazingly awesome first year photo shoot of your own. Your little one only turns one year old once. So go big! Now I know it’s likely you have an extravagant party planned already, but I encourage you to set some time aside a week or two before your party, and do a first birthday photo shoot of your own! Added bonus: you can display some of the photos at the birthday party! Scroll down to check out some sample shots, followed by tips for making the most of your own first year photo shoot.

CREATING A FUN FIRST BIRTHDAY SHOOT

1. Find a fun location.
Maybe an awesome wood or brick wall in your neighborhood. Or under a unique tree near your home. A cool iron gate, or a picket fence? The possibilities are endless!

2. Find a fun outfit.
For this shoot, we went with a tutu. And guess what, mom made it! Head over to Pinterest, and search “tulle tutu.” You’ll easily find simple instructions on how to create an inexpensive one your own!

3. Grab a special background.
I always love bunting. There are so many combinations you can use, and the colors always pop. You could also consider streamers, balloons, or so much more.

4. Bake a cake!
That’s right, mama made this adorable cake, and it was perfect. We knew it would add a little fun to the end of our shoot, and make this little lady extra happy.

5. Incorporate your little one’s personality.
Do they love when you to read to them? Bring some books to stack up. Do they love “playing” with a guitar? Put that in the background. Do they have a special toy that makes them laugh? Let them play with it!

6. Have some fun!
The pressure is off, there are no guests to entertain and no decorating to be done. So have fun with your little one. Make them laugh, make them smile. Genuine happiness cannot be duplicated, so let it shine through in your pictures.

7. Join in on the fun!
Don’t be camera shy. I always encourage moms to be IN pictures with their kids (see some tips for doing that, right here). Bring a friend or a fellow mama, so they can take a few pictures for you. Don’t pass up these moments to smile with your little love, they fly by fast!

And remember, you don’t have to have a professional photographer like me, to do this for you. You can do it on your own, with a little will and effort! I hope this gives you lots of unique ideas and inspiration to celebrate your baby in an extra special way!