From the bleary-eyed newborn trenches to witnessing your little one's first wobbly steps, year one of parenthood comes with near-endless memories. You'll whip out your phone for many of them, but some can't-miss photo opportunities might sneak by in the fun (and chaos) of it all.
This list of picture-ready moments will capture the craziness that's year one, and it comes with plenty of tips from parents and photographers on how to get the perfect shot. Keep these in mind during your baby's first year — you won't regret making them happen.
Egg-cellent spring memories
A turf backdrop, dyed eggs, and a floral dress were the key components for this sweet and simple Easter-themed photo taken by Devianna of Creative Haven Photographers. Her tip: Always bring an extra outfit in case of a blowout.
Opening day
Sometimes, all you need is a few sentimental items to create that aww factor. Just before Father's Day, Lauren Rovella took her husband's prized possessions from childhood — his hat, glove, bat, and baseball — and brought their 1-year-old son out to the field he grew up playing on.
Baby's first beach season
Welcome summer with a beach day with your babe. Keep the sunscreen handy (for babies 6 months and up), and take photos when the sun is less intense (for your baby and for the lighting).
"Golden hour works best for soft, beautiful light," says Sameer Bansal of Story Raga. "Keep the setup simple and let your baby stay comfortable … The perfect picture often comes when you simply wait and click at the right moment."
Starting solids
Around 6 months, you might introduce your baby to solid foods. That's one reason why mom Jamille Filippinii captured her baby's half-birthday with a watermelon cake — and then took it one step further with the remaining half.
Simply scoop out the watermelon and cut it up (or display it as a cake, like Jamille did), and then cut two holes in the bottom. This provides space for your little one's legs and gives you the ultimate photo-op.
9 months In-N-Out
If you live near an In-N-Out Burger, there's only one thing to do: Walk into your local eatery with your 9-month-old in tow. Adrian Omenyinma went for a retro look to match the restaurant and found a checkered romper. Her main piece of advice? Keep the French fries coming. "French fries make my baby very happy and allowed for lots of great candid shots," she says.
Bailey Wilson, a professional photographer in Arizona, agrees with having the delicious prop ready. Plus, she recommends calling the restaurant for permission ahead of time and going as soon as they open so it's less crowded. "It's also good to have water on hand for baby because the fries were salty! And wipes, of course," she adds.
Your little squish in a squash
Get literal with your pint-size pumpkin, and usher in the fall season with a seasonal photoshoot. Mom Carmen Desiree DeLoux says it's best to prep everything the night before. "Cut into the pumpkin and take everything out, and allow it to dry a little before putting a little one in," she says. "I wiped it down directly after emptying, and I cut the leg holes the day of! I used a cup to draw the circles."
If your baby isn't fully sitting up by the time PSL season rolls around, don't stress. "Bring fabric to help pack the back of your pumpkin for support," DeLoux adds.
Raven Smith had a similar photo session with her baby, and highly suggests having an extra pair of hands, lots of patience, and milk on set. If you're worried about baby getting cold in the pumpkin, she has another hack: "I swaddled my baby and left his feet out and put blankets at the bottom of the pumpkin … I took a lot of pauses and breaks in between for feeding and to soothe him back to sleep."
Season's greetings
Before hanging your stockings by the chimney with care, take one out and put your baby in it! This works best for newborns, since they're tiny enough to fit into the stocking, but a larger one could accommodate older babies as well.
As for executing the shot, "Swaddling the bottom part of baby helps," says Katlyn Koppitch, a Michigan-based professional photographer.
New year, new crew
Photographer and mom of three Bri Viglianco designed this New Year's Eve-themed moment with three helpers: her 8-year-old and 1-year-old twins. "We started by making the paper chain together," she says. "I wanted them to have something fun and colorful for the new year that wasn't centered around adult themes but also easy to involve them in. They helped with putting it together and choosing the colors as well as glueing, which ended up being their favorite part."
"The shoot itself was pretty simple and fun for the kids as well," she continued. "We hung the streamers over our sofa and laid out strands everywhere else. I had the kids pile on the chaise with their hats and noise makers of choice and just let them go wild with it! The result ended up being so much fun for all of us."
Blast from the past
Flip through your baby book and look for a special photo worth recreating with your own mini-me. "My mom saved a lot of my baby clothes, so when my kids fit into them, we decided to recreate one of my childhood photos," says What to Expect editor Melissa Bykofsky. "We set my daughter up next to the same Mickey Mouse cookie jar and even took the photo in the same spot of my parents' kitchen."
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