25 Fun Birthday Photoshoot Ideas for All Ages

Whether you're celebrating a one-year-old or a 100-year-old, birthdays are pretty much the perfect time to take some great photos. We're got tons of awesome birthday photoshoot ideas for all ages, covering everything from candid moments to posed pictures. Another trip around the sun is definitely special, and your photos will be too.

You don't have to be a professional photographer to get these shots, either. If you have a phone camera or DSLR, we have the pro tips you need to make your pictures a success.

Balloons go with birthdays the way sprinkles go with ice cream, so make sure you get some balloons in your pictures. For a super creative and fun birthday photoshoot idea, put a few balloons between you and the birthday person. Shoot through and between them!

The best thing about birthdays is that we get to share them with our people. Take a few minutes to pose with the people who matter most to you. Get cozier than you might normally, since closer poses always look better in pictures. You don't need to do anything fancy - posed pictures at the dinner table or by the cake are simple and stunning.

People aren't the only ones who celebrate at these events, so be sure to include your pet in a few birthday photos. Bonus points if you can get Fluffy to wear a crown for a few minutes!

Need some winning birthday photos for Instagram? That's where the confetti comes in. There's just something about the falling sparkles that makes any birthday picture magical. This is another situation where it's nice to take a lot (and we mean A LOT) of pictures so you get some that you really love with the confetti falling just right.

The moment of blowing out the candles is kind of a big deal at any birthday party, and it's one of the best photos you can get. It doesn't matter how old the birthday person is - this is guaranteed to be charming. Turn off all the other lights in the room for this so the candles light the person's face. Oh, and take a ton because this moment passes quickly.

While one person blowing out the candle makes a truly awesome pic, it's even better if they have a little help from their friends. This is a tricky photo to pose, but it looks amazing (once again, take a ton of them). Ask everyone to move in super close and lean in to "help" with the candles and then start snapping. Trust us. You'll love this enough to do it every year.

Candles are amazing, and you can take that whole safely glowing fire thing to the next level with sparklers. This is super fun for a teen birthday, but it also works beautifully as a birthday photoshoot idea for adults of any age. Just have the birthday person hold a cupcake and light the sparklers off of it.

Find a simple background like a pretty wall or bush, get a few balloons, and lean in. Friends are a big part of birthday parties, no matter how old you are. They deserve a photo that's all their own.

Most birthday picture ideas are all about the people, but the cake is pretty important too. You can get a photo of the cake by itself, but it's even more fun if you focus on the cake and have people out of focus behind it. That way, you get the feel of the party!

There's a certain amount of anticipation before you give someone a present, especially if you chose it carefully and know they will love it. This simple photoshoot idea just has the present behind the giver's back with the birthday person waiting in the background. Like the cake photo, it helps tell the story of the birthday party.

It's the thought that counts, right? Show the love that goes into giving and receiving a birthday gift by taking a photo of people hugging or kissing during the exchange. Emotion is the most important thing here. Let people know you want them to show their love.

Some gifts just elicit a pretty great reaction. Whether it's an adult receiving jewelry or a kid getting that Lego or Barbie they've been wanting forever, start snapping as soon as they start ripping off the wrapping paper. The more photos you take of the gift opening, the better your chances of getting one that really shows their joyful reaction.

Not all birthday photos need to be serious. In fact, it's fun to bring in some silly hats, glasses, and other props to let party guests get goofy for the camera. This works best outside or in front of a simple background. You can even make it one of the birthday party activities.

No matter how old the guest of honor is, make sure you get some photos of them that aren't too serious. These may end up being some of your favorite pictures. Worried they'll be too self-conscious? Break out a hilarious birthday hat or sunglasses to encourage silliness.

We tend to see our age in relation to our siblings, so if the guest of honor has any siblings present, grab some shots of them together. This is wonderful with kids and even better with adults. Pose them on a front porch or couch where they can sit in a line, and don't forget to add birthday hats.

For a non-traditional take on the standard party photo, try shooting the whole group from above. You can do this from an upstairs window or balcony (or if you have a photography drone, this could be a perfect chance to break it out). No need to have anyone look at the camera for this part of the birthday photoshoot; it's even cooler when the birds-eye-view shot feels candid.

If you have a piñata at the party, it's basically the best excuse for a birthday photo series. Start taking photos before people start taking swings at it, though. It's never going to look as nice as it does right now. Grab shots of people trying to hit it as well as of the moment it breaks open.

Posed pictures are awesome; don't get us wrong. The thing is, it's the candids you will probably love the most. Roam around the party with your camera, shooting tons of photos of people just having a great time together. Try to capture the interactions and the way people care about each other. There are a few moments that are ideal for candids, including the delivery of the birthday cake to the table and everyone singing.

Even if you don't actually include the cake in the photo, you can use the light from the candles to illuminate everyone's faces. Candlelight is magic, and everyone will be looking right at it. If the cake is in the picture, it becomes the brightest and most eye-catching part of the photo. If it's just outside the frame, it's just a hint of the celebration that's happening.

One of the birthday photoshoot ideas you absolutely have to try is taking some wide-angle photos. Your phone has a wide-angle lens, so this is really easy. The thing that's great about wide angles is that they let you get close to one thing or group of people while showing the scene around them, too.

Not having the standard birthday party? This is all the more reason to have a photoshoot. Record how you're celebrating the special evening, whether that's by blowing out your candles next to a campfire or toasting the sunset from your favorite scenic turnout.

Birthdays aren't just milestones for individual people. They're also important moments in romantic relationships. Capture the love between two people by asking them to kiss when opening a gift or blowing out the candles. You'll end up with a romantic birthday photo that's perfect for sharing on Instagram or anywhere else.

Birthdays are really all about fun, and your best photos will show that. If you're shooting birthday photos of kids, have them do piggyback rides, make goofy faces, or try to all jump at the same time. Get ready to shoot a lot of pictures so you can capture them having a great time together.

And speaking of being ready to take a ton of photos, don't forget to include some action shots in your photoshoot. One great option is to have everyone run straight at the camera while you take pictures. This is ideal for kids (ready to burn off that sugar rush from the cake?).

No birthday photoshoot is complete without the group shot. Center the birthday person and have everyone else squeeze in around them. Remind them that if they can't see the camera well, it can't see them either.

No matter which birthday photoshoot ideas you include, the key is also including love and joy. These emotions make birthday pictures special, and they're why you'll love the photos you take. You may find you get your best pictures toward the end of the party when everyone is relaxed and used to you snapping photos, so keep your camera out and keep shooting.

Ready to take pics of your one-year-old on their special day? Try our sweet first birthday photo ideas.