From the first kicks in the womb to their tiny newborn yawns, it can feel like little ones grow at lightning speed. Baby monthly photo ideas are a fun way to capture those moments in real time, whether they’re lying in a bassinet or dressed up in silly costumes. The snapshots tell the story of just how quickly life changes in a year.
Think of the first-year baby photos as your own little time capsule. Month by month, you’ll collect memories to hold on to (and share updates with grandparents who can’t get enough of them). So, if you need some ideas to save into a lovely keepsake, here are 17 baby photoshoots to enjoy.
1. Milestone blanket
You’ve probably seen adorable photos of this idea floating around social media and baby birthday cards. It involves placing your baby on a decorative blanket designed with numbers 1-12. (These blankets are widely available online in many different styles.) The numbers have enough space between them to mark your baby’s age, for example with a ring ornament or toy.
Milestone blankets are simple and easy to use, serving as a consistent backdrop the entire year to see the baby’s growth. For added fun, order a personalized blanket with your baby’s name, favorite characters, or nursery theme.
Creative cue: You can customize the marker, too. Flowers, frames, and even baby teething rings are unique ways to switch it up each month and add variety.
2. Monthly themes
Why not celebrate each month with a new theme? For example, heart-designed Valentine’s decor for February and a precious pumpkin costume for October. As for non-holiday months, you can base themes on the season or your baby’s interests, like their favorite toys or books.
Monthly themes help add personality and creativity to each photo session, making them more engaging to share (not to mention keeping parents excited for next month’s setup).
Creative cue: Try keeping a small bin of seasonal props to collect and add to each month. This makes it easier to have them on hand once the month arrives.
3. Monthly dress up
Who doesn’t love dressing their baby up in cute costumes or outfits? From animals and superheroes to food and storybook characters, dress-up creates playful and memorable photos to enjoy. Plus, the outfits can be fun keepsakes to reuse or frame later.
Creative cue: Coordinate your baby’s outfits with matching backdrops or props. This helps to create a complete mini scene for their monthly photo.
4. Decorative cake
Place a decorated cake or cupcake next to your baby each month as a neat way to celebrate their growing age. Cake adds color and joy to the photo sessions, where you can choose different cake styles like fruit toppings, colorful icing, and matching designs.
Creative cue: Add fun, matching props with the cake, like orange confetti and carrots for a carrot cake. You can also use a consistent cake stand or plate to help keep it level in the shot.
5. Floral arrangements
For a softer, artistic aesthetic, arrange flowers around your baby to form the number of the month. Flowers are great for seasonal themes (like spring tulips and summer sunflowers) and adding pops of color. They can also double as a keepsake idea, such as dried flower petals.
Creative cue: Press one flower from each arrangement onto its own page in a book to save them. You can lay them alongside each of the monthly photos as embellishments in a baby’s first-year scrapbook.
6. Chalkboard with milestones
Consider a small, classic chalkboard to display your baby’s stats for the month (weight, height, new skills, favorite foods, etc.). It’s a creative way to track developmental milestones and is easy to customize month to month.
Creative cue: To make the board fun and unique each month, use different chalk colors and add doodles (like stars or hearts).
7. Baby looking in the mirror
Cherish that moment when your baby first discovers their reflection. You can capture your baby’s curiosity each month as they grow more self-aware. Those surprised reactions are great for photo shoots! Plus, it’s easy to recreate monthly with the same mirror.
Make the mirror background unique by writing on it (with washable markers, of course). You can write your baby’s monthly age, inspiring messages, fun doodles, and more.
Creative cue: Angle the mirror slightly to capture both your baby’s face and their reflection in one frame.
8. Baby in your arms
Remember that intimate moment when you first held your baby in your arms? Keep the meaningful moment going as a monthly photo idea. Shots of the baby held in a parent’s arms each month can highlight their growth and bond over time.
This monthly baby photo idea captures the unspoken trust between parent and baby and even doubles as cherished family portraits. As the baby gets older, you can switch up the photos so that a parent lifts the baby up above their head.
Creative cue: Alternate between parents each month and their positions (facing forward, leaning on the parents’ chest, head on their shoulder, etc.).
9. Baby in scenes
This baby photography idea is another social media favorite. You can build creative small “scenes” around your baby each month from a bird’s-eye view.
