Christmas Fireplace35 Inspiring Birthday Photoshoot Ideas for Unforgettable Moments
Who doesn’t love birthdays?
Birthdays are a personal life achievement, a little, big, milestone that celebrates someone’s new turn around the sun, and a personal new year - as well as a perfect excuse to party.
Because it only happens once a year, celebrants love to capture their special day, especially when throwing a big party! People love to get crazy, original, cute, and memorable birthday pictures to capture an amazing memory and a collection of growth and evolution to look back to with their loved ones.
So, as a professional photographer, you will for sure run into birthday events that will demand you shoot the best birthday poses in a unique and significant way.
If this sounds like you, keep on reading, as you’re in the right place to get the best 35 photo tips, birthday pose ideas and overall inspiration!
Classic Birthday Photoshoot Ideas
Let’s begin with some good old classics, the unmissable birthday shots, the must-dos that everyone would want to have to get their special day forever captured.
1. What’s a birthday without the cake?
Cakes are the cutest, yummiest, and most traditional birthday symbols. So taking a nice portrait with the celebrant and its cake is a must!
2. Make a wish
After the cake portrait, it’s great to have a variant of the picture while blowing the candle. This is such a special moment as usually it is the time the birthday girl/boy uses to make a wish. It will be great to look back at it and remember if the wish came true.
3. The celebration
Birthdays are celebrations! A day to feel special, unique, and honored. So whether you get to photograph a birthday party or a simple birthday event, make it extra notable with the addition of confetti, balloons, and sparkling details that will make this birthday shot memorable.
4. The confetti blow
The variant to the same shot can be done with a close-up birthday portrait of the celebrant blowing confetti. This shot will look great with the model on the side, to enhance the confetti flying, or facing the camera so that the confetti will float directly on the lens.
Image from Pexels
5. Pop the champagne
Birthday celebrations usually include delicious food and wine or champagne. If you’re shooting an adult’s birthday a brilliant classic birthday pose could be of the celebrant either popping the champagne or holding on to it as if she/he is ready to drink it. This shot will look great in front of a party backdrop, or with the addition of balloons, colorful foods, and confetti.
Image from Pexels
6. The birthday love
The best part of birthdays is to get all the people loved the most, together for a special event’s celebration. So try to get as many shots as possible of the spontaneity and the joy of the moment the celebrant spends together with his/her loved ones. The moment where they sing “Happy Birthday” is for sure an unmissable one, but try to keep on shooting various moments of them together, without having to pose, so that they will be captured in their bond and authenticity.
Image from Pexels
7. The b-day presents
Another classic birthday element is, of course, birthday gifts! I’m sure that your model will be receiving many presents during the special celebration so make sure you save some shots for the singular moment when she/he receives them or have a nice portrait of the celebrant holding one, or more, cute presents! It will turn into a dear picture.
Image from Pexels
8. The unwrapping
A variant of the birthday present pose is the unwrapping shot. This is an extra special instant that feels best when not posed. As a photographer, it’s your role to capture the excitement, the surprise, and the thrill of the moment where the celebrant gets to be amazed by what’s inside her/his present.
Image from Pexels
9. Good old family picture
Of course, for a classic birthday photo, a good old family pic can’t be missed. Families are the most precious thing and every birthday protagonist would want to have a nice picture with theirs, as it is memorable to look back to how life changed and evolved and to smile at the family bonding over time. For this shot get the closest family members together, either in front of a cool festivity backdrop, behind a birthday cake, or surrounded by presents to make the picture look extra partyish.
Personalized Birthday Photoshoot Ideas
Classic birthday poses are a must-do, but let’s get more specific now if you’d like to give your model some personalized ideas to make her/his birthday photoshoot more unique and original.
10. The sign
A sweet birthday photo idea is to get balloon signs with the age number the celebrant is turning and then let the birthday protagonist sit next to it, hold onto it, or simply be creative so that the shot will turn out more customized.
11. The personal set
For this birthday pose idea, it’s time to customize the setting! What does the birthday model want to evoke through her/his special day’s photoshoot (or what do the parents aim for if the birthday model is a kid)? Discuss the vibe’s goals and then set the scenery accordingly, whether you choose to have some sweet balloons set in a park, some candlelights on a beach, or some fancy flowers indoors… create a personalized scenery to make your shot and your model’s personality stand out!
