We are by no means even half way through my second baby’s first year, but I wanted to share with all of you how I’ve chosen to document his weekly changes. I did the same for my first born and ended up turning the photos into an awesome photo book that we always manage to look through together on a weekly basis. It’s so fun to see just how quickly they change, and I know I will cherish these photos for the rest of my life.
To document baby’s first year, you’ll need just a few items…
small chalk board
chalk pens
white background
cute, growing baby
Each Sunday, I set aside some time to take my little guy’s picture.
Some tips I have when taking a baby’s picture.
1. Make sure the baby is happy! My little guy is usually quite the happy camper, but I find that I get the best pictures of him after he’s been well fed and has taken a nap. A dry diaper never hurts either!
2. If you’re going to use a chalk board for each week, like I’ve chosen to do, invest in some chalk pens. Trust me. They look awesome, don’t create any dust, and are easier to wipe off from week to week with a damp cloth.
3. Try to keep your backgrounds consistent. I want the focus to be on my baby, not on the background. So, all of my photos have been taken on our king size bed. I try my hardest not to get anything else in the background each week, but I’m not perfect. I do always take the photos when there is good, natural light coming into the room and do some minor editing in PicMonkey. Having the all white background of the comforter and pillows allows me to brighten up the photo quite a bit.
4. Most of all have fun! I probably take an average of 50-75 shots each week {thank goodness for memory cards, right?!}. Make faces, silly sounds, and giggle with your baby. You’ll get a better shot if they know you’re having fun with them!
When you’ve reached 52 weeks, congratulations! You’ve made it one whole year. Throw a big party, let your baby dig his or her chubby hands into a big slice of birthday cake, and then sit down to put all the weekly photos together somehow. For my first son’s book, I used Shutterfly {during a major sale} and included all 52 weeks plus photos from his first birthday party. This would also be an awesome project to complete with a Project Life Mini Kit {they specifically make Baby Boy and Girl Editions}.
Happy growing and learning!
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