Welcome

You tied the string on the last balloon, frosted the last cupcake, and put out the last of the party gifts. All the hard work, creativity and of course planning has paid off. The guests are about to arrive and there is one last thing to do. No, not checking your lip gloss in the mirror, I’m talking about taking photographs. Before the guests arrive pull out your camera and take a few close-ups of all the details of your party so you can show off your hard work for years to come.

I love photographing parties. This party was especially fun because it was my friend’s daughter’s very 1st birthday. I know how hard it is to play host and photograph your own party, so I was happy to help out my friend. Here are a few things to keep in mind at your next party to make sure you capture all the memories and the fun.

1. Details! Make sure to take pictures of all your hard work before the guests arrive. This includes photos of the food, cake, presents and anything else you want to remember.
2. Action! Once the guests have arrived, make sure to take a few photos of everyone having fun and interacting with each other. Take a few on the dance floor and don’t forget about blowing out the candle on the cake. These candid shots are so much fun to look back on.
3. Smile! Make sure to take a few posed smiling shots with your guests. These make great Facebook posts and sometimes they can even be great wall portraits like the one you see of mom, dad and the birthday girl from this party.

I’m so glad that I was able to photograph baby Blakeley’s 1st birthday party. Without the photos of the handmade garland, gift bags for the kids and personalized bib, Blakeley would never have known how much work her mom put into her 1st birthday.