08 May 2021

7 One Year Old Picture Ideas With Boho On A Budget Vibes

Note: This post may contain affiliate links.

I get it mama, celebrating the big O-N-E is a big deal. You want the perfect memories, right? I know I did. But one quick caveat before I get into sharing allll my one year old picture ideas.

As this Instagram post I shared will tell you, CAMERAS LIE.

Please, please never judge your worth or value as a woman or a mom by comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel!

These pictures were a near miracle to pull off and DO NOT represent the reality of my life.

I don’t usually curl my hair. We don’t stand in fields and smile all day. And my son cried inconsolably for an hour last night before bed.

So please don’t get it twisted. A pretty picture does not a perfect life make.

Whew! Ok, glad that’s out of the way, aren’t you?

But if you want more motherhood real talk and need a break from the highlight reel comparison game, definitely find me on the gram.

Alrighty, let’s move on.

Here are some one year old picture ideas and inspo you can steal.

It can be super overwhelming to want to put together the perfect shoot. So I’m going to make this super easy for you to rip off.

First, let’s talk outfits. I’m loving this little BOHO look we pulled together for the shoot. It helps when your SIL has worked in fashion for 10 years, though AMIRITE?

Anyway, the best thing about these outfits is they are all cheeeaaaap. We’re talking Target, Kohls, Target.

Well, everything except mama’s splurgy mcsplurgerton leather ankle boots of course. Because well, Frye. Duh.

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post to shop these looks with direct links!

I wanted something that looked coordinated but not too matchy matchy like all those family photos from the 90s.

And I don’t know about you, but a first birthday shoot with a baby boy just screams bow tie and suspenders to me. Call me a traditionalist.

Ok next up, make sure you pick an amazing photographer. We’re in Minneapolis, Minnesota. So our recco is Zapata Palms Pictures.

She took all our pix and is so great with getting baby A to smile even when he’s crabby, crabby, crabby!

Pro tip: When it comes to free versus professional photography, you get what you pay for.

So definitely don’t skimp on not paying a pro if you want some beautiful pictures you will look back at and love for years to come.

I’ve tried to cut corners in the past before and always ended up disappointed.

My recommendation would be to buy a baby’s first year package with whatever photographer you go with.

The idea being, when you commit to a handful of shoots, you get a much better deal then buying each a la carte.

We did a maternity, newborn, six month, and one-year shoot and I’m sooooo glad we did. Babies change so fast!

Be sure to get these 12 shots (along with a ton of others) during your one year old photoshoot.

1. On the shoulders: You’ve got to capture that special moment with baby and your significant other.

I mean how cute is this? Can we all just say AWWWW?

2. Mama and baby solo act: This is just simple and classic.

For me, holding a baby on a hip seems more natural than holding in front of me for pix but we tried it both ways. Because you never know.

And sometimes something that feels supes awk surprises you by turning out really cute.

3. Hold hands with baby and kiss above their head. This creates an adorable little frame for baby below, and a sweet moment that reminds us all, parents matter too.

Haha I can’t believe I just said that, but you get me.

4. Close up on baby in the hand holding scene. Play around with cropping, and have your photographer try framing baby up.

It can be pretty cute to feature what baby is up to while his or her parents are doing their thing. This is, after all, their time to shine.

5. Baby sitting on his buns with legs kicked out in front. This is the classic “baby turned one year old photoshoot” shot.

It’s perfect to see their little personality. A great outdoor background is the cherry on top here. What can I say? Simple works.

6. Don’t be afraid to try props. Personally, I’m not really into setting up little scenes or using 14 props, but a fun clothing accent to make the shoot unique is always worth playing around with.

My son’s first birthday theme is Where The Wild Things Are, so we brought his birthday crown and I’m gaga for this shot.

Pro tip: Props should be a bonus, not something for you to stress or obsess about. Practice with the special outfit at home.

That way, baby isn’t thrown into wearing something crazy for the first time when you want everything to be perfect and only have a small window to capture the scene.

So get baby warmed up and then try the prop near the end of the shoot once you know you’ve got some shots that you already love.

Oh, and know when to call it. If the crown (or bowtie, shoes, angel wings, whatever, I don’t know!) isn’t working, the crown isn’t working.

It’s definitely NOT worth forcing a kid to wear something they hate and chancing tears or ruining the rest of the shoot because you had to have it.

7. High angle shot. I love that our photographer, Ashley, plays around with different perspectives and takes chances.

High angle is always a great move with kids because it shows how small they really are.

And in 18 fast years when you look back on these, that’s what you’re going to remember.

“I can’t believe they were ever that tiny,” you’ll say!

One last thought to leave you with as you head out on your baby photoshoot journey.

Take a bunch of options and you’re bound to get something beautiful. And mama, remember: it doesn’t have to be perfect.

You’re doing great no matter how it all turns out.

Remember, if you want to shop any of the looks you can check out the outfits we wore for Boho on a budget down at the slider below!

Let me know if you like this style of blog article. It’s totally new for me so I thought it would be fun and a nice break from all the soul-baring stuff I usually write.

But hey, I guess if you’re into that lol.

Overwhelmed by everything on your to do list?

Get this handy free guide with 6 Mama Hacks to help you get back some of your precious time. That way, you can spend it on what really matters. Like bonding with your kiddos and having your own needs met again!