5 Ways to Celebrate Your Baby’s First Birthday | San Francisco Baby Photographer

It’s hard to believe that your baby is already one year old! Time flies when you’re having fun, and before you know it they’ll be all grown up. While you can’t stop time from passing, there are ways to freeze this sweet moment in time with a first birthday photo shoot with a San Francisco Baby Photographer. Keep reading for five fun ways to celebrate your baby’s first birthday with photos that are sure to capture your family’s personality and create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.

1. Celebrate your baby’s first birthday with a cake smash photoshoot in the studio

A cake smash photo shoot is a fun and unique way to celebrate your baby’s first birthday. As a San Francisco Baby Photographer, I offer these sessions in my Bay Area Studio and provide beautiful set-ups with handmade custom outfits, vintage props, and custom-made cakes. You will never regret having photographs of your one-year-old’s unforgettable reaction as they taste that delicious smash cake for the very first time.

I offer several handmade outfits you can choose from and props that make for timeless portraits. If you have a special vision in mind, we can make that happen! Next, we will select a color scheme that coordinates with your chosen theme. I always recommend bringing along some props that reflect your child’s personality. This could be anything from a favorite toy to a special blanket.

The most important thing to remember is to have fun! Cake smashes are all about making memories and celebrating this special milestone.

2. Enjoy your first year as mom and dad with a family portrait session outdoors.

Booking an outdoor family session with me is a great way to celebrate your baby’s first birthday! As a San Francisco Baby Photographer, I know the Bay Area like the back of my hand and offer an extensive list of locations to choose from for my clients. I recommend picking a place that has meaning to your family. Do you love taking your baby on hikes? Our iconic rolling hills or redwoods may be the perfect location. Or perhaps you enjoy playing in the sand at the beach or taking strolls in beautiful gardens. We will select a location that will make for gorgeous photos and memories that will last a lifetime!

Get everyone dressed up! This is a special occasion, so don’t be afraid to go all out. Break out the family’s best outfits and have some fun. I know it can sometimes be hard to find the right combination of coordinated, but not too matchy-matchy, outfits. This is why I offer styling advice to all my clients. Don’t be afraid to email me your outfit choices, I’m always happy to talk about clothes! All clients get a complimentary styling consultation with me where I’ll come to your home and go over outfits together to make this as easy for you and not even a little bit stressful!

Be sure to bring along any props that you might want to use. A balloon, a special toy, or a stuffed animal can help your baby stay engaged and happy throughout the session. Bonus, it also makes for great photos.

Have patience. Babies can be unpredictable, so it’s important to have patience and go with the flow. The end result will be worth it! Check out my family portrait portfolio here.

3. Keep it simple with a lifestyle session to capture your day-to-day.

Booking a lifestyle photography session with me- your fav Bay Area Baby Photographer- is a great way to capture your day-to-day as a family. Your life will not look the same a few months, years, and especially decades from now. Photographs that capture the here and now as your baby turns one are something you can look back on and cherish forever.

Lifestyle sessions are a mix of documentary and portrait photography. Instead of formal posing, I use prompts to capture genuine emotions, real connections, and most importantly your family’s authentic story.

I love documenting families in their homes. It’s where you spend most of your time as a family and where your baby is most comfortable. There is a beauty in documenting everyday activities, no matter how mundane. From baking birthday cupcakes together to reading books and diaper changes, I’m here for all of it!

While in-home sessions are one of my favorites, we can absolutely have a lifestyle session in another meaningful location such as a nearby park, or even downtown San Francisco! A small park close to your home will also be perfect! I love so many small parks in San Jose, Palo Alto, Menlo Park and even San Mateo.

Lifestyle sessions are meant to capture real-life moments so remember to relax and have fun. It’s important to choose a San Francisco Baby Photographer who understands your vision. Let me worry about getting the perfect shot, you just focus on enjoying this sweet time with your baby.

4. Go all out and book a fine art family portrait session in the studio to create generational photos.

You cannot go wrong with booking a studio fine art family portrait session- as a San Francisco Baby Photographer, who has been doing this for a while, these are my fav!! The studio is where the real magic happens. I provide a custom set design for your one-of-a-kind fine art portrait session.

Rest assured you are in the right hands. I’ve been a San Francisco Baby Photographer for 5 years now, but I still feel the same excitement as I did the very first time I captured precious moments for my first client. I will guide you every step of the way and together we will create heirloom quality photographs that you can pass on for generations.

Speaking of generations, you are more than welcome to bring the grandparents along as well. I know they will not be able to pass up a chance to get in the frame with their grand-baby! Fine art portraits in my Belmont photography studio make beautiful heirloom art that can be cherished for years to come!

You have survived a full year of parenting, you truly deserve to treat yourself to this luxury portrait experience and as a San Francisco Baby Photographer, I can make it happen!

To look your best, you have to feel your best! You get access to my extensive client wardrobe for mom and baby, and recommendations for the rest of the family. Every fine art portrait session also includes complimentary hair and makeup for mom (and grandma too!) – I really do want you to look and feel your best!

5. Gift of yourself and your baby keepsakes and heirloom albums to relive the day every passing year.

Have I succeeded in convincing you to book a professional photography session with your fav San Francisco Baby Photographer to capture your little one’s very first birthday? If the answer is yes, trust me, you will NOT regret it.

After your session, I know it can be overwhelming trying to decide what to do with all those beautiful photographs, but don’t worry! As a San Francisco Baby Photographer, I am here to help you every step of the way. I will help you select the products that are best for your home and lifestyle.

By displaying your magnificent photographs around your home, you will be able to relive that sweet moment in time every time you walk by. And what could be a better gift for grandparents than a luxurious album filled with images of their grandchild? These products will become cherished family heirlooms that can be passed down for generations.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to start planning your baby’s first birthday photo shoot with a San Francisco Baby Photographer! Whether you choose a cake smash session, outdoor family session, lifestyle family session, or a fine art family portrait session, we’re sure you’ll love the results.

Contact me today and let’s starting planning this important milestone!!