5 Birthday Photography Tips

It’s almost Spring and guess what….birthday party invites are coming in droves. I don’t know what it is about spring/summer and birthday parties but everyone has a party going on. I am that camera mom who has her camera with her at all times so I am the unofficial party photographer for most of my kid’s friends parties. Lately, though I have been seeing family members having their own cameras to take pictures and I hate when they miss certain things. I feel that for a birthday party it’s always best to hire someone or give over the camera so that the host can focus on the guests without worrying about trying to take pictures. Here are five birthday photography tips for you or your photographer to capture all the must-have birthday memories.

Birthday Photography Tips

• Birthday Cake Pictures

  Find the cake and take a photo before people start cutting it. I always do a closeup of the cake and then do a full picture of the cake. The cake should be the center focus of the party picture because that sets the theme. The theme of the party goes with the cake. If you see a cake that has a train on it…the theme is a train party. If the cake has a unicorn then the party will be decorated with unicorns. So make sure you get the cake! If you hire someone tell them to take the cake photo first! Also, tell them to take photos of you (the host or the party person) cutting the cake. If it’s a small baby they usually do a smash cake….get that photo. Some great examples can be found on one of my favorite photographer’s Instagram page.  It doesn’t have to be this perfect but capture the child and the cake in a great photo

  

  • The Birthday Child

    So if you miss this you should be fired lol. Of course, you want to get a photo of the birthday child. Now, this can be hard to do if it is a little kid, big kids aren’t any better either. I was at a party the other day for a 12-year-old and it was hard to get him to sit still to get a photo. Most of the time you may not be able to get them alone unless you are just lucky. The birthday child is the main focus of the party so they are always surrounded by friends and family. Here is my tip go early before guests start to arrive. That’s what I always did when I use to take pictures of events and parties. If the party starts at 4 arrive at 3:30 so you can get the person who is the main attraction. Even better…if you know a photographer have them take photos separate from the party at an earlier date and then you can blow up the picture to have at the party. Have that as the “guest book” for people to sign.

  • Birthday Food Pictures

    Most parties do pizza and hot dogs that seems to be the norm. If the party has real food take photos of that. I did a party a couple of years ago and they had it catered. It was a birthday party for an adult though. Adults tend to have more food. Take pictures of the food and talk to the caterer if they have one. Make connections you never know where that can take you. If family cooked the food take some photos of the family members and their food. Now…don’t take pictures of any ole food make sure it looks good.

    

    

  • Photos of Family and Friends at the Birthday Party

    I love this part the most. To see the expressions of family members hugging and laughing…it’s priceless. The key to this is to not pose anyone. Stand in a nice corner with lots of light and snap away. Trust me you will get the perfect pictures by capturing people in their element without it being forced. You can take a few forced ones but don’t take a lot of them.  I took this of my son and his friends at a party and it was forced for 1 min. At least I got them looking at the camera for one minute.

    

  • Birthday Party Decorations Photos and Details

    The decor for some parties is out of this world. Just go to Pinterest and search a party theme. Some folks go all out and if you are called in to take the photo or you are hosting a party with a fab theme you will want those decorations captured. When you take the photos tell a story in your photos. From the cake to the decor to what the child has on…it all has a story. A well put together party has a story to tell. This includes the invitation. See if you can snag that invitation picture and put it with the decor to capture that moment. Most people throw the invitations away so getting that makes a great memory.

  Would you hire someone to take photos of your birthday party? If not would you give someone a camera to capture moments?