30 essential photos to take in baby’s first year

The first year of your baby’s life will fly by faster than you can imagine. One second you’re holding a newborn in your arms at the hospital and the next they’re taking their first steps. This leaves us wishing we could freeze time and just keep them forever in that one moment.

Luckily, through photography, we can capture those moments and revisit them to remember those special feelings and that fleeting stage. (And while they’re totally adorable on their own, we’re also not opposed to Instagrammable props!) It’s the closest thing we have to a time machine. So grab your cameras, grab your cell phones, and capture those memories!

30 of our favorite baby picture ideas

Photographing baby’s firsts

The first year is full of photo-worthy developments, from smiles to steps. Here are just a few that you’ll want to make sure you preserve.

1. First smiles

2. First foods

3. First steps

4. First holidays

5. First tooth

Baby family photo ideas

Family photos offer an intimate window into baby’s developing relationships, so it’s worth the effort to capture these moments.

6. Baby + mama

Eileen K Photography

7. Baby + daddy

Simply Picturesque Photography

8. Baby + siblings

Claire Falco Creative

9. Group family photo

Baby milestone pictures

Babies change quickly! Preserve developmental milestones like those first precious steps with these ideas:

10. Rolling over

11. Sitting up

12. Crawling

13. Cruising furniture

14. Learning to walk

Red Boat Photography

Photographing baby’s everyday

Milestones are exciting, but you’ll also want to remember the more ordinary moments that make up baby’s everyday.

15. In their crib

Eileen K Photography

16. Tiny feet

Simply Picturesque Photography

17. Sweet baby yawns

Eileen K Photography

18. Sleeping

19. A diaper change

The Luxe Mom

20. Swaddled up

Heather Mohr Photography

21. Laughs and giggles

22. Tummy time

23. Play time

24. Doctors visits

25. Bath time

Month by month baby photos

Taking monthly baby pictures is a fun, simple way to document your little one’s growth. Here are some of our favorite ways to memorialize these moments:

26. Milestone blankets

Lulujo

27. Monthly stickers

Lucy Darling

28. Milestone cards

Lulujo

29. Calendar photo

30. Creative numbers

A version of this story was originally published on May 10, 2018. It has been updated.

Related Stories

Baby Milestones

Starting solids? Don’t miss the ‘flavor window’

Viral & Trending

Ms. Rachel explains the importance of speaking ‘parentese’ to littles: ‘This is not baby talk’

Baby Health

The first year: Your baby’s health from A to Z