How to Have a Great First-Year Portrait Studio Session

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Sep 27

Written By Rachael Venema

Your child’s first birthday is a huge deal! Your baby is entering toddlerhood and growing into their little personality. Your family deserves to preserve this special time. I recently hosted this adorable little man and his family in the studio for his first-year portraits. We were able to maximize our studio session by capturing family portraits as well!

I want to share more about Garret’s first-year portraits and offer some tips on how to have a great session. We can’t slow time down, but we can capture the moment and preserve your memories!

Creating Family Portrait Artwork

We always start with the end in mind! This mama plans on decorating her home with this beautiful portrait artwork, so we made sure the whole session would result in portraits she can display in her home. We were able to find the perfect outfits in my studio wardrobe to match their home style and decor.

I was lucky to photograph their daughter's one-year portraits in 2019, and this wonderful family came back to work with me when they had their son. To fully capture their family portraits, we included some of the family, some of the two children together, their daughter alone and the kids individually with each of their parents, and then their little boy in several different outfits provided by my studio.

How to Have a Great First-Year Portrait Session

One-year-olds are busy people! It's sometimes challenging to pose your energetic one-year-old and get the right photos. Never fear! You can do a few things to help your child have fun and smile for the camera.

1) Have Something to Play with - Unfortunately, a one-year-old won't sit for long! They need a distraction. I had wooden toy trucks and cars for Garret to play with, so he played happily while I snapped some photos.

2) Somewhere to Sit - It might sound silly, but having a bucket for this handsome man to sit was helpful for posing. Garret sat so well for a few photos!

Looking for a First-Year Portrait Photographer Near You?

The Rachael Venema Studio is conveniently located in Downtown Ripon, CA. I photograph families, newborns, milestones, seniors, and business branding throughout the year. I’m honored when my families work with me again and again. I love watching them grow! My session availability books quickly, so reach out soon to book your portraits.