How to Plan a Birthday Party | Houston Event Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in event photography and can help with how to plan a birthday party.  See more event photography in the gallery.  Contact me to book your event today!

How to Plan a Birthday Party

Planning a party can be a lot of fun!  With a few prepared steps, you can breeze through the planning and enjoy the party.

  1. Select a date for the party and the venue.  This is the critical first step so that everyone can put a date on their calendars and join you for the fun.  Send out invitations to guests.
  2. Secure vendors like photographers, party rental and supplies, entertainment, etc.  You’ll want to book these in advance so that the vendors can also put the event on their calendars.
  3. Prepare for food and drinks.  Every party needs food and drinks, or at the very least, cake!!  You can make food yourself or have it catered.  Either way, plan ahead and adjust as RSVPs come in.
  4. Plan the details.  This step can be done in the weeks leading up to the party but it’s an important one.  All of those tiny details like party favors (if you’re having them), and water for guests, and where people will store purses, etc.

Aliza’s Second Birthday

I’m so honored to have been asked to capture Aliza’s second birthday party.  To date, I have photographed her baptism, first birthday party, family photos, and now her second birthday party.  I feel like part of the family!  And this family knows how to plan a birthday party!  Attention is paid to every tiny detail, from the personalized water bottles to the food and beverages to the cake and dessert.  Family and friends gathered to celebrate Aliza’s second birthday this past weekend.  As you walked into the home, you were greeted with a personalized book for Aliza that guests could sign and wish her a happy birthday.  She will love to look at this when she’s older!  Guests then mingled while the kids played in the bouncy house and with the bubbles.  Elmo made a special appearance and was a delight for the kids!  After lunch, Aliza dug into her very own cake.  Then it was time for the pinata and candy galore.  At the end of the party, there was time for a few more family photos.  Happy birthday, Aliza!  Your family loves you very much.

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Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in event photography.  See more event photography in the gallery.  Contact me to book your event today!

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@taraflanneryphotography

I put together a Guide to Photography Gear for those of you who need some help deciding what is actually worth investing in (and what's not). The link is in my bio!

Lighting is one of those things that feels complicated when you’re starting out… but it doesn’t have to be.

At the end of the day—light is light.

You don’t need the most expensive setup to get good results. What matters more is having something reliable that you understand how to use.

Especially if you’re shooting outside… the last thing you want is a $2,000 light going down in the wind.

Start simple.
Focus on gear you can trust.
And build from there.

Curious—what lighting setup are you using right now?
My Photographer Gear Guide is linked in my bio if you’re trying to figure out what’s actually worth investing in when you’re first starting out.

Because the truth is—you don’t need everything right away.

When you’re new, it’s easy to feel like you need all the gear… but really, it comes down to a few key pieces.

A solid camera body and a really good lens will take you further than a full bag of equipment you don’t know how to use yet.

If you’re deciding where to spend your money, start there.

A 24–70mm or 70–200mm lens will cover more than you think—and give you the flexibility to shoot a wide range of sessions without overcomplicating things.

Curious—what was the first piece of gear you invested in?
‼️ No clients (or videographers) were harmed in the making of this video 🤣

(For the record—this is very much a joke.)

But if you are a photographer, you know the real challenge isn’t getting someone in front of the camera… it’s knowing how to guide them once they’re there.

Small adjustments = big difference in how confident and natural someone looks.

And having a go-to posing flow makes everything feel easier—for you and your client. (so you don't resort to violence 😉)

➡️ I put together a Headshot Posing Flow Cheat Sheet to help with exactly that—link in bio.
A quick look at the people and brands I had the chance to photograph this month 👇🏻

Grateful for every person and team that trusted me to capture this season of their business.

Each session is different, but the goal is always the same—to create images that actually represent you well and support where you’re going next.

If you’ve been thinking about updating your headshot or branding photos, now is a great time to get it scheduled before things get busy later in the year.

📩 You can book your session through the link in my bio.

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.
Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.
Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.
Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.
Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.
Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.