A First Birthday to Remember: Iyla's Birthday Photoshoot at the Dallas Arboretum

updated april 2023

As a lifestyle family photographer, capturing genuine moments and candid emotion is what I strive for in every photoshoot. And Iyla's first birthday photoshoot at the Dallas Arboretum was no exception.

I arrived at the Arboretum on a beautiful spring day, ready to capture some stunning portraits of Iyla and her family. As I walked through the gardens, I couldn't help but notice the gorgeous tulips in bloom. I knew they would be the perfect backdrop for some of the photos, especially since they held sentimental value to Iyla's mother.

After meeting with Iyla and her family, we began our session near the tulips. Iyla and her mom were dressed in a adorable matching Ivy City Co dresses — Iyla looked looked absolutely precious! She was full of energy, curiosity, and couldn’t stop giggling throughout the session. I knew we were going to get some fantastic shots!

We started with some portraits of just Iyla, capturing her personality and all of her adorable expressions. She loved exploring the area and would occasionally stop to admire the flowers or gaze up at the trees. It was so much fun watching her take in everything around her.

Next, we moved on to some photos with Iyla and her mom. They shared such a beautiful bond, and I wanted to make sure I captured that in the photos. They cuddled, laughed, played together, and laughed at dad as he joked around from behind the camera.

After that, we took some photos of the whole family together. Iyla's dad joined in, and we captured some truly special moments. Iyla's parents were so sweet with her, and it was heartwarming to see the love they had for their little girl. The giggles just never stopped coming!

Throughout the shoot, I made sure to capture all of the small moments that make a family unique. I captured Iyla's dad as he tickled her until she couldn’t stop laughing, her mom giving her a gentle kiss on the cheek, and the whole family hugging and laughing together. These are the moments that make a photoshoot truly special.

As the session drew to a close, I knew we had captured some amazing shots. I was excited to get home and start editing the photos so that I could share them with the family. For me, there's nothing more fulfilling than capturing genuine moments and emotions through photography. I'm so grateful to have been a part of Iyla's first birthday photoshoot at the Dallas Arboretum, and I know that these photos will be cherished by her family for a lifetime.