12. B-day queen or king
Here’s one to make the celebrant feel like a true queen or king. Have your model sit or lie under a “Happy Birthday sign” while sipping on a bottle or wine glass and either raise her leg or stretch his arms. This shot will turn out as a victory symbol of a new milestone achieved, together with some fun, youthful, and celebrating vibes.
13. Post-celebration shots
A sort of variant can be recreated with the birthday protagonist lying on the ground surrounded by bottles, glasses, balloons, confetti, and present wraps, as a “post-celebration” pose that will share some fun and memorable vibes.
Image from Shutterstock
14. The costume
Now, who doesn’t want a perfect excuse to wear a costume? Whether we’re talking about kids or adults, wearing their favorite costumes might be everything your birthday models would want to do! So have them dressed up like angels, princesses, pirates, or cowboys… and embrace their favorite character for their special day, or simply just for their special shot.
15. The exclusive shot
For this personalized shot, you can get your birthday protagonist to enjoy what he/she loves doing the most. People change every year and what your model loves doing this year will most probably not be the same she/he will love doing the next. So this can be a very significant shot that they’ll want to cherish forever. Capture them while riding a motorbike, painting a canvas, cooking a special meal, putting make-up on, playing a sport (it’s best if shot with the addition of birthday elements such as balloons, presents, etc)… whatever they love doing the most, shoot it as a personalized memory captured in time.
Image from Pexels
16. One with the BFF
For a successful personalized birthday photoshoot, a picture with the BFF cannot be missed! Besties love to hold onto these kinds of memories and they’re such an important presence both in life and at birthday parties! You could either have your birthday model pose together as a portrait or capture them in their authentic moments while laughing, hugging each other, dancing, and so on! They’ll for sure love to have these memories to look back to! Of course, this same pose idea can be recreated with your model’s partner or whoever is a dear presence in his/her life.
17. The funny explanation
If you want your shots to be more humorous and laughable, you could suggest your model wraps himself/herself in a blanket and lays down in a bed or on a sheet, resembling a little baby. Next to her/him place a sign with the age in months, rather than years, and with a funny sentence that could describe the celebrant in a comical way that will make everyone look at this shot with a smile. Of course, this personalized birthday photo idea is applicable only to adults as it won’t look so funny recreated for a child.
18. The craving
Here’s another amusing idea for your personalized birthday photos! Recreate a birthday scene, but instead of the classical “cake, cupcakes, and wine” set, place the model’s favorite food - have a birthday cake made with pizza, burgers, lollipops, popcorn, or something that will be hilarious to look at and definitely fun to shoot!
19. The alcoholic
Here’s a birthday pose idea that is not suitable for children, but that will end up in a fun and unique picture for an adult’s birthday photoshoot. Have either the partner, parent, or friend of the celebrant pour some alcohol into the birthday boy/girl’s mouth and capture the whole scene. Keep your finger on the shutter button while catching the moment as it will be great to see the whole process, funny expressions, and clumsy moments of the movement reflected in the photos.
Instagram-Worthy Birthday Photoshoot Ideas
Who doesn’t want some Instagram-worthy birthday photos? Nowadays Instagram has become like the new generation’s photo album, where people get to post their coolest pictures to look back to anytime, but also to share to their followers their best moments. Most of the people who want to get their birthday photoshoot done, sure aim for some Instagram-worthy shots that they can post to receive attention and compliments.
So let’s start with the tips.
20. Smoke the cake
A trendy, yet original birthday photo idea that many Instagram followers will love, consists of getting your celebrant to either light up a cigarette with the birthday cake’s candles, or if she/he is not a smoker, you could have your model hold the birthday candle in the mouth as if it was a cigarette. It will give a really cool vibe to the birthday photoshoot.
Image from Pexels
21. Cake’s on fire
A must-do, Instagram-worthy birthday pose includes a shot of your model holding the cake with a sparkle fire candle on it. This will allow the photo lighting to be enhanced and the celebrant to look honored and bright.
Image from Pexels
22. The sparkle
If for some reason you don’t have the chance to have a photoshoot with the birthday cake and you’re looking for something memorable but a bit more simple and budget-friendly you can get your model to hold a lit gold sparkler and either capture the celebrant while smiling or while blowing on to it, as a sign of new beginnings and wish come true! This shot will look best in a dark room or at twilight, so the light of the sparkler will enhance.
