12 Fabulous Birthday Backdrop Ideas

Searching for birthday backdrop ideas that are unique and uniquely you? At Peerspace, we get it! Whether you’re turning 10, 100, or any age in between, your birthday is a special day that deserves an equally special setting and set of activities. When you’re setting out to mark another revolution around the sun, your celebratory plans might include a photoshoot that’ll help you to preserve those precious memories for years to come. The photos you’ll take of yourself, your friends, your presumably fabulous outfit, and more are much improved by the presence of a lovely backdrop of some sort.

We all have different aesthetic preferences, so we’ve assembled a list of 12 birthday backdrop ideas varied enough for just about anyone planning a birthday photoshoot.

1. A lush garden space

Starting our list off with a classic: why not go with a gorgeous garden for your birthday backdrop? There’s not much that can beat a setting of verdant greenery for seriously stunning — not to mention celebratory — photography.

A venue like this enchanting garden with a rustic wisteria-draped pergola would make a perfect, intimate location for a gathering as well as for your photos. If you’re not located in Los Angeles, your own city is sure to have a garden venue available for rent on Peerspace.

2. A glamorous, edgy modern loft

Loft-style spaces tend to do a great job of walking the line between the glamorous and the rustic. They often contrast industrial features with huge windows and lots of light. And that light is an enormous asset when it comes to taking great photos. It also simply makes a space feel pleasant and enjoyable to spend time in!

A perfect example of such a space is this spacious loft-style wooden cabin studio in New York City. It’s 800 square feet of space with 13′ ceilings. Your photographer can also make use of the included gear that accompanies this chic space.

For those who live somewhere other than NYC, explore Peerspace’s offerings for a sense of what kind of lofts and loft-style venues can serve for birthday backdrop ideas.

3. Take photos at home

Third on our list of birthday backdrop ideas is one that you might not have expected: doing a photoshoot in the comfort of your own home. Especially if you’re proud of the way you’ve decorated your space and want to share it with the world, taking some cozy candid photos in the kitchen or curled up with a cup of tea in bed might be just the right vibe for your birthday pics, especially if you’re looking to go in a casual, down-to-earth direction, rather than ultra-glam.

Looking for a sweetly curated space that possibly blows your home out of the water? Then we highly recommend booking this one-of-a-kind 80s neon loft in DTLA! It’s a stunning apartment-like studio that features gorgeous pastels, lots of texture, and neon signage to make your photos pop.

Our at-home photoshoot ideas trendy enough for Instagram post gives you more awesome examples of this theme!

4. Go out into the woods

Natural scenery is always going to make some of the best backdrops for photography. Leave the city! Let your photos benefit from the gorgeous, dappled light of a woodland environment while breathing in the abundant fresh air, listening to the birds sing, and experiencing the relaxation you deserve on your birthday.

If you tend to enjoy a more bohemian aesthetic, this is the natural (no pun intended!) place for your birthday photoshoot, but contrasting a more glamorous, high-fashion look with the earthy woodland environment can also make for an enthralling and unexpected set of photos. Hint: the forest is an especially breathtaking location for a photoshoot if your birthday takes place in the fall when the leaves are beautiful shades of red, orange, and gold. 

For inspiration, check out this designer home in the woods in Indiana. It’s just outside of Louisville and has stunning designer features inside and out.

5. Cut a cake at a local bakery

One of the most iconic images we associate with birthdays is the classic birthday cake. For your next birthday photoshoot, a fun possibility might be to make the cake itself the focal point. Why not visit your local bakery and see if they’d be willing to host your birthday photoshoot?

Bakeries are often particularly quaint locations and they make a warm, informal backdrop for photos. And if you don’t want to go with a whole, full-sized cake for your photoshoot, cupcakes are also an adorable, aesthetically pleasing alternative.

