12 Sweet 1st Birthday Photoshoot Ideas (2024)

Answered

Photoshoot locations on Peerspace typically cost $95 — $220 per hour.

A first birthday is a major milestone and one that’s definitely worth celebrating with a photoshoot. But how do you create the perfect setting for your little one’s milestone birthday shoot? You use Peerspace to book an amazing photo studio location while letting our 1st birthday photoshoot ideas below inspire you!

After all, Peerspace is the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals and makes it easy to discover and book amazing spaces that make your special moments even better. You’ll see what we mean ahead! If your little one has their first birthday coming up, here’s our list of 12 sweet 1st birthday photoshoot ideas to help you begin to plan.

1. Keep your little one happy with food and a pre-photoshoot nap

6-Month Baby Photoshoot Ideas
Source: Peerspace

On this subject, Danielle Blewitt Photography writes, “You want to make sure you show up for your photo session ready for a great session. To prepare yourself and little one, make sure everyone is well fed and well rested.” This is important advice, so be sure to keep it in mind!

2. Go for a stylish monochromatic look with an all-one-color photoshoot

Pink Baby Shower Ideas
Source: Peerspace

Does your child have a color they’re drawn to, or is there a color you love to see them wearing? Use it as the overall theme for your photoshoot backdrop and your child’s outfit! This will work with almost any color of your choice, so the sky is really the limit here when it comes to creativity.

If that color happens to be pink, use Peerspace to book this downtown pink retro 2-room suite in Los Angeles, CA. It is an adorable pre-decorated set with a rocking horse (though your one-year-old may not have the coordination to handle a ride on that, yet!) and a big snuggly pink teddy for them to cuddle up with during their shoot.

3. Get messy and plan an outdoor cake smash

1st Birthday Photoshoot Ideas
Source: Peerspace

We’re big fans of the ridiculously cute and funny “cake smash” trend as a 1st birthday photoshoot idea. If you haven’t heard of cake smashes yet, the BBC writes that they’re “where a one-year-old gets very messy with a cake and a professional photographer captures the moment.” It’s a super popular way to celebrate first birthdays in particular.

Because it’s so messy, we’d recommend executing this 1st birthday photoshoot idea outdoors if the weather allows. Consider taking the photos in your backyard or, if you don’t have access to any outdoor spaces of your own, renting a space like this urban farm in Goodyear, AZ, this expansive family farm property in Ponca City, OK, or a comparable location in your area.

Just make sure the host will be okay with your child smashing a cake on their property, and that you don’t leave any mess behind. You can always reach out to ask your Peerspace host questions or make requests by clicking “Message Host” in any listing.

Celebrate motherhood using our beautiful breastfeeding photoshoot ideas!

4. Use a “1” cutout as a cute photo prop

intimate yet spacious event hall in houston
Source: Peerspace

Want a 1st birthday photoshoot idea that’ll make it so that, 100 years from now, everybody knows the purpose of your photoshoot? Include a big, three-dimensional “1” as the backdrop! For instance, if you’re a fan of sparkly glitter and gold, you’ll love this 8-inch photo prop from Buttercup Blossom on Etsy. Or if you prefer a simpler look, there’s always this adorable wooden number one from ZCD Gifts.

5. DIY a “ball pit” photoshoot at home

Baby Girl Photoshoot Ideas
Source: Peerspace

This great idea comes to us from mQn Photography. All you need are an inflatable swimming pool and a bunch of colorful, lightweight plastic balls like those you’d find in a ball pit. They write, “Not only will this prop bring some lovely colors into the photos but it gives your little one something to interact and have fun with too.”

In the Philadelphia, PA area? Then you can also opt to book this pretty and pink unit with a ball pit and play with your baby in a ready-made ball pit. It’s an adorable and colorful space that can provide you with countless photo ops for your little darling.

