Wow, one month already? Time flies when you’re taking care of a newborn baby.
Celebrating your baby’s 1-month milestone with a photo-op seems like a no-brainer. But, in today’s hectic world, a professional photo shoot might not be an option. Stop Googling “professional photographer near me,” — we’ve got you covered.
Whether you’re doing a baby girl photoshoot or a baby boy photoshoot, we’ve put together a roundup of at-home 1-month baby photoshoot ideas you can do yourself to capture multiple special moments. Grab your phone or camera and get ready to capture some memories with these cute newborn photo ideas for your new baby!
1. Mini Spa Day
Photo credit: @precious___pictures on Instagram
Here’s an idea for a fun baby photo shoot! We love this take on a baby spa day—plus, it’s hilarious seeing babies posing for adult photoshoots, right? Luckily, when little ones are 1-month old, sleeping is something they do a lot. Taking advantage of being able to shoot fun with your little one is easy peasy at this age.
H3: Items needed
- 2 sliced cucumbers
- Natural lighting
- Mini baby bathrobe (check out this one on Amazon)
2. The Monthly Milestone Blanket
Photo credit: @manuelarana on Instagram
Milestone photoshoots are very popular, especially these monthly baby blanket ones. This classic at-home photoshoot idea is perfect for capturing your baby at not just 1-month, but their entire first year of monthly milestones. Using this idea keeps all your baby’s photos within the same theme for the next 12 months, making it easy to track baby’s growth.
Items needed
- Monthly milestone baby blanket kit (check out this one on Amazon)
3. Classic Gripping Finger Shot
Photo credit: @magicmoment_photos on Instagram
If you’re a parent, you know that you’re going to want to remember how small your baby’s hands were forever. Finding a fun way to do so can be really special. Getting a photo of their teeny tiny hands in black and white photos wrapped around your finger is a cute way to add some classiness to your photos. You will always be able to look back on that amazing feeling when you capture it in a moment in time.
Items needed
- Just your finger and baby’s hand!
4. Close Ups
Photo credit: @sophieleaphotography on Instagram
It’s the little things we want to remember. Plus, it makes for some easy props—getting photos of your baby’s tiny feet, soft lips, precious eyelashes, and sweet little nose is something you won’t regret doing. Try out this 1-month photoshoot idea by snapping photos of your favorite baby features at all different angles. You’ll thank yourself later for having so many options.
Items needed
- Just your sweet baby
5. Furry-Best Buds
Photo credit: @kylekelleyphotography on Instagram
If you have a pet, this photoshoot idea is for you. Your baby’s first furry friends need to be remembered too, right? Getting them involved is a recipe for a paw-fectly cute photo. Need a trick to get your pup to lick baby? Try putting a small amount of your pet’s favorite treats on your little one’s cheek!
Using a stuffed animal, such as a teddy bear, is an excellent substitute for a pet if you don’t have one!
Items needed
- Furry friend
- A yummy treat like sliced turkey
6. Starry Night
Photo credit: @dlucenewborn on Instagram
One of the best things about this adorable photoshoot is that a sleeping baby is easier to photograph! Even better, moving baby into this unique pose should be easy while they are this young. By simply placing a piece of fabric, soft blanket or scarf under your little angel, it can make them look like they are swinging in a hammock. Just lay them on a flat surface, add in your props, and snap away!
Items needed
- Stuffed animal
- Star decorations
- A long scarf
7. Summer Baby
Photo credit: Bryna Marie Photography
Does your baby hit their 1-month milestone during the summer? Try out a pool-themed photoshoot to celebrate in the perfect way. Not only is it a fun and unique way to document this milestone, but it’s also an opportunity to get some hilarious and heartwarming photos that you can treasure forever. Feel free to add in some playful props like rubber ducks or fish toys!
Items needed
- Mini pool donut (check out this one on Amazon)
- Blue fabric or blanket
- Goggles or sunglasses
- Flower lei
- Extras: rubber ducks and bath fish toys
8. Baby Kisses
Photo credit: Harley Mitchell Photography
Giving your baby kisses is in the job description, might as well give them some extra lovin’ while trying this at-home photoshoot idea. All you have to do is apply some red lipstick on yourself and start giving baby kisses all over. Easy right? Sprinkle around some rose petals and snap that pic in the best lighting possible!
Items needed
- Rose petals
- Lipstick
- Red headband/bow
9. Bookworm
Photo credit: Brittany Blevins Photography
These photos will be a real page-turner. This cute and quirky baby photoshoot idea not only makes for an adorable photo op, but it’s also a pun on your little one’s many years of learning to come. Pick out some fun glasses frames that match your baby’s face and personality, and stack up a few books to create a cozy and bookworm-ish setting.
Items needed
- Reading glasses
- 2-3 books
10. Wooden Milestone Cards
Photo credit: @thechevertons on Instagram
Baby’s milestones are probably something all parents want to find the best way to document. Start off month one by simply setting up a cozy and comfortable space for your baby to lay in natural light, and prop your wooden card right on top of them or beside them. Pro tip: as they get older, shots of the baby biting the card will be so cute!
Items needed
- Monthly wooden milestone cards (check out these on Amazon)
- Any props or background fabrics you’d like
Pro Tips for an At-Home Baby Photoshoot
Good news: there’s no need to be a photographer to have a perfect photo shoot.
You’d be surprised at how great your photos can turn out with a few tricks, a fun idea, and even some insight from a pro. Jessica at JW Brown Photography gives some tips on her blog about how to get these precious moments into cute photos—all by yourself. We listed them below:
- Simplify. The sweetest baby pictures are the simplest. Solid-colored wraps, white undershirts, neutral blankets, plain backgrounds, etc. Keep it simple!
- Declutter. Before you capture your shot, take a look at the background. Are there any toys laying around, dirty laundry, dishes, or other messy items lying around? Clearing your background area can make all the difference.
- Turn off overhead lights and your camera flash. Using strictly window light is like magic, it makes a huge difference in the quality of your photos. Get your baby set up by a window if you can for good lighting.
- Stand directly over your baby. You want a straight-on shot, not a photo up the nose of your little one. Achieve this by getting directly over them. If you’re shooting with a camera, make sure to secure it with a strap over your neck for safety.
- Sleeping > Awake. Getting photos of your baby while they are awake seems ideal but what you don’t know is that 1-month-olds sometimes don’t shoot well. Their eyes are often crossed, crazy-eyed, or they might be crying or just wiggly resulting in blurry photos. Being asleep is often better for 1-month-old photoshoots. Don’t worry, you will have plenty of opportunities to take photos of them awake in the coming months!
- Embrace Trial & Error. Take hundreds of photos, try different angles, and even start fresh on another day if you want. Trial and error is a great way to learn when it comes to newborn photography, so don’t take yourself too seriously.
A Unique Way To Capture Your Baby’s Personality
It is appropriate to hire a professional photographer at certain times and places, but there’s also something special about creating your own diy baby photoshoot. There are many ways to take baby photos, whether it’s month-by-month with a soft blanket or wooden cards to more unique ideas like propping your newborn in a pool donut with rubber duckies. These first month ideas will inspire, whether you are a new parent or not, to capture the uniqueness of your child.
