A first birthday is one of those milestones that feels especially worth preserving. A child may not remember the day, but the photographs become part of the family’s memory — a way of returning to who they were at the very beginning.
For Arian’s first birthday, his parents wanted something simple and meaningful: a collection of photographs they could keep and look back on years from now.
We stepped outside their home in Bredäng, Stockholm, and let Arian do what one-year-olds do best — simply be himself.
And he was brilliant.
Curious about the camera, full of little expressions and completely comfortable doing his own thing, Arian gave us one beautiful moment after another. Rather than trying to control the session, I followed his rhythm and photographed the small gestures, curious looks and spontaneous expressions as they appeared.
It was a lovely reminder that photographing children is often less about directing and more about observing. You create the space, stay patient, and allow their personality to lead the photographs.
By the end, we had created a set of portraits that I genuinely loved — but seeing how happy his parents were with them made the session even more meaningful.
Because eventually, a first birthday becomes a distant memory.
A photograph gives us a way back.
Occasion: Arian’s First Birthday
Gear: Fujifilm X-T50 + Viltrox 56mm f/1.7
Location: Bredäng, Stockholm
