A Family Session With a Little Girl Turning One | Birmingham Botanical Gardens Family Photo Session
As a Birmingham, AL family photographer, I love documenting families at every stage, especially the fleeting season of a child turning one.
Some sessions feel calm, Some feel meaningful, And some feel like pure joy from the moment you start. This was one of those sessions.
This family came together to celebrate their daughter turning one, and from the very first minute it was clear that she was bright eyed and engaging, and she thought her parents were so funny. She laughed the entire session.
One Year Old Changes Everything
Turning one is a quiet milestone that sneaks up on families.
You are no longer in the newborn days, but you are still very much in the thick of it. You know your child now. Their personality. Their expressions. The way they light up when something delights them.
Watching her parents respond to her joy was just as meaningful as seeing her laugh at them. The glances, and the smiles they gave each other , and the way they look at each other is the sweetest.
Those are the details that matter.
Photographing a Young Family at This Stage
Family photography with one year olds is not about posed perfection.
It is about movement.
About connection.
About letting moments happen instead of controlling them.
This family photo session was playful and relaxed. We let her lead. We followed her cues. When she laughed, we leaned into it. When she wanted to explore, we gave her space.
That freedom is what creates honest images. The kind families come back to years later and say, this feels like us.
Why This Season Deserves to Be Remembered
The first year passes quietly and all at once.
One day you are counting weeks.
The next you are celebrating a birthday.
This stage is full of wonder. Full of discovery. Full of moments that feel small now but will mean everything later.
Photographing families at this point is not about marking time.
It is about honoring joy.
The kind that doesn’t need direction.
The kind that shows up naturally.
The kind that reminds you how good these days really are.
For Families With Little Ones
If you have a child nearing their first birthday, this is your reminder. Don’t wait on the perfect moment on the calendar to open up. Capture this beautiful season now
If you are looking for a Birmingham, AL family photographer to capture your family in this season, I would love to help you document it.