Taking newborn photos at home is a no-brainer. But more and more clients are also booking in-home sessions to mark their baby’s first birthday. While you may think of a studio or “cake smash” session to be the traditional choice for first birthday photos, an in-home family session is a far better choice IMHO. Let’s talk about why a first birthday in-home session is so special and fun. 

Showcasing Their Personality and Milestones

By the time your child turns one, they have strong opinions and preferences! And they’re mobile!  Their little personality is really showing, and it makes these sessions a lot of fun. A first birthday session might showcase: 

• First steps or turbo-speed crawling (because sitting still is apparently not an option)
• Favorite toys and books 
• Your baby in the nursery
• Playtime with parents and siblings
• Eating birthday cake

So Much Growth

Your baby’s first year is filled with so many changes. But for parents — let’s be honest — it’s exhausting. Wonderful but also exhausting. I think most parents think back to their kids’ first year and it’s just a blur. I love it when my clients book a newborn session and then come back at the one year mark, because the difference in these two stages is so dramatic. This growth is a testament to all of the work and love the family has devoted to their child and it deserves to be documented!

Why In-Home Is Best

Having your baby’s first birthday session at home is the way to go — trust me! Clients occasionally ask to do these sessions outdoors. But as we all know, at the 1 year mark, babies are typically mobile — either crawling or walking — and they love to explore. For an outdoor session, this means that parents will be chasing their baby around and wiping dirt off clothes, while schlepping a stroller and snacks. It just doesn’t set the stage for a relaxed session. 

In contrast, an in-home session contains all of the chaos and allows for a more relaxed baby-let session. Your baby can safely crawl or toddle around the familiar surroundings of your baby-proofed home without getting dirty and without you chasing them around or trying to hold them while they squirm. You don’t have to pretend that mosquitoes and sweating are just part of the “magic.” You have everything you need at home — diapers, bottles, pacifier, etc. At home, you can enjoy everyday activities like reading books, listening to music, and playing with your baby’s favorite toys. These moments are way more fun than forcing a stiff smile in a studio.

Print Your Photos!

Once you have your beautiful images, consider making an album. Ordering a newborn album and a first birthday album is a cool way to bookend the first year with something tangible. Whatever you do, please don’t let all your photos just sit on your computer as jpegs!