Image from Pexels
23. The flower celebrant
Flowers are a photographer’s best friend as they’re the perfect element that adds up to play safe on so many different photoshoot occasions. For an Instagram-worthy birthday shoot, surround your model with flowers. Whether you choose to do it outdoors, inwards, or in a flower field, this shot will look dreamy, poetic, and celebrative.
Image from Pexels
24. The birthday shade
For a unique and artistic birthday pose idea, capture the shade of the celebrant in a dark room, only lit by a bullseye light. Have him/her hold the cake, hold balloons or birthday signs, and see it reflected on the wall. This shot will turn out creative and catchy.
25. The cupcake
To shoot something different from the regular birthday cake pose, get your model to simply hold onto a little cupcake or pastry with some candles on. This shot will have the birthday symbolism but will leave so much freedom for the celebrant to be herself/himself - get the model to laugh, smile, be cheeky or funny - to embrace the personal, representative spirit that they will love to look back to.
26. The cool one
This is the shot where your celebrant gets to feel cool, stylish, and sassy, and show it to the world. Get your model to wear sunglasses, a birthday hat, and some cool birthday accessories, and either blow out the candles, hold some balloons, or feel groovy so that you can capture a shot that will share a cool girl/boy vibe.
27. Time for some royalty
This is a great picture idea that works especially for girls. Suggest your model adorns herself in a princessy kind of way. Advice she wears a crown, puts some makeup on, and embellishes her air. She won’t have the chance to feel this royal any other time, so make her feel like the special girl she is. It will turn into such an Instagram-worthy shoot that will make her feel like a real #BirthdayQueen.
Image from Pexels
28. The magical
Another original birthday pose idea includes the presence of fairy lights, as they give a magical and dreamy effect that could replace the classical candle shot. Have your model hold the fairy lights in the hands at the face height, so to enhance the facial features and eyes. Make it look as if the lights are part of the birthday celebration and will make a dream come true. It is a great way to showcase someone’s celebration of the new turn around the sun!
Image from Pexels
Themed Birthday Photoshoot Ideas
If you, or your birthday model, aim to be extra original and distinctive during the birthday photoshoot, you’ll love to hear some themed birthday ideas. Themed birthdays can level up with the addition of backdrops! Backdrops can make a photographer’s job easier as they allow your photoshoot to be captured indoors, with the addition of only the elements you wish to have, and nothing external that might ruin it. Also, they make your scenery effortlessly pretty and according to the vibe you aim to recreate.
So let’s get more specific into themed birthday photoshoot ideas.
29. Your favorite movie character
Whether you’re shooting a kid’s or an adult’s birthday party, this idea will be great! Everyone has a favorite movie, and especially a favorite movie character. A movie-themed party will be such a fun one to create and also to shoot! Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean… be creative, there are so many to choose from!
30. The glorious party
This will be such a memorable themed birthday shoot, especially for females. If the birthday girl happens to love elegance and fanciness, have her dressed up refined (or if she’s a kid adorn her as a little princess) and pose in front of a glorious, floral backdrop, to feel like a royal member.
31. The fantasy
Birthdays are the perfect excuse to be everything someone wishes for, and more! A magical idea could be to recreate a fantasy, fairyland kind of environment so that your birthday model feels mystical and extraordinary during her themed birthday photoshoot! Having the celebrant stand in front of a supernatural-feeling backdrop will help you level up the shot.
32. Under the sea
Here’s another timeless idea that can be great for all kinds of genders and ages: the under-the-sea theme! Who doesn’t love to feel like a mermaid, or like an aquaman for a themed birthday shoot? This will definitely be a little harder to recreate without the help of a mermaid theme backdrop.
33. Glittery
Glitters are a fun way to play safe for a themed photoshoot, as they will definitely make your shot shine bright! Have as many confetti and sparkly details as possible, and rise to the next level with the addition of a glittery backdrop, that will smoothly add up to the photo’s quality.
34. Into the wild
A jungle-themed birthday photoshoot is another set that will make everyone happy, both kids and adults! A wild, natural theme can be fun and cute for children and sensual and untamed for grown-ups! It will be great to shoot outdoors, in the wild, but if there is no chance to, a jungle backdrop can save the shoot.
35. To the sky
Our last, themed birthday photoshoot idea includes a cozy setting, where your birthday model gets to sit in a universe-like setting, as if she/he was flying, floating, or better, as if the celebrant is an actual star! This capture will for sure be magical but it would be really hard to recreate without the help of a backdrop.
