PARTY TIMES

Perfect Birthday Party Pictures!!

SAY CHEESE!!!

Party season is here and we were inspired to write this post for two reasons.. first our own lil’ babes are turning one this summer, and second, because one of our close mom friends asked us the question: “What should I take pictures of at my daughter’s birthday party?”

So, here are some hints to focus on at your kid’s next birthday party

1. Let me start with this important idea…. Consider giving someone else your camera, a friend, your neighbor someone who isn’t responsible for serving food, cake, or chasing around a little one of their own.   Tell them to take lots of photos and to not hold back…. Remember it doesn’t cost anything for them to snap away and you can delete and edit them all later.   This way, you will be in the shots too.   If it’s not important to you, trust me it will be important to your children someday that they see you with them in photos, especially during these important events. 

2. The birthday boy or girl!  Lots of fun shots of them clapping, running, jumping around, rocking the party hat and/or outfits!  Playing with their friends. Opening gifts. Being silly… being a kid.

3. If the baby or birthday kid did in fact dig in and is covered with frosting and cake…. Get shots of their hands, close ups of their face, and anything covered in frosting.  Close up is key!  Don’t forget the before and after shots!

4. Family members, especially those that are aging, grandparents, great grandparents.  Anyone that you don’t see on a regular basis or may have traveled to come see you and be there for the party!If possible, get a generations shot… (3 or 4 generations all in one picture together) the baby/child, you, your parent(s), and their parent(s).

5. A fun group shot of all the kids together – forget about getting a perfect shot, the madness of it all is what will make this shot memorable and fun. Some kids will be looking and smiling, others might be crying, others yet will be totally distracted. (If they are old enough tell them to all make goofy faces on the count of 3)  That’s the fun of it!

6. Décor – balloons, favors, plates, cups, and the food table prior to anyone digging in.  Don’t forget the cake and the gifts!

7. Blow bubbles, lots of them even using a fancy bubble machine.  Take pictures of the kids chasing them down and blowing bubbles themselves!  Move around with them, it’s important to get different angles.  For a time, get down on the ground aiming up capturing them reaching high to pop the bubble.  Then stand up or even get on a step stool or picnic table bench and, get the shot aiming down through the bubbles capturing their amazed and anxious face as they reach for the sky!

8. Adults gathered in groups to catch up or for conversation. It will be fun to look back on who you were hanging out with at that time in your life.  Years down the road, it may be meaningful and inspire you to get back in touch with someone you lost contact with over time.  It will be meaningful and insightful for your children to see the people that were there, that everyone was having a great time, and fun to see your social circle at that time in your lives.

I personally really love looking at older photos, not only of the people in them, but the objects in the photos that speak to the time period.  Great pictures can be fun later on when the kids can look back in to the memories!!