For example, create a fun-in-the-sun beach scene by laying the baby on a beach towel atop sand-colored sheets, next to an ocean blue blanket. Then, accessorize the scene with beach toys and seashells for fun.
Creative cue: Keep the props simple, but repeat one consistent element (like a blanket) each month to tie the scenes together.
10. Height and weight growth
From six-pound newborns to 20-pound jolly toddlers, it’s surprising how fast babies grow. Why not track the baby’s length and weight in the photo alongside them each month? (After all, these are milestones, too).
Consider displaying the stats on props, like scales, toy weights, and measuring tape, in the photos. As an exercise theme, you can even dress your baby up in a fun gym or fitness outfit, like with sweat bands and a towel.
Creative cue: Snap close-ups of the numbers and wide shots with the baby for a mix of detail and portrait style.
11. Clock background
Feel like time is flying as a parent? Most can agree when their little ones grow. Symbolize the passing of time in a playful way with a clock background for your baby’s photoshoot. It’s simply a large clock face sheet or blanket, with hands pointing to their monthly age. The canvas is easy to customize, such as with DIY clock backdrops or printable designs.
Creative cue: Use themed props as the clock hands (like toys, flowers, or ribbons) for a personal touch.
12. Baby in bassinet
Keep it simple with a monthly shot of your baby lying in the same bassinet or crib. This makes it easy to see how quickly they’re outgrowing the bed. The setup saves time and requires minimal effort.
Plus, you can still make it cute and decorative each month with different props.
Creative cue: Stick with the same blanket pattern or stuffed toy each month to make your baby’s growth more noticeable.
13. First-year milestones
Focus each photo on the major development milestones of your baby’s first year, such as rolling over and sitting up on their own. Over the course of the year, you’ll capture the best moments: their crawling, pulling up to stand, eating solid food, and maybe even their first steps.
These photos can help you celebrate progress in a story-driven way, making them perfect for combining photos into a first-year photo book.
Creative cue: Consider recording a short video during the photo session too. You can pair video and photos in a digital album to make the milestones more exciting.
14. Outdoor photoshoots
Capture your baby each month in their favorite outdoor spot, like at a park or in the backyard.
The natural light and seasonal changes outdoors help add variety and charm to the photos. Plus, it’ll show the baby’s interaction with the environment as they grow.
Creative cue: Pull a photo from the outdoor location (like on a favorite swing in the park) and save it in a separate album. This way, you can recreate the photo years later in that same spot for a nostalgic “then vs. now” picture.
15. Monthly hands and feet comparisons
Remember that moment you first held their tiny feet in your hands? Replicate that favorite moment in time as monthly photos, placing the baby’s hands or feet against a parent’s for scale.
Each monthly photo will show how such tiny features change over time. This idea creates intimate, detailed shots, which you can do with minimal setup.
Creative cue: Consider shooting this photo session in black and white for a classy, timeless look.
16. Things baby loves each month
Showcase your baby’s favorite toys, books, or foods each month in a photo session. This tells the story of their personality and interests as they grow, not to mention adding personal details to each shoot. It’s fun to look back and reminisce on your baby’s interests, especially in a baby journal.
Creative cue: Use the items to signify the baby’s age each month. For example, favorite snacks in the shape of a nine for “nine months.”
17. Baby with a stuffed animal or family pet
Place the same stuffed toy in the photo with your baby every month as a size comparison. This photo idea is a simple yet clever way to show your baby’s growth (with cuteness overload). Got a family pet? Add them in there too—the perfect candid shots for a people-who-love-me photo book.
Creative cue: Encourage your baby or pet to interact with the stuffed toy for natural, playful shots.
Create lasting memories with your baby’s monthly photos
From gummy smiles to wobbly sit-ups, each month’s milestone of your baby brings something new. There are so many baby monthly photo ideas to create—themes, dress up, and all. Whichever you choose, they’re sure to help capture those real-time changes.
And once you’ve got that full set of memories, turn them into a photo book with Mixbook. It’s the easiest (and most fun) way to bring all those sweet milestones together in one place. Head to Mixbook Studio™ to upload, edit, and save your favorite shots into shareable baby photo books for the whole family.
