Helpful Tips for a One Year Studio Photoshoot
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I’m finally getting around to sharing the photos from our son’s first-year photoshoot! In May of this year, we traveled to Los Angeles to celebrate our son’s one-year milestone with my in-laws. It was such a beautiful time of reunion and we still think about that trip often.
I knew I wanted to get professional photos taken for my son’s 첫돌, which is the first birthday celebration of a Korean baby’s life. It’s a monumental milestone in Korean culture - and if you’re interested in learning more about it, click here for my blog post!
Studio or outdoor photos for a first birthday photoshoot?
After much research, we went with Vivi Studio in Orange County, CA for Luke’s photoshoot. I absolutely love outdoor photos but for this occasion, I wanted to make it as comfortable as possible for our baby. By choosing a studio, we eliminated factors such as uncontrollable weather, external noises, and the many distractions that come with the outdoors. It was definitely worth going to a studio because my baby was already distracted enough in the room! It would’ve been difficult to get the portrait shots that we wanted, specifically in the traditional hanbok that’s worn for Korean dohl.
Depending on the shots you are envisioning, you may want to go with an outdoor photoshoot. Outdoor photoshoots tend to be more candid with a vibe that’s less forced/posed. If you also have a location that’s meaningful to you, it would make sense to go with an outdoor shoot!
tips for the first birthday photoshoot
Make sure that your baby is fully rested.
The night before, try not to do any crazy or even new activities that will make your baby tired. Our photographer advised us that if our baby fell asleep on the way to the photoshoot that we should not wake him, even if we were running late! This was not only to ensure that the baby is awake for the shoot but also to ensure that he will be in a better mood to have a good time—essential to get capture those baby giggles!
Schedule your photoshoot around your baby’s naps.
Around 1 year, Luke was consistently taking two naps with the first nap being the longest. I knew from experience that he was always the most awake immediately after the first nap, so we scheduled the shoot accordingly. It worked out great!
Make sure to pack ample snacks and drinks (water/milk).
A full baby is a happy baby. Make sure to bring snacks that you baby loves to munch on, and make sure those snacks are not sticky or colored! Rice puffs work great for this.
Bring some tried and true toys/tricks that always make your baby laugh.
It’s important to remember that when you’re going into the photoshoot, your baby will be in a new environment with new people! Bring some toys that your baby is familiar with and are guaranteed to make them laugh.
What should my baby boy wear for his first birthday photoshoot?
Vivi Studio was truly spectacular. They had an entire closet full of clothes for a baby’s shoot, and the best part was that every outfit seamlessly matched the interior of the studio. When it came time to choose outfits for Luke, I knew I wanted to keep it simple and timeless.
We had three outfits for Luke: a traditional Korean garment for first birthdays, a tan suit for family photos that matched what we wore, and a cute, neutral outfit with overalls and a whimsical prop (a linen crown).
Here are some tips I have for moms who may be searching for the perfect outfit(s) for their baby boy’s first birthday photos.
When you’re choosing an outfit(s) for your baby’s first photoshoot, you can’t go wrong with a neutral color palette! Think less patterns or graphics and more textured neutrals.
If you’re taking studio photos like we did, I would recommend checking out prior photos that have been taken before by your photographer and take inspiration from them. We went with a neutral/beige palette because we saw that lots of other clients have done the same, and it matched perfectly with the interior of the studio.
Plan multiple outfits if possible! I loved that our studio had a closet full of fun outfits for us to choose from. It gave me lots of ideas for our shoot and I’ve linked some matching looks below.
Fun props! Vivi Studio had a wide assortment of props such as birthday cake, bubbles, high chair, etc. and I loved all of them!
shop similar looks
Whatever you decide to do on your baby’s first birthday, I hope that you have FUN celebrating your child. Photos are nice but what I truly cherish are the memories that we made on this day. :)
How did you celebrate your baby’s first birthday? Do you have any tips for new moms? I’d love to hear below!
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I’m finally getting around to sharing the photos from our son’s first-year photoshoot! In May of this year, we traveled to Los Angeles to celebrate our son’s one-year milestone with my in-laws. It was such a beautiful time of reunion and we still think about that trip often. Here are some tips for moms who are thinking about a similar shoot for their babies!