A one year photography session are a favorite session type of mine, especially when the one year old is a past newborn photography client of mine.  There is something extra special about getting to see the newborn babies again, for a milestone photography session at my Minneapolis area photography studio.

One year does not seen like a lot of time, but babies grow and change so much in that first year, and photography session to celebrate their first year or life is the perfect way to capture these first few baby milestones.  I also love to just how those sweet little newborn faces grew into feisty one year old’s, and how their personalities are so developed in such a short period of time.  This little one was so fun and happy during her one year photography sessions.

One Year Photography Session | | Simple White Bed Set Up

If you have been in the studio for a one year photography session anytime in the last few years, then you know that I start almost all of my one year photography session kiddos on my white bed set up.  It is the best way to ease into their one year photography session.  Kids love sitting on the bed, playing with the blankets and pillows, and some brave ones will even start bouncing and the rare dare devil will get a bounce or two in during their one year photography session before we move into set ups closer to the ground.

This little girl loved spending time playing on the bed during her one year photography session.  Once she got a little too brave for just seated pictures, I let her play with every one year old’s favorite thing in the studio during their one year photography session, the big windows and curtains. She loved watching cars drive by, and laughing at how the curtains would float around her when she moved.

 

One Year Photography Session | Simple Props Set Up

In addition to the all-white set up for one year photography session poses, anyone that has been in the studio knows I am a lover of all things white.  I have so many white props, and have been knows to buy duplicated of other props just to paint them white too.  It is boarder line obsession material – but it makes for great pictures.

I love a simple white backdrop and props for a one year photography session.  It is a great way to let the spunk and personality come out during the one year photography session.  When everything is simple and white, it lets all of your focus be on your little one and truly highlight exactly what they looked like and their personalities were like at this milestone, and have that documented in photographs from your milestone photography session.

 

One Year Photography Session | | Black & Gray Set Up

In keeping with the theme that simple neutral backdrops are a favorite for a one year photography session, a gray backdrop with black was a great contrast to the all white set ups before.  Not only do they compliment the colors of the white bed and floor set up earlier in the photography session, but they are also colors that let the little one be the focus of the session. I can’t imagine her little smirk standing out as much on a bright or patterned backdrop.  These simple backdrops are perfect for a one year photography sessions and little ones like her that have such great facial expressions.

One Year Photography Session | Baby Swings

A newer prop in the studio, and a hit with one year photography session clients, is this macramé swing.  It is perfect for one year old’s, and also something they love.  Seriously, every little kid lights up when they get into the swing and start swinging in it.  It lets me capture for many natural smiles during a one year photography session.  It also is great for the more mobile kiddos that want to get up and run away, this way they are confined to one spot for at least a portion on their photography session.  It allows me to get some great happy pictures.  And in her case, her one year photography session gallery also includes some images of her trying to eat the swing.

One Year Photography Session | Vintage Charm

So many of the studio props are ones that are local finds, from either flea markets or vintage / antique stores.  This cute quilt was one of those amazing local finds.  There are so many great antique stores in Northfield, that I frequent so often, that I forgot which store I even found this one at.  All I know is it was one of the antique stores in Downtown Northfield. The colors on it are amazing, and work well for many studio sessions.

This session was no different.  When this little one was in for her newborn session, she had a few images done with purple props.  So it was a given that we needed to incorporate purple into her session a year later.  This quilt added a muted splash of color, and looked great with her purple romper.

One Year Photography Session | The Famous High Chair Prop

I often joke about my prop addictions, but my high chair prop addiction is legit.  I have more high chairs than I want to admit, but they are so perfect for kiddos at their one year photography session that I keep justifying buying more.  Of all the high chair props, this one is the favorite.  Parents of both girls and boys pick this white chair for their one year photography session.

Not only is it adorable, but like the swing is lets me keep these little ones in one spot for a short part of their one year photography session.  Plus by one, most kids have made the connection between a high chair and food.  And the thought of food coming soon leads to some great expressions.  From happy while thinking about food, to being angry for not getting it (or soon enough), these are a favorite of mine and clients in the galleries of a one year photography session.

One Year Photography Session | Simple chairs

While I love all white set ups for a one year photography session, I also know that parents like a little splash of color.  This little girls wore one of the studio’s outfits for the last part of her one year photography session, and I loved how it looked. The blue really brought out the coloring of her eyes.

For this part of the session, I added in a couple chairs for some color.  This wooden chair has been a studio staple for over 5 years.  Lots of kiddos have been photographed in it, for both studio milestone sessions and outdoor family sessions.  I love that it is part of so many families experience with me.

This green chair is a more recent addition to the studio, but quickly becoming a staple piece for a one year photography session.  The color works great for both girls and boys, and the wooden back on it has come in hands as almost a cage for the really wild kids during their one year photography session.  Like how she is getting a little brave with her jumping on the chair, and made me drop my camera and jump to catch her when she seemed close to going over a few times.

One Year Photography Session |  Documenting The Real Moments

While I love a styled one year photography session, I also love capturing the little moments.  Like when she steals dads phone in the middle of her one year photography session to watch Bluey.  Maybe I loved this and had to include it in the one year photography session gallery because I love Bluey too.