Just like with all other parents, it can be easy to feel as though your phone’s camera has suddenly become stuck to your arm!
But, out of all the different milestones and special moments, what are some of the most “must capture” moments that you should know about?
If you’re currently asking yourself this question, then rest assured that you have come to the right place.
In this guide, we are going to be sharing with you all of the sweetest moments that you should make sure that you capture during your baby’s very special first year.
From the first 48 hours all the way to the unforgettable moment they take their first steps, we’ve got you covered in this guide.
Read on!
Capturing Memorable Moments Of Your Baby’s First Year: Top Tips
Like we’ve already mentioned, every moment of your baby’s first year is going to be memorable and special.
But, if you want to try and document all of the important moments without missing any, here is a little breakdown of some of the sweetest moments you’ll want to capture to cherish forever:
The First 48 Hours!
If you’ve just welcomed a little one or you’re soon to do so, you’re going to want to make sure that you are capturing the first few days of your little one’s life.
Whether at the hospital with all of your loved ones all the way to coming home for the very first time, the first few days are very special and you’ll want to make sure that you capture images of them to look back on over the years to come.
If you’re planning on hiring a professional photographer, then you might find that they refer to these first few days as the “fresh 48” which essentially refers to the first few days when a little one enters the world. Of course, you can easily take these images yourself, it’s entirely up to you.
Use A Newborn Statistics Canvas
Ask any parent and we’re sure that they’ll tell you that the first year of a baby’s life seems to fly by and suddenly they have become a toddler!
That being said, it can certainly be easy to forget about all of the little details that you might want to remember in years to come, especially with all of the demands that come with being a new parent.
This is where the magic of a newborn statistics canvas comes into play.
When using a newborn statistics canvas, you will be able to capture all of the important progress that your little one is making during the first year of their life while also being able to enjoy the perfect photo opportunity to share with family and friends.
Newborn statistical canvases are super handy and can be bought from the store or alternatively made from scratch at home.
While they can be easily customized to include different information, they are traditionally used for progress and development, and tend to include everything from first words to height, and we’re sure that you’ll love being able to look back on them through photos.
Plus, besides being a great way to immortalize all of the awesome progress and milestones that your baby makes throughout their first year, this is also a great option for parents that might want to share their baby’s progress on social media, without actually posting their little one.
Don’t Forget The “Firsts”
The first year of your baby’s life is going to be full to the brim with “firsts”.
This includes everything from the first few smiles that your child makes (see also “Capturing Your Child’s Personality Through Photos“), all the way to their first steps which can occur during the first 12 months.
These “first” moments can happen quite unexpectedly, which means that it might be a little hard to get a professional photographer to be able to capture them for you.
Instead, we recommend that you try and capture them on your phone as soon as you can, as well as make sure that you write down the date so you never forget the date of each milestone.
If you do find that you aren’t able to capture the very first time that your little one does something new, try not to be hard on yourself.
Like we’ve said, it can be hard to capture these “firsts” as little ones can be quick and unpredictable.
If you do find that you aren’t able to capture a first on camera, don’t worry. Instead, we recommend that you capture it on camera as soon as you can afterward.
Monthly Milestones
If you’re big on social media, then we’re sure that you might have seen proud parents sharing monthly milestones images of their babies during the first year!
Monthly milestones are a great way to track the progress of your baby, while also getting them to sit for an image that you will be able to cherish forever.
If you’re not overly familiar with monthly milestone images, they are very similar to the way that professional photoshoot images look, and typically feature a special theme with props to display the different milestones that baby has made throughout the month that has just passed.
Besides being the perfect chance to show off your little one’s achievements over the month, monthly milestone photos are also a great way to have a keepsake that will last forever!
You can use a chalkboard or a monthly milestone chart to be able to write down all of the big milestones that you want to remember forever.
Perhaps your little one said their first word, or maybe they are about to celebrate their first christmas, whatever the milestone, you’ll want to make sure that you’re documenting them all during your baby’s first year.
Top Tip: If you want to capture monthly milestones of your baby’s first year, then why don’t you consider theming some of the months in accordance with the season or special holidays taking place?
This is a great way to elevate your baby’s monthly milestone pictures, and we’re sure that you (and your little one) will love being able to look back over them as the years pass.
Take Sleeping Bassinet And Crib Shots
Baby’s grow fast! It can seem like only a blink of an eye has passed before your little one will be out of their crib and in their own bed.
So, it’s a good idea to make sure that you capture the sweet moments of your little one peacefully sleeping either in their own bassinet or crib.
If you want to document the growth of your little one over their very first year, then why don’t you consider taking crib and bassinet shots regularly over the course of your baby’s very first year?
You will then be able to line them up and compare to see how much your little one has grown in just a space of 12 months.
Matching Family Photos
When it comes to your baby’s first year, why don’t you also consider getting all of the family involved?
Like we’ve already mentioned in this guide, babies grow fast, so every moment really does count during the first year.
We recommend that you take family photos during this special time, so that you will have images forever of you and your family all together while your baby is still a newborn.
This can be done at any time during the first year of your little one’s life, and can be to celebrate a special occasion, holiday or simply just to capture family moments(see also: Tips For Capturing Authentic Family Moments).
For this, we recommend that you hire a professional photographer who will be able to capture the photos for you to ensure the highest quality.
As well as this, getting the assistance of a professional photographer will also mean that the whole family will be able to feature in the portraits.
If no one else wants to feature in the photos, then you could always consider wearing matching pajamas with your little one and taking matching pictures that you can cherish forever.
Trust us, you’ll love being able to look back on them as the years go by.
The Bottom Line: Which Idea Will You Try First?
There we have it! You’ve made it to the end of the guide.
Now that you have taken the time to read through everything that we have shared with you above, we are hoping that you now have a much better idea of all the different ways that you will be able to capture your baby’s very first year.
Thanks for reading, and we hope you enjoy every milestone and special moment that occurs during this wonderful time with your little one (see also “Photographing Your Child’s Milestone Moments“). Bye for now!
Hey everyone, and welcome to LemonadeAndLenses.com. My name is Laura and I am the founder of this site!
For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
If you want to learn about how to take professional images, and to run your own photography business, then I can help you out, here at Lemonade And Lenses.
