when it came to my daughter’s first birthday party, i knew that i really wanted two main things.  i wanted to get great pictures to remember the day (especially for her because she was too young to remember) and to be able to enjoy myself during the party.  i had spent months (yes, months) planning her first birthday party and, while i wanted the pictures to remember it by, i also really wanted to be able to sit back and relax during the party.  i wanted to live in the moment and watch her and our family/friends enjoy the party.  because getting great photos and relaxing were my two main goals, i thought long and hard about how i would pull off the two, simultaneously.  when it comes to photographing birthday parties, here are 4 secrets to getting great photos and allowing yourself to set the camera down and enjoy the party.

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Photographing Birthday Parties : 4 Secrets To Getting Great Photos and Enjoying the Party

Photograph Before The Party

a lot of the images that i really wanted were of my little girl in her party dress and the party details.  because these things could be photographed before the chaos of the party ensued, that is just what i did.  i knew that i didn’t want to be stuck behind my camera during the party, so i took all the photos before the guests arrived.  this was actually a wonderful idea because there was no pressure to photograph quickly, i was able to photograph the details of the party to the extent i wanted, and i was able to get great pictures of our daughter without the stress of multiple people around to distract her.

to see more details and images taken, be sure to read baby girl’s first birthday party : a vintage floral party.

Have A Party Pic Checklist

when it comes to photographing birthday parties, the more organized you are, the better.  before the event, be sure to write down what photos you really want to take.  this will help you organize yourself on the big day, allowing you to spend time photographing through your checklist instead of racking your brain trying to remember your wish list of photos.  for me, i really wanted to get photos of the cake, a family picture in our party outfits, a photo of my daughter’s birthday dress, and details of the party.  having a party pic checklist of the images i wanted really helped me work quickly and confidently.

Hand Your Camera Off

yes, sometimes this is easier said than done but it is so necessary.  there is a time and a place to be a photographer and sometimes it’s better to hand your camera to someone else so you can live in the moment.  once the guests arrived at my daughter’s first birthday party, my camera was put away.  because i got all the photos i wanted before the party, i wasn’t stressed about keeping my camera on me throughout the event.  if you are someone who wants photos during the actual party, consider handing your camera to someone else and put them in charge of pictures.

thank goodness, my wonderful photographer friend asked if she could take pictures during the singing of “happy birthday” and cake eating, allowing me to be in the moment and still get great photos.  my mama also offered to video for us, which is such a wonderful keepsake.  remember, more likely than not, your guests are more than happy to take some pictures for you so you can live in the moment.  don’t be afraid to hand over your camera.

Consider Your Lens Choice

using a wide angle lens was a no brainer when deciding what to use to photograph my daughter’s first birthday party.  because the party was indoors, in a tighter space, having a wide angle allowed the freedom to photograph easily in any spot.  it also allowed me to get more of the surrounding details within the frame, which is the whole point of photographing the party.  when photographing birthday parties, make sure you are considering which lens would be best.  i knew i didn’t want to worry about standing far enough away from my subjects, and having a wide angle allowed me to still get great photos without having to back into walls or feel constricted or limited by my surroundings.

photographing birthday parties can initially seem stressful, but it doesn’t have to be.  by organizing your thoughts with a photo checklist, taking as many photos as you can before the party starts, using the correct lens, and handing off your camera, you will be sure to both get the great photos you want and still enjoy yourself with your family.  if you have photographed a birthday party before, what secrets do you have for getting great photos?  be sure to share them with us in the comment section below!

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