Planning a birthday photoshoot
Bring on the cake. Dangle the piñata. Grab the birthday balloons. Cue the confetti. Warm up the “feliz cumpleaños” windpipes. Prepare the toasts. In fact, here’s a quote from the legendary John Lennon that will prime you for the spirit of celebration and a festive birthday photoshoot: “Count your age by friends, not years. Count your life by smiles, not tears.” 😊
While you’re celebrating, most of the ritual will happen organically. Friends and family will whip out their cell phones to take photos and videos at the party, from group pics to puffy-cheeked candle-blowing classics to adult cake-smash action. We heart it. But to best document another trip around the sun and special birthdays like a child’s first birthday, a quinceañera, a 21st birthday or a golden birthday—or other milestone birthdays—a photoshoot is certainly a must.
Here are some practical strategies and photoshoot ideas to help you achieve the best photos on your happy birthday. You’re on your way to birthday party decoration thoughts and ideas! 🎉
TLDR
Photo: Ashley in Las Vegas for Flytographer. Esther and friend capture memories in Las Vegas with a birthday photoshoot.
1. How to make the most of your birthday photo session
These simple photo session tips work for birthday portraits and general photos. 🔥
- Embrace different angles. 🕺Go landscape and portrait (aka horizontal and vertical). Try a tilted shot. Don’t be stingy—many professional photographers go by the five-percent rule: Take twenty shots to get one good one. Make sure to combine these angles with birthday poses too.
- Pay attention to the background. 🏞️ Avoid distracting backgrounds and the infamous tree or light post growing out of your birthday bestie’s head. Work with your surroundings.
- Don’t be afraid to take direction. 🎬 “Pretend I’m not here,” “Jump as high as you can,” “Lean toward the camera” or “Look out over the horizon” can all lead to excellent results. The possibilities are endless, and they look fantastic on social media.
Photo: Aimee in Palma de Mallorca for Flytographer. Dana and friends capture memories in Palma de Mallorca with a birthday photoshoot at Beach Front & Old Town.
2. When to schedule your birthday photoshoot
🌅 Golden hour, also known as magic hour, occurs twice a day—it’s the hour right after sunrise and the hour before sunset. During these times, everything looks prettier, and there are no harsh shadows to spoil the scene. This is especially helpful for an outdoor birthday photoshoot!
If a golden-hour photoshoot is not possible, here are two things to consider:
- Even if the weather is dull, your photographs won’t be! Overcast days, when the sky is full of clouds, can make for the best time to take pictures outside. The clouds act as a giant diffuser, softening light and preventing shadows. Unlike golden hour, when the light changes dramatically throughout the session as the sun sets or rises, overcast days are much more predictable in terms of lighting.
- If it is sunny, shoot with the sun behind you to prevent rendering your subject a silhouette.
Photo: Flytographer in San Francisco. Brad and partner capture memories in San Francisco with a birthday photoshoot.
Photo: Emily in London Flytographer. Emily and family capture memories in London with a birthday photoshoot at Tower Bridge.
3. Best places to take birthday pictures
The fun thing is that this could be as simple or ambitious as the celebrating party desires! 🎉
Some compelling birthday photoshoot sites to keep in mind:
- The beach. The sand, the sea, the sky, the textures! In fact, Flytographer has a whole guide on how to conduct a dreamy beach photoshoot. (Lakes and rivers work wonderfully too.)
- Gardens & parks. It could be a greenhouse, a nursery or a botanical garden. Maybe it’s a nearby park or sanctuary with trees and a small body of water. Whatever the case, the natural visual interest will make the background pop.
- Murals & buildings. Your favourite wall to tag on social media can produce an evocative shot. Just avoid clothes that clash with it. The right spot might be brick or distressed redwood, or cool steel to match the birthday girl’s blue steel.
Photo: Ramon and Sonia in Barcelona for Flytographer. Crystal and friends capture memories in Barcelona with a birthday photoshoot at Sagrada Familia.
Photo: Samantha in Kona for Flytographer. Odette and family capture memories in Kona with a birthday photoshoot in Puako Hidden Beaches.
4. What to wear
The number one priority is to do *you.* And to remember we’re talking about birthday outfits, not birthday suits. 😆
There are countless possibilities for outfits, so Flytographer has assembled a comprehensive style guide to help out.
Key things to remember:
- Options are good.
- Movement is excellent. (We love a tulle skirt. 😍)
- Comfortable clothes that don’t show sweat (breathable, natural materials like cotton and linen) are great.
- Layers are both practical and aesthetic.
- Shoes are a key detail to consider.
- Logo shirts are not your friend.
- And don’t be afraid to go full glam if that’s what suits you best!
Photo: Madison in Jackson Hole for Flytographer. Bethany and partner capture memories in Jackson Hole with a birthday photoshoot at Town Square.
Photo: Gihad in Cairo for Flytographer. Danielle captures memories in Cairo with a birthday photoshoot at Al Azhar Park.
Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Jacqueline and friends capture memories in New York City with a birthday photoshoot in Greenwich Village.
5. Pose ideas
Birthday poses are everything! This is your time to show off your birthday glow and celebrate yourself.
Sitting or leaning on walls, chairs, logs or stairs can help you relax. Adding movement is another way to reroute nervousness—whether that’s by walking, talking or conducting a simple task like tossing a ball or piece of fruit in the air. 💞 Head to our official posing guide for all the best tips on posing for a photoshoot!
Some other simple and helpful birthday shoot ideas:
- Lean forward with your chin. No matter how slim you may be, double chins are sneaky and ubiquitous. This can be solved by doing what pro photographers call “bringing the ears forward.”
