1 to 12 Month Baby Photo Ideas - 17 Ideas to Take at Home

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Every parent wants to capture the most important moments in the life of their baby in a creative way. To document its growth, many people use a variety of 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas. After taking photos, you can create a beautiful collage.

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1. Write the Age of a Child with Crayons on the Blackboard

crayons inscription 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

One of the most popular 1 to 12 month photoshoot ideas for showing the age of a baby in a photo is to write it with crayons on the blackboard. You can do it quickly and take great photos in the shortest time. Make sure to buy a blackboard and crayons of different sizes. You can use a pink crayon if you have a baby girl and use a blue one if you have a boy.

blackboard 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

The size of the blackboard doesn’t matter. You can use a large blackboard as a background or take a small blackboard that won’t distract a viewer’s attention. Write a funny caption on the blackboard to give your photo a more positive feel. The background should be neutral to make it possible to read the caption.

2. Create Numbers Using the Favorite Toys of a Baby

plastic letters 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

One of the easiest options for those who want to take monthly photos is to lay out toys so that they form letters and numbers. For this task, you may use colorful plastic letters and numbers. Put them over the head of the baby in a semicircle to emphasize its face. It will allow you to document the facial traits and capture the change in facial expressions.

3. Indicate the Age Using Numbers and Balloons

number balloon 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

If your baby is too active and you can’t keep it in one position for a long time, try using a number balloon. All you need is to select a balloon with a number that corresponds to the age of your child and find a place where to put it. Make sure to use balloons of contrasting colors so that they stand out against the background.

4. Make a Child a Part of Your Digital Composition

with toys 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

While it might be difficult to lay out toys so that they form numbers, you can still try to use this idea to take more creative photos. There is no need to create an ideal letter. Even if it doesn’t look perfect from up close, it might look nice in a photo. You can take any toys that your baby likes.

The main idea is to make your kid a part of the number. Besides, make sure to use wide-angle newborn photography lenses to fit a whole scene into the frame.

5. Create Numbers Using Props that Correspond to the Season

symbolize the season 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

To take attention-grabbing and creative pics, lay out various props that symbolize the season so that they create numbers. You can use some natural objects that became the symbols of the specific time of the year.

For instance, you can lay out flowers in a specific order to indicate a month or use leaves and cones instead. During the winter months, you might not be able to create a number using snow, but you can use some cotton or dry branches instead.

6. Take a Photo of a Baby and its Favorite Toy

toy 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

This widely-used newborn photography idea with a toy will allow you to demonstrate how your child is getting older. Using it, you can illustrate the difference clearly. In the first photo, a toy will be the size of the baby, while in the last one, the baby will be larger.

7. Tablets with Ready-Made Inscriptions

tablets 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

If you are a perfectionist and want to create an ideal collage, use tablets with pre-printed inscriptions to show the age of your baby. In this case, you will be sure that the font and size of the text stay the same. This way, you can create a symmetric composition in the frame and take consistent shots.

8. Use Slices of Pizza to Indicate the Age

pizza slices 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

If you are a fan of creative 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas, you will like this one for sure. Order your favorite pizza and leave a specific number of slices on one half of the box to symbolize the age of your child. Then, put your baby on the open cover of the box. Make sure not to use a pizza with pepper as the baby might eat it.

9. Use a Stadiometer or a Ruler to Show Different Growth Stages

ruler 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

Take an up to 1-meter ruler and put it near your baby. It will allow you to document its growth. To take such photos, you need to ensure that your baby lies on its back, otherwise, it will be difficult to show its height. To indicate the age, you can either put marks on the ruler or put various props in the form of letters.

10. Indicate the Age on a Large Calendar

milestone blanket 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

To bring this idea to life, you will need to use a monthly milestone blanket. You can buy a blanket with numbers or create it by yourself by gluing numbers to the white blanket. You can use various props to emphasize one of the numbers on the blanket.

