One of the most bittersweet parts of having a new baby is acknowledging the monthly milestones as they get older! I love looking back on photos of my son as he hit each monthly milestone. Capturing these milestones can be fun, and you can get very creative with them. There are plenty of monthly baby photo ideas that most parents can easily do at home using themes or milestone blankets, signs, or props!
Of course, as your baby gets older, they may not cooperate as well during your photo sessions! My biggest tip for taking great photos as they age is not to wait until they are tired, hungry, or need a change. This will be in the morning, right after a nap and feeding for most babies! Also, be sure to enlist the help of someone else as well as baby’s current favorite toy to capture their attention. And if you have an iPhone, make sure your live photos are turned on so you can choose a different still image if it ends up turning out better than the one captured. Now, let’s get into ideas for your baby’s photos!
Monthly Baby Photo Ideas
Whether you want to take more traditional monthly baby photos or try some more unique ideas, we’ve got you covered in the categories below. Check out these monthly baby photo ideas:
Monthly Ideas
If you want to keep a consistent theme for all 12 months, these are all cute options:
1. Donuts
Just add sprinkles! Donuts are a delicious and adorable way to mark a new month that has passed for your baby. Feel free to use real or faux donuts! Add a cute outfit for your baby girl or boy to complete the look.
2. Pizza
Yum! Take a bite out of every month with this adorable series of milestone photos! Dress baby in a simple white onesie alongside your favorite pizza of the month for this clever and unique idea.
3. Baby in Bloom
This is such a simple yet gorgeous concept! Add a floral crown for a boho vibe. You can use real florals for the shoot if you prefer, but the plus side of artificial florals is that you can reuse them again and again!
4. Moses Basket
Watch your baby grow when you recreate this adorable Moses basket photo each month. Before you know it, baby will fill the basket! Add monthly milestone markers to complete the photos.
5. Calendar
The months really do fly by during that first year. Remember each passing month with this clever calendar baby photoshoot idea. You only need your camera and a desk calendar to create these special memories.
6. Up in the Air
See how baby grows from fitting comfortably in two hands to requiring a little more effort from you to lift them above your head. This easy monthly photo idea is a cute and simple way to document baby’s growth!
7. Rockabye
It is incredible how quickly our babies develop. From lifting their head to crawling to walking, it is amazing to see the changes that take place during that first year. A beautiful rocking horse serves as the prop for this monthly photo series, which really highlights their development and growth as they learn how to eventually get on the horse.
Winter Ideas
Instead of keeping one photoshoot theme for all 12 months, you can also change up your theme to match each season! To start off, here are some cute ideas for wintertime:
1. Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of year with your bundle of joy! Choose a Santa hat or an entire baby Santa suit for a precious and memorable photoshoot. Add lights, ornaments, and presents for extra festive photos!
2. New Year’s
Cue the sparkling grape juice — it’s time to ring in the new year! This is such a cute idea, and it’s easy to find props for. Incorporate gold and silver clothing items for boys and girls. Add noisemakers, confetti, and party hats!
3. Winter Wonderland
White blankets or sheets plus batten or “fake snow” will set the perfect scene for an adorable Winter Wonderland! Add a baby-sized snowman outfit to take the theme to the next level. Another adorable addition would be twinkling fairy lights.
4. Valentine’s Day
This is the sweetest idea that will definitely melt your heart! It’s very simple since all you need is a tube of red lipstick and your lips. You can add pink and red for Valentine’s Day-themed colors and heart elements!
Spring Ideas
Want a more colorful theme? These adorable baby photoshoot ideas are perfect for the spring season:
1. St. Patrick’s Day
The luck of the Irish and a rainbow with a pot of gold at the end if you’re lucky! Grab your green and gold outfits for baby. Add a bow for a girl and a bowtie for a boy, plus all your shamrocks!
2. Easter
An adorable and simple way to do a photoshoot for Easter is with a huge basket and plastic, colorful eggs! I’ve done this with my son and added bunny ears for an extra cute factor. Now you have one sweet bundle!
3. Cinco de Mayo
Such a colorful and bright photoshoot idea! Add a sombrero, a cactus, a serape, and all the colors of the rainbow for the cutest photos. I love this idea for May, but it could also be adjusted for a taco-themed shoot any time of the year!
4. Rainy Day
Rain is a consistent part of the spring season. What could be more perfect than a rainy-day-themed photoshoot for baby? This could easily be DIYed using a sheet and paper cutouts. Add a miniature umbrella, rain boots, and a rain jacket for the cutest look!
Summer Ideas
For the hotter months, these photoshoot ideas are right on theme (and will keep baby looking and feeling cool!):
1. USA
Show your baby’s patriotic side with a red, white, and blue photoshoot! Pair with stars and stripes decor for the ultimate USA photos.
2. Watermelon
What a sweet idea! Snap photos of your little cutie with watermelon to cool off in the dead of summer. Fill a large galvanized tub with water, watermelon slices, and your little darling, of course!
3. Tropical Surfer
Surf’s up! Pose your little angel with beach gear for the cutest tropical photoshoot. Add sunglasses, a lounge chair, a beach ball, and other accessories for the perfect look!
Fall Ideas
Finally, here are some baby photoshoot themes that are totally fitting for the autumn season:
1. Thanksgiving
Gobble your little cutie up in a Thanksgiving-themed turkey look! This is easy to shoot with a large stockpot, and just add a turkey hat or outfit!
2. Pumpkins
Pumpkins — they’re everywhere during the fall! Choose a large one to carve out and insert your baby inside if they can sit, or get multiple mini pumpkins to scatter around them for a fall theme. Grab a cute pumpkin hat to complete the look!
3. Pumpkin Bath
A pumpkin milk bath is such a fun fall photoshoot idea! It’s so easy, too. Add milk to a sink or tub, some mini pumpkins, and your baby — then snap away! I wish I had done this idea with my own son since it is so adorable. If you have a baby girl, add a seasonal headband to complete the look!
Milestone Blankets and Cards
Maybe instead of using one of the themes above, you’d prefer to use milestone blankets or cards to mark your baby’s growth. This milestone blanket is the method I used for my own son! We had a golf-themed one, which was perfect since my husband is obsessed with playing. Other ideas include placards or cards to document each month’s milestone!