Looking for a bakery that’s camera-ready? Then check out this Burbank Parisian-inspired bakery. Its owners list it on Peerspace so that creatives like you have a sweet space (literally and figuratively!) to bring your bakery photoshoot ideas to life.

6. Pose at a flower shop

As we’ve already mentioned in this article, natural beauty makes for some of the greatest birthday backdrop ideas. A visually interesting, unexpected option might be doing a photoshoot at a local florist, where you’ll be surrounded by gorgeous bouquets.

We especially love this Studio City flower shop for such an idea. Talk about an explosion of color and texture! In such a space, there will be tons to explore visually and creatively.

7. Take a trip to the beach

This is an especially fun one because it also means you get to spend a day at the beach! If you live anywhere near the coast, it’s a good excuse to travel to your nearest stretch of seaside sand and snap some cute photos. You might take this one in a retro direction, perhaps wearing a vintage-style swimsuit and sunglasses and posing with a beach ball, stretched out on a beach chair, or building sandcastles. The sky (and sea) is the limit!

Need a stunning venue to bring this idea to life? Then check out this gorgeous Panama City Beach villa! It’s exquisitely appointed and steps away from the waterfront.

8. Participating in your favorite hobby

What better way to celebrate your birthday than with photos of you participating in your favorite activity? Perhaps you’re passionate about movies — visit your local old-fashioned cinema and snap some pics with the marquee as your backdrop. Into antiquing? Take some pics at your favorite antique store, exploring their offerings. Whatever you’re passionate about, incorporate it into your birthday photoshoot for a unique set of pics that represent who you really are.

Maybe you’re an equestrian? Then take photos on horseback! This Manorville, NY farm is only 50 miles from New York City and is available for your horse photoshoot ideas.

Why not turn this outdoor photoshoot into a cute picnic photoshoot by using our curated ideas?

9. Visit your old college campus

One of the things that stands out most about so many college campuses is their beauty, often with lots of old, stately buildings that would make an impressive backdrop for a birthday photoshoot. And if you attended a particular college, you’re likely to have an emotional connection to the place that was your home for about four very formative years.

Take advantage of that combination of majestic academic beauty and your personal ties to the location and have your birthday photoshoot on your old campus, with plenty of photos of you (and perhaps your college friends?) exploring the grounds. 

10. Spa day photoshoot

On your birthday, it’s crucial to pamper yourself and take some time for relaxation, especially if you tend to be busy most of the time. Snapping some candid spa day photos, especially with friends, is a great way to fit in some relaxation time and end up with a set of cute, fun, and unexpected photos at the end of the day.

If your local spa venues don’t cut it, why not go the luxe and unexpected route by booking time at this secluded luxury home near San Diego? It has a complete outdoor modern pool and spa for your photoshoot (and your enjoyment!)

11. Bring props to a local studio

If you decide to go in a more classic direction by visiting a photo studio with its own set of prefab backdrops, you can still make it more unique by bringing your own props. These can be whatever you want, but might include festive items like a bunch of balloons, confetti, a birthday crown, a bottle of champagne, etc. Make it personal by choosing things you love that feel representative of you.

12. In the midst of your birthday party

Rather than scheduling a separate, formal photoshoot, you can hire a photographer or even ask a friend with a camera to capture yourself and your friends/loved ones spending time with each other and having a blast. For those of us who might feel self-conscious posing for the camera, photos of you as the life of the party could be the perfect alternative.

Bonus: A birthday cruise

This retro Airstream and its lush grounds make sensational birthday backdrop ideas! You can pretend you’re on a birthday road trip and happened upon this exotic, tropical setting while traveling in your vintage camper. This is sure to be a memorable shoot that results in a memorable birthday!

Peerspace makes it easy to get all your birthday backdrop ideas

As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, Peerspace is the place to go for all of these and more birthday backdrop ideas! Our uniquely curated spaces provide one-of-a-kind venues for creatives to bring their projects to life. Check out what we have available near you!

Find unique birthday party venues on Peerspace