6. Make it a whole family photoshoot

Source: Peerspace

For at least part of the photoshoot, you can bring in the rest of the family: parents, siblings, grandparents, even cousins are welcome at a big family photoshoot! With this photoshoot concept, you can create a reminder of how much your child’s relatives love them, and something they can look back on years later.

7. Make it extra adorable and wear matching outfits

White Cyclorama in Gorgeous Creative Space
Source: Peerspace

You can buy matching outfits for the whole family – wear the same clothes in baby sizes and adult sizes so that everyone in the family matches each other! Etsy has a ton of endearing options in this category.

8. Combine fun and photos with a birthday party photoshoot

Unique & Colorful Kid Friendly Entertainment Space atlanta rental
Source: Peerspace

Instead of scheduling a separate photoshoot, one thing you might do instead is throw a first birthday party for your little one and have candid photos taken there! The photos will look a lot more natural, as well as being more genuinely representative of your child’s life on their first birthday.

In case you didn’t know, you can also use Peerspace to book adorable and safe kid’s birthday party venues near you!

9. Use balloons as fun and colorful props

Baby Shower Backdrop Ideas
Source: Peerspace

More generally, one of our top 1st birthday photoshoot ideas is to find ways to make the experience fun for your little one, because their birthday is all about celebrating them (not to mention that the photos will come out looking better if they’re happy)! In terms of more specific recommendations for ways to do this, our first suggestion is to entertain your new one-year-old with a couple of bunches of balloons.

Next, check out our sweet baby boy photoshoot ideas to treasure forever if you have a little son!

10. Host an at-home photoshoot with a twist

modern elegant home in cedar park
Source: Peerspace

One of our more unusual 1st birthday photoshoot ideas is to find a homey space that’s available for rent by the hour through Peerspace and pretend that it’s your own home for the duration of the photoshoot. Instead of going to the trouble of trying to get your home camera-ready (which can be tough when you have a young baby at home!), you’ll be able to walk right into someone else’s space and have it be fully prepared for photoshoots.

Take, for example, this modern home in Cedar Park, TX. It’s full of natural light and simple, with mostly white and neutral decor, So we can’t think of a better place for a simple birthday photoshoot. Notably, this space was “designed by a photographer with other photographers in mind”. Which you can definitely tell! Check out their Instagram @austinphotostudio for more examples of what it looks like to do a photoshoot here.

Or read one of the literally hundreds of positive reviews, like this one: “The space is full of natural lighting and worked perfectly for my photo sessions. I can’t wait to return to this beautiful location again!”

11. Get wild and plan a cute animal costume photoshoot

boudoir jungle studio in humble
Source: Peerspace

Perhaps your little one’s birthday falls sometime near Halloween, or maybe you simply love dressing them in adorable costumes. Whatever your reason, you can never go wrong with dressing your one-year-old up like a little lion, elephant, chicken, or some other animal. You’ll find tons of costumes all over the internet, so your options are practically unlimited.

12. Blanket fort photoshoot

gorgeous downtown penthouse bedroom atlanta
Source: Peerspace

This is another cozy, easy-to-execute photoshoot idea! Simply build as aesthetically pleasing a blanket fort as you can. Here’s a guide to building one from Pretty Providence. Then, snap photos of your child playing in it. You’ll both have a blast, and you’ll get some seriously sweet photos in the process, all without needing to leave your home.

1st birthday photoshoot ideas: conclusion

Mid-Century Modern Kids Playhouse and Playground
Source: Peerspace

How cute are these 1st birthday photoshoot ideas? We hope they’ve inspired you as you plan a special photoshoot for your baby’s first big milestone birthday. Make it easy on yourself by booking a photoshoot location through Peerspace that has the style and amenities you need. With venues across the country and beyond, you can easily book your dream spot anywhere.

Find unique photoshoot locations on Peerspace

Get together somewhere better

Book thousands of unique spaces directly from local hosts.

Explore Spaces

Share your space and start earning

Join thousands of hosts renting their space for meetings, events, and photo shoots.

List Your Space