I have always put together special outfits and taken pictures of Ella on her birthdays but last year was the first time I really did a stylized photo session.

And since these pictures are such a treasure to me, I want to continue this tradition as long as Ella will let me.

If you’re going to do special birthday photos, here are some elements to consider:

I’d known for a while that we were going to do a Nutcracker themed party and I thought keeping the photos in the theme would be so beautiful. That meant some sort of ballerina look– which was perfect because I could use the same outfit for the party. I saw this Plum NYC tutu so long ago and it finally came back in stock over the summer so I grabbed it!

Last year, Ella wore a beautiful headpiece that matched the theme of her Enchanted Fourest party.

This year, I wanted to do something a little simpler but still whimsical. This precious confetti crown was exactly what I had in mind.

It’s perfect because it has elastic to keep it in place but also the delicate ribbon bow in the back.

For the location, I always prefer doing things at home. It’s the most comfortable and I never want Ella (or myself) to feel self-conscious about taking pictures. And if the environment can be more about playing than posing, I’m all for it.

As for props, you can never go wrong with flowers. They’re the most natural and they look amazing in photos. It’s also a good idea to have toys that photograph well because it adds whimsy (more whimsy, forever and always) and again, you capture pictures of organic play.

When conceptualizing these photo sessions, I have specific photos in mind, of course, but the real point is to capture Ella exactly as she is at this age. I can put together a cute outfit and create a curated look but that is all just to enhance the magic that is already there.

xo

eb