- Get the arms in action. This doesn’t mean waving them around. Instead, keep them away from the body—just a little bit is enough to help them look more toned and dynamic!
- Work the shoulders. You’ll be amazed by what a slightly angled instead of a straight-on portrait can do to make you look more engaged.
- Hair is a powerful piece of the portrait…so if there’s long hair in play, arrange it strategically and experiment with different looks!
Photo: Raul in San Juan for Flytographer. Elizabet and family capture memories in San Juan with a birthday photoshoot in Old San Juan.
Photo: Sehee in New York City for Flytographer. Grace and friend capture memories in New York City with a birthday photoshoot at Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO.
Photo: Flytographer in Asheville. Brenda and family capture memories in Asheville with a birthday photoshoot at the Biltmore Estate.
6. What props to bring
There are endless options for birthday props, from rose-gold jewelry and gold balloons to cake, gifts, party supplies like confetti and even a little champagne. 🥂
Consider what activities, passions and/or hobbies you’re into at this point in your life. Bringing along a harmonica, basketball, bottle of champagne or pen and paper can do wonders for a powerful portrait. 🍾
Photo: Elke in Brussels for Flytographer. Tianna celebrates a birthday in Brussels with a modern headshot photoshoot.
7. Who to bring
Choosing the right people to join a birthday photoshoot can make all the difference in capturing genuine, joyous moments. Start with your close family members and friends. Group birthday photoshoot ideas will make posing come more naturally and bring out the best in you! Bringing familiar faces to your special day will help ensure that the photoshoot captures the essence of the celebration and the people who make it special. ❤️
Alternatively, a solo birthday photoshoot offers a unique opportunity for personal reflection and self-celebration, and to capture your individuality. At the end of the day, your birthday is all about you! Without the need to coordinate with others, you can focus on expressing your style and personality, leading to photos that truly reflect who you are at this moment in time.
Photo: Emma in Charleston for Flytographer. Christina and friends capture memories in Charleston with a birthday photoshoot in Historic Downtown.
Photo: Nadine in Cape Town for Flytographer. Johanny captures memories in Cape Town with a birthday photoshoot on Signal Hill.
8. How to make a birthday photoshoot fun
Birthdays are fun. Birthday parties are fun. A photoshoot for birthdays should be too, and not just because the photos will be that much more radiant. 💃
But they can also be intimidating.
Fortunately, our Flytographers are thoroughly gifted and passionate about doing your next birthday celebration, whatever shape it takes, maximum artistic justice.
Photo: Scheherazade in Dubai for Flytographer. Sylekhya and family capture memories in Dubai with a birthday photoshoot in Old Dubai.
Photo: Chelsea in Tofino for Flytographer. Lacey and their friends celebrate a birthday in Tofino with a friends photoshoot on the beach.
9. How to celebrate afterwards
After a memorable birthday photoshoot, extend the celebration by making the most of your day while still dressed up and looking your best! You may choose to go out for a special dinner with friends or loved ones to continue the festivities. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the day’s glamour, relish compliments on your outfit and create even more memories. Whether you opt for a chic restaurant, lively bistro, cozy café or a party, the experience will be a delightful continuation of your birthday. By keeping the celebration going, you turn a single day of photos into a full-fledged event. 🎉
Photo: Kari in New York City for Flytographer. Brad and friend capture memories in New York City with a birthday photoshoot.
Photo: Rachael in Paris for Flytographer. Beth and friend capture memories in Paris with a birthday photoshoot at Champ de Mars & the Eiffel Tower.
10. What to do with your birthday photos
Once you’ve captured your birthday photos, there are many wonderful ways to showcase and share them to keep the celebration alive. Consider getting prints of your favourite shots to frame and hang on your wall, turning a space into a memory. Creating a birthday photo book or scrapbook is another fantastic idea, especially if you invite friends to help compile photos, making it a collaborative and meaningful keepsake. You might also send copies of the photos to grandparents or other loved ones to include them in your celebration. Birthday photos are the best, and you get to enjoy your special day long after the day has passed. ✨
Learn more about Flytographer prints!
Photo: Natalie in Honolulu for Flytographer. Julianne and family capture memories in Honolulu with a birthday photoshoot in Paradise Cove.
Photo: Jeff in Sydney for Flytographer. Joyce and family capture memories in Sydney with a birthday photoshoot along the Sydney Harbour Walk.
Capturing your next birthday
Incorporating a birthday photoshoot into your celebration can transform a special day into an unforgettable memory. We can’t wait to capture your memories on your birthday for a picture-perfect experience anywhere in the world!
So close your eyes, blow out the candles and make a wish for a wildly memorable birthday photoshoot. 🎈
35,000+ 5 Star reviews from across the globe!
“Allie is an exceptional photographer who made my 30th birthday celebration in Malibu truly unforgettable!! Her positivity and upbeat energy kept the atmosphere lively and fun throughout. Most importantly, Allie delivered stunning photos that perfectly captured the essence of this special moment. Working with her was an absolute joy, and I couldn’t recommend her more highly for any occasion!!”
Emily
Custom Route
“Vicky was the best!!! She was so good with making use of time! We got family photos and had my daughter change into her big ball gown dress for her 15th birthday celebration. Vicky would take photos of our other kids while she waited for my daughter to change into dress. She would check in to make sure we got all photo poses we wanted and everything turned out so gorgeous.”
Edith
Ulua Beach (South Shore)
“Ashley is a great photographer. Very professional and accommodating. She is great with infants and toddlers. I got some really good pictures for my daughter’s first year birthday. I recommend her.”
Venkat
Custom route
