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How to Take Great Birthday Party Pictures (5 Ways to Capture the Magic)

May 26, 2016 by Leslie 24 Comments

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Professional photographer Tamara Bowman shares 5 tips on how to take birthday party pictures that capture the magic of the day.

How to take birthday party pictures: a photo of a young girl wearing a tiara with the text 5 tips for birthday party photos you'll love

 

Is anyone else happy it’s Thursday?

I think the fact that we’ve finally started having beautiful weather around here has made a huge difference in my outlook. That, and it looks like we’re going to have a clear holiday weekend too.

Pardon me while I get up and do a little happy dance.

Today is also extra special for another reason…my friend Tamara has agreed to switch places with me today just to shake things up a bit.

I became hooked on Tamara’s blog a long time ago reading her 20-part series on How I Met Your Father, and haven’t stopped reading since. You can find me over on her blog today to where I’m sharing inspiration for a Woodland Moose-Themed Birthday Party and a recipe for Cookies & Cream Moose Munch.

But first, Tamara is going to share her top 5 tips for how to take great birthday party pictures. She’s really a genius at this. I just love how magical her party photos always feel. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First of all, I want to thank Leslie for having me here today. She’s been a blogging friend and colleague of mine for a long time now! Two years? Maybe more! I’ve enjoyed watching her beautiful daughters – who are about the same ages as my kids – grow up, and I was so happy when she welcomed baby E into the family. I’ve looked to Leslie for inspiration in many areas – parties, food, planning, DIY, outdoors living, entertaining, and more, and I figured it was high time to talk here about something I’m confident about – photography. I’ve been blogging for six years at Tamara Camera Blog. I started a photography business three years ago at Tamara Camera Photography. I’m also a SITS Community Lead, teaching photography this week with a Photography Basics & Beyond course! Find me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. I welcome questions!

Now, let’s talk parties!
 

a picture of a backyard birthday party with a large crowd and lots of activities

I am fresh off of photographing a giant graduation party over the weekend. Three members of one family! It was awesome – set against seven mountain peaks where I live – and there was a bounce house, catered food, cake, volleyball, mixed and bottled drinks, and the works. It was scenic, celebratory, and both large and somehow intimate. I knew I had an important job to convey all that I was taking in and experiencing – and I took that job seriously, as I always do. This was a paid job, though, so I didn’t have to be both photographer and hostess. I could just wear one hat. It’s different for me at home.

 

birthday party picture of a backyard with full size Alice in Wonderland themed cutouts

We are known around town for our epic parties. They remind me a bit of the magic that Leslie shares/creates, except that a lot of the party planning is my husband’s field. I help plan cake and food and guest lists and decorations. I coordinate house guests and out-of-towners. I’m a social butterfly and I’m also the photographer. I will always blog her parties too. My husband, Cassidy, is responsible for a lot of the heavy duty stuff and he creates a complete wonderland every time.

 

a birthday party picture of a young girl wearing a tiara ready to blow out her candles

That’s when it becomes my job, like it did with my client’s party, to capture the wonder, magic, and awe, while also being hostess/mother/wife, etc. Luckily I’m adept at doing both, and at at least “trying” to find balance in knowing when to take photos, and when to cut my daughter’s cake. I do tend to delegate non-photography work, and I’m not ashamed! I’m a photographer, after all. Here are my favorite tips for how to take great birthday party pictures. I’d love to hear your favorite tips and tricks too!

 

How to Take Birthday Party Pictures 

1. Find the magic moments!

They are there, when you’re looking (and when you’re not) – waiting for you to capture them. It’s not always the obvious ones – like singing “Happy Birthday” or opening presents. Sometimes it’s just about the hidden gems of people totally in their element – or in their own worlds. Open. Magical. Present.

 

a birthday party picture of a birthday girl surrounded by friends and smiling widely

2. Designate another photographer.

These are tips meant for YOU to take the photos, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be in photos, or have time to relax, eat cake, etc. They may find moments you haven’t seen! Fresh perspective.

a picture of a young girl blowing bubbles at a camera

 

3. Get close and get details!

I also love to get down to a child’s perspective for a lot of photos.

a picture of two young girls on a swing set at a birthday party

 

4. Shoot as candidly as you can, but do posed photos too!

Where there are parties, there are mixes of people. Where there are mixes of people, there is love. Find those amazing love moments – even the non-obvious ones. Candid AND posed.

a black and white photo of three women at a birthday party

 

5. Consider renting a lens.

At least for me, I don’t have the means to buy the luxury lenses I dream about. I rent them for work, so I figure if I’m spending $200 on a bounce house for my kids, the lens is just another special occasion thing. It’s nice to use a lens that’s totally new to me, and is out of my reach, but is magically mine for a whole day/week. Just once a year!

A treat.
a picture of children around a cake at a birthday party

 

 

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Filed Under: Kids, Parties, Party Planning Tips

About Leslie

Leslie is the passionate party planner in her family. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, she was determined to find a way to continue making amazing parties for her kids that don't leave you exhausted. To do that Leslie combines the experience she learned working for a professional event planner with the reality of a busy family life to create party inspiration that the average mom can reproduce and be proud of.

