Your little one’s first birthday is quite a momentous occasion. Many people contact me to book a first birthday portrait session or cake smash session to document this special moment. While I offer several packages both in the studio and outdoors for first birthday photos, I do encourage clients to use this opportunity as a time to update their family photos.

Document this Stage of Parenting with Your Child.

I know parenting is hard work. It is the hardest job out there, but it is also the most rewarding. Each and every phase of life with your child is different. I love photographing parents with a one year old because there is something so sweet about this phase. Your child is still a sweet and cuddly baby and is likely not walking yet. This allows me to get tons of connected and loving images, which is always my goal for every family session. Trust me…these are the images that will pull at your hearts strings years from now.

family seated on a dune at the beach at sunset with a german shepard dog and one year old boy on lap

parents holding baby boy with striped shirt laughing while parents hold him at sunset on beach

Your Child’s Personality is Starting to Shine

I love one year olds because they are chock full of personality at this stage. I love how energetic they are and filled with silly laughter. It truly is such a sweet time to capture. They also really love to explore at this phase and I always love capturing images that show the true nature and essence of childhood.

family squatting in the ocean with baby boy who is laughing and a dog is running around them and it is sunset

little boy with striped shirt laughing at ocean waves crashing on him with his parents and a dog and they are all laughing it is sunset on the beach

You Likely Need Updated Portraits of Your Family

Most likely, the last photos you had taken were when your child was born during a newborn session. You probably have tons of photos of the baby throughout the course of the year, but how many do you have of you as a family interacting and connecting? If you are a mom, most likely not that many. Use this occasion to pamper yourselves and have some photos taken of all of you loving on each other and your little one.

mother in tan dress seated on sand at beach with one year old on her lap and he is sucking his fingers

dad holding toddler boy in the air and he is laughing and it sunset

Your Child is Likely on the Verge of Accomplishing New Milestones

At this stage, your child is developing and changing rapidly. As you know, every day is different with babies at this age. It is likely your child has just started walking, or is now doing the army crawl, or is just on the cusp of walking. Whatever the milestone is, you will want to capture it and an outdoor family session is the perfect way to do so.

little boy on the beach in striped shirt and olive pants army crawling on the sand at sunset

This Milestone is About You as a Family Too

A first birthday is so exciting for a parent. Let’s face it….this year is as much about your child as it is about you as parents. Your family has developed and changed over the last year and you should all be celebrated and documented.

family embraced in the ocean at sunset reflection showing holding baby in air dog running in waves laughing

You Can Include Your Fur Babies Too

I am a dog owner, so I know exactly how important your dogs are to your family. When you schedule an outdoor session, you are able to include your pet in the photos too. After all, if you are capturing your family, your dog should be included too.

Recent Family Session with A Cake Smash Ending

I photographed this specific family last year when their son was born. My client scheduled an in home newborn session and it was such a special session. When my client contacted me to schedule first birthday photos, I was so excited to be able to see how much her baby boy has grown. I always love documenting how my clients’ families grow. She also wanted to do the photos at the beach and include some family photos. Here are some more from their session.