30th Birthday Photo Shoot Ideas

Back in January, I turned 30! It’s hard to believe that I’m almost halfway through my 30th year. It honestly doesn’t even feel real. But, I will say, I’ve felt pretty good about entering my 30s and I really do believe that this will be the best decade yet! I have amazing friends, I love my job, I have my own money, my own car, and I still feel young, while also feeling more mature and confident. So, if you’re also entering your 30s, don’t worry! It’s a good time over here! And what better way to celebrate than a 30th birthday photo shoot?!

Here are a few photo shoot ideas I did for my 30th birthday and I think you would have so much fun recreating them for yours!

“13 Going On 30” Photo Shoot

Thirty, flirty, and thriving! When I was 10, the movie 13 Going on 30 came out and I specifically remember watching Jenna Rink, a “big time magazine editor” in NYC with a beautiful apartment and a closet full of colorful clothes and thinking, “THAT is what I want to do!!” …And that’s exactly what I did.

During my 20s, I moved to NYC, I became an editor, I got my own apartment, and I did it all with amazing friends and while staying true to myself. I’ve been extremely blessed and to be able to say I made my childhood dreams come true still feels surreal. Because of that, this photo shoot was literally years in the making!

And a HUGE thank you to @littlebakerlady, located in the Metro Detroit area of Michigan, for the most perfect cake ever!!

Here are some of the things I bought for the shoot:

Hotel Suite Photo Shoot

Pretty much every time I have a nice hotel suite, I like to do a photo shoot. For my 30th birthday, I stayed at the Arlo NoMad in NYC and the views were obviously way too good not to capture! I had a birthday crown, sash, and earrings that were gifted to me and I decided to shoot them with a satin leopard print PJ set from Victoria’s Secret. And the leopard print bra and panty set is also from VS. Don’t be afraid to take a few risqué photos! Even if you have no intentions of posting or sharing them. Remember: this is the youngest you’ll ever be!

“RIP To MY 20s” Photo Shoot

This was the theme for my 30th birthday party and I actually ended up wearing it and shooting it twice. My dress is from Fashion Nova and it was exactly what I was looking for. And the veil, crown, and black shades definitely brought the whole look together.

The first time I shot this look, I used my aunt’s woodsy backyard for kind of a spooky vibe. I shot these before my birthday trip to NYC because I wanted to have them to post on my actual birthday. And for the party (which was a little bit later), I used decor from Amazon to create a photo wall. My good friend, Anuli, made the most perfect custom tomb stones too!

You can see even more photos from the backyard shoot in my post “30 Things To Do While I’m 30.”

Here are some of the things I bought for the shoot:

Birthday Trip Location Photo Shoot

As I mentioned, I was in NYC for my 30th birthday, so I chose to do some self-shooting on my hotel’s rooftop. There’s just something about a city rooftop at golden hour that feels so magical to me. Of course, this photo concept isn’t really 30th birthday-specific, but if you want to do something more simple then this is a great option. Just find an outfit you feel amazing in (it can be as dressy or casual as you want it to be) and an aesthetic location.

If you