Whether you are reaching a milestone birthday or simply want to celebrate the bad ass birthday b*tch that you are, your birth is worthy of commemorating in an epic way. When I turned thirty, I knew I wanted to do just that. So in true Amanda fashion, I went all out! I see so much joy in these photos, with happy memories of opening the next chapter of my life. If you are searching for tips and inspiration for a birthday photo shoot of your own, you are in the right place!
If you are still reading, you have decided to plan a birthday photoshoot (for yourself or for a bestie) and you want some tips to get started. I have gathered all my advice here and would love to provide some inspiration from my thoughts, as well as from images of my own birthday photo shoot. Links to everything I wore and used can be found at the bottom of the post.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
Choose a Theme
First thing’s first, you are going to want to decide on a theme or an overall vibe of your shoot. This can either be super specific (think 80s hair band music video or Ariel under the sea) or you can opt for something a bit looser, as I did. I wanted a girly, but edgy vibe with a hint of disco. Mission: accomplished! Surround yourself with things that make you happy and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box.
Stay Inside or Opt out?
Once you figure out the theme for your shoot, you are going to want to pick a location, either outside or in. Maybe you want to take your photos on the beach or in a vineyard. Or perhaps, like me, you want more of a blank canvas as your backdrop. I bought a large paper backdrop in an off-white color and borrowed my mom’s backdrop stand, which we set up in my dining room. With this backdrop, my props and outfits stood out the most. Disco ball-forward, if you will.
Side note: Whatever location you choose, be sure there is plenty of light. If you’ll be indoors, you may need to supplement with some ring lights, and if outside, time your birthday shoot with the sun.
Plan the Perfect Outfit(s)
As you can tell from these photos, I opted for two different outfits for my birthday photo shoot. One was girly and fun with a lace bodysuit and a big pink tutu, topped with a sprinkle crown. The other was a bit more edgy. I wore a black dress with multicolor sequin stripes and I added some black tights with silver stars on them. Both were paired with my favorite platform combat boots.
Scope out ideas on Instagram or Pinterest, and ultimately, don’t be afraid to spice things up and wear something that feels fun! If you feel cute and confident in your outfit(s), it’ll show in the photos.
Pick out Your Props
Once you have a theme, a location, and your outfit(s), it’s time to pick out your props! I had so much fun with this and curated a collection of items to complement everything else that I had chosen. I threw confetti around, dropped in some disco balls, popped champagne, blew up giant 3-0 balloons, and created a letter board with a fun birthday “announcement”. These details will add a lot of personality to your birthday photo shoot, so don’t shy away from adding a bit extra.
For the fun part! If you choose to do a cake smash, you will obviously need a smash cake! Feel free to make one yourself or work with a local bakery and have them do it. I had a delicious vanilla cake that was covered in sprinkles to match my sprinkle crown. Yummy and adorable! And don’t forget to add a cute lil’ cake topper and bring out your cake stand to elevate the look.
Decide on a Photographer
When I say “decide on a photographer,” it does not automatically translate to “break the bank hiring a professional.” You certainly can do that if it fits within your budget, but don’t let that deter you from doing a birthday photo shoot if it is not. I asked my mom to take the photos for me, and my sister-in-law and cousin came to help set the stage. To thank them, I planned a whole girls weekend around the shoot and we had so much fun.
Ask a friend or family member, or buy a tripod and set an automatic timer to do it yourself. So many options! No camera, no problem! Use an iPhone! Regardless of your budget, if you decide you want a birthday photo shoot, you should find solutions within your means to make it happen. You are worth it.
HAVE FUN AND BE PLAYFUL
This is the MOST important piece of advice I have, and should be the easiest to accomplish. Have fun! Put on your favorite music, dance around, and try not to think about the camera. If you are camera-shy, drink a glass of wine before you start to help you loosen up. Having family or friends around helps with this too, they can light some sparkles in you to help you shine. If you are uncomfortable, it will be so transparent in your photos. If you are having fun, your inner light will be unmistakable.
There you have it! All my advice and inspiration for planning an epic birthday photo shoot. I hope you have found this helpful and, most importantly, I hope you decide to celebrate yourself this year. With the chaos of everyday life, it is easy to convince ourselves that something like a birthday photo shoot is not a priority, but YOU are! It does not have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time, but it can be a beautiful moment to show yourself that you are worth celebrating.
xoA
Over To You
Are you ready for your birthday photo shoot now? Feeling inspired? Or maybe you have already done one? Tell me about it! Thinking about a birthday photo shoot but afraid to commit? Let’s talk about it! Sound off in the comments below! If an anniversary photo shoot is more your vibe, check out my tips for planning one of those.
shop the post
- Tutu
- Sprinkle Crown
- Platform Combat Boots
- Lace Bodysuit (similar)
- Sequin Dress
- Sequin Dress (similar romper)
- Sequin Dress (similar bright)
- Black Star Tights
- Disco Balls (small)
- Disco Balls (large)
- Star Confetti
- Circle Confetti
- Letter Board
- Number Balloons
- Champagne Flute
- Cake Topper
- Cake Stand (similar)
- Paper Backdrop
- Backdrop Stand
- Ring Light
