A Decade of Amilia: Why You Should Book Annual Birthday Shoots

It’s another Amilia photoshoot—but this one officially marks an entire decade together.

I first photographed Amilia when she was only ten months old. Since then, her mom has booked a birthday shoot every year. We now have ten years of photographs showing not only how much Amilia has grown, but who she was during each very different stage of her life.

That is why I love annual birthday shoots.

One Birthday Shoot Became Ten

At one, Amilia was still warming up to me. two, she was a carefree, wild toddler. three, Mateo came along and helped make her smile.

By four, she loved singing, dancing, princesses, and creating poses I never taught her. At five, we leaned into a very lifestyle journalistic approach with lots of dancing. Her sixth birthday became a family session at Scorpion Gulch.

At seven, her horseback-riding lessons inspired a sunset shoot with the horse she was learning to ride. eight, she ran, laughed, and splashed through an unexpectedly windy overcast beach session. At nine, she arrived as a confident mini-fashionista with serious poses and ideas of her own.

Let Their Interests Shape the Shoot

Amilia and her mom have always helped shape each birthday session. Sometimes they choose the clothing, theme, or general vibe. Then I help translate that idea into a location and photography plan. Other years, they come to me completely open to suggestions.

For her tenth birthday, Amilia wanted to wear Taylor Swift shirts and show off her gymnastics. A studio gave her room to do cartwheels, handstands, and jumps without getting dirty. It was exactly what made sense for who she was at ten.

Annual Birthday Shoots Tell a Story

You don’t need an elaborate theme every year. You simply need to pay attention to what your kid currently loves.

Over time, the collection becomes about far more than birthdays. It holds the shy years, the princess phase, the dancing, the horses, the dramatic poses, the cartwheels, and the interests you may otherwise forget.

One birthday shoot gives you photographs of your kid at that age. Annual birthday shoots give you the story of them becoming themselves.

A Decade Of Amilia, Why You Should Book Annual Birthday Shoots

This darling family has graced the pages of my blog MANY times over the past decade. In case you missed all her perfectly perfect shoots here they are!

1 year: PHOENIX ARIZONA | LIFESTYLE PORTRAITS {HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMILIA!}

2 years: BEING TWO | BABY AMILIA ISN’T A BABY ANYMORE

3 years: LIFE IS A WHIRLWIND | AMILIAS THREE YEAR OLD PORTRAITS

4 years: TO BE FOUR AMILIAS GRAND ADVENTURES AND GROWING UP

5 years: TINY DANCER WHAT IS LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY ANYWAYS?

6 years: SCORPION GULCH LIFESTYLE

7 years: SUNSETS & PONIES

8 Years:The Seasons Of Amilia

9 Years: When Life Gives You Lemons – A Windy Beach Session

10 Years: A Decade of Amilia: Why You Should Book Annual Birthday Shoots

Click here for more family sessions.

Want inspo for your next family photosession? Check out my what to wear pinterest board.