Comments

  1. Tamara says

    May 26, 2016 at 9:52 am

    Leslie, thanks for having me here! I love seeing my photos here, and your photos at my blog!

    Reply
    • Leslie says

      May 27, 2016 at 9:28 am

      Thank you so much for sharing your tips, Tamara! I can’t wait to try them out with all our kids’ parties this summer!

      Reply
  2. Janine Huldie says

    May 26, 2016 at 10:32 am

    What great tips from my favorite photographer here today and honestly ice again just love that you two switched spaces here today, too!! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tamara says

      May 26, 2016 at 11:06 am

      It’s totally fun! And awesome to see you visit us both!

      Reply
    • Leslie says

      May 27, 2016 at 9:30 am

      Totally agree that Tamara’s one of my favorite photographers. She’s got a true talent for capturing special moments, and I am honored that she agreed to share her tips with everyone here.

      Reply
      • Tamara says

        May 27, 2016 at 8:20 pm

        Ah, you made me so happy! I was feeling a little down on photography in 2016 and lately I seem to be feeling the groove again very much.

        Reply
  3. Akaleistar says

    May 26, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    Your pictures are always magical!

    Reply
    • Tamara says

      May 27, 2016 at 8:20 pm

      Thank you! That’s totally what I’m trying to capture – magic in the daily life.

      Reply
  4. Tammy says

    May 27, 2016 at 12:17 pm

    Your pictures are magical and will be a treasure forever. Thank you for sharing your advice. P.S. I have enjoyed your photography series over at SITS this week. 🙂

    Reply
    • Tamara says

      May 27, 2016 at 8:21 pm

      Thank you! I loved writing that series and checking in. Photography is one of the few things I feel I can talk about with at least some degree of confidence.

      Reply
  5. Nellie says

    May 29, 2016 at 10:00 pm

    Love the rent a lens tip! I remember you were the one that taught me that! I have yet to pull the trigger but I have a feeling I will be doing so soon because I want that special treat! 🙂

    Reply
    • Leslie says

      June 1, 2016 at 5:40 pm

      I’m with you Nellie. I need to give that tip a try!

      Reply
  6. Nina says

    June 2, 2016 at 9:26 am

    I thought those photos looked familiar 😉 So glad to see two of my fave bloggers in the same space! Tamara does a great job with photographing ANYTHING, parties included!

    Reply
  7. Jen says

    June 3, 2016 at 9:49 am

    Tamara you are so gifted! I don’t think I have ever seen a picture of yours that doesn’t make me happy! Thanks for your tips my friend! I am excited to see the epic summer birthday parties you guys have planned for this year!

    Reply
  8. Bella at Dear Mummy Blog says

    May 14, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    What a beautiful garden! Great tips for photographing a party and we’ll bear it in mind on my next birthday x #FamilyFunLinky

    Reply
  9. Mother of 3 says

    May 15, 2018 at 3:05 pm

    I honestly had no idea you could rent lenses! These are some great tips.

    Reply
  10. Sinea says

    May 15, 2018 at 10:13 pm

    What great advice. My teaching assistant for our preschool class is such a talented photographer. Talk about finding the moment. What she can do with a cellphone camera! I could never get all of those amazing pics on my own!

    Reply
  11. Donna Reidland says

    May 16, 2018 at 5:16 pm

    I never thought about renting a lens. What a great idea! I love your photos, too!

    Reply
  12. Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal says

    May 18, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    I like your photography tips, Tamara! Thank you! I’ve been photographing my family, well, forever!!! 😉 But only in the past three years have I finally had a camera I’d even call potentially professional. Now it’s time to play!! It’s working itself into a business taking professional photos of friends, their pets and some children, too. My son rents lenses sometimes for his videography work, too, and WOW it makes all the difference!

    Happy shooting and thanks for hosting this post with Leslie,
    Hugs,
    Barb

    p.s. Coming over from Wonderful Wednesday and Emily at LeCultivateur.com. <3

    Reply
  13. Roseann Hampton says

    May 18, 2018 at 8:28 pm

    Such wonderful photography tips! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger’s Pit Stop! Roseann from This Autoimmune Life

    Reply
  14. Jann Olson says

    May 18, 2018 at 10:53 pm

    Great ideas! I love the magic moments. Much better than everything posed. Thanks for shaing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    Reply
  15. Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle says

    May 19, 2018 at 11:36 pm

    Leslie, what a great idea to swap blog posts. Nice to meet you Tamara, Leslie is a regular on our Pit Stop linkup and we enjoy her creative posts.
    How nice that you and your husband can work together on the parties 🙂 Your photos are full of character and fun, thanks for the photography tips, they are always welcome.
    We will make a feature of this helpful post on the next Pit Stop.

    Kathleen
    Blogger’s Pit Stop

    Reply
  16. Alana - Burnished Chaos says

    May 20, 2018 at 2:46 am

    Great tips. I always find those candid photos have so much more magic about them.
    Thank you for joining the #FamilyFunLinky x

    Reply
  17. Rhonda Gales says

    June 16, 2019 at 11:49 pm

    Thanks for sharing these great tips. I had no idea you could rent camera lens. I’ll have to check this out. Have a great week.

    Reply

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