To indicate the time of the year when a photo was made, you can also put a small circle around the corresponding number. Don’t forget to add various details and accessories to show during which season the photo was taken.

11. Complement the Composition with Miniature Furniture Pieces

chair 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

What makes this option different from other 1 to 12 month photoshoot ideas is that you don’t need to indicate the exact month as everything will be clear when you create the final version of your collage. For this photoshoot, you will need a basic light background and kid-size furniture pieces. Such a mini throne will look cute in the frame. Besides, it will make it easier to see how much your baby has grown.

For instance, if you want to capture a baby during the first month, you can use a variety of newborn photography poses. A 12-month-old baby will decide for itself which poses to assume.

12. Add Some Sweetness Using a Cake with a Number

cake 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

This idea with a cake is creative and easy to implement. There is no need to use any additional props as you can take a bright shot using a soft background in natural colors and a cake with a number on it. You can either bake the cake by yourself or buy a ready-made one.

When selecting clothes and the background, it’s better to choose light tones. However, a number on the cake should be brighter so that it’s easier to notice it.

13. Show the Transience of Time Using the Hands of a Watch

clock 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

Watches symbolize the transience of time, which makes them perfect for baby photos. You can use their hands to show the age of a baby. However, they shouldn’t be emphasized in the frame. To improve baby shooting, put the watch in the background and sit the baby in front of it, closer to the edge of the frame. It’s better to select a watch with large hands so that they are clearly visible in photos.

14. Record the Milestones of the Baby’s Development

notes 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

By implementing this idea, you can take attention-grabbing pics and capture the milestones of a baby’s development and growth. With every month, a baby learns new skills. Its gestures and facial expressions also change. You can describe the changes on a simple white paper roll. Write the inscriptions on both sides of your subject and don’t forget to add dates.

You can also use markers of the colors that match the clothes of a baby. It will make your shot look well-balanced.

15. Show the Age Using Prints on Clothes

monthly stickers 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

This baby photo idea is easy to implement since you just need to attach a number indicating a baby’s age to clothes. It might be a ready-made print with additional details or just a sticker with a number. You can take the numbers off and glue new ones to the same bodysuit. The prints can be in various styles, such as bold and colorful numbers, playful illustrations, or even custom-designed patterns. You can explore different options and choose prints & stickers that resonate with your style and preferences. It's a fantastic opportunity to add a touch of creativity and individuality to your baby's photo shoots.

bodysuit with numbers 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

Add some brightness to your photos using backgrounds with different geometric patterns and clothes in contrasting colors. You can easily implement such 12 month baby photoshoot ideas at home using basic props. Keep in mind that it will be easier to take such a photo with an up to 6-month-old baby. It will be more difficult to take it when it starts moving as the number might not be visible clearly.

16. In Mother’s Hands

with mom 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

First, you need to take a photo of a pregnant mother. Then, snap pictures of her holding her baby. Ask your model to keep her hands in the same position, on the midsection level, for example. A baby will behave calmly when being held by its mother, and it will be easier for you to take pictures. Ask the model to wear clothes in neutral colors as they will look more natural in photos.

17. Snap a Picture in a Trolley with Balloons

in a trolley 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

To implement this idea, you need to sit your baby in a kids trolley and use a specific number of balloons to make it look as if the trolley were moved by them. The more months your baby has, the more balloons you should use. It will illustrate the fact that with every month your baby becomes stronger and learns how to move faster.

When using such 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas, don’t be afraid of the black background and contrast colors. You just need to select the right props, create a composition in the frame using well-balanced colors, and avoid using rough textures.

Bonus Tools

freebies for 1 to 12 month baby photo ideas

To take photos of a baby at different months in a consistent style, make sure to use ready-made tools and presets. This collection was created especially for those who want to enhance baby photos. It’s perfect for 1 to 12 month baby photos. Here, you will find a set of tools that will help you make the skin smoother and remove imperfections. Besides, the collection includes presets with warm and cold tones, so you can select the option that suits your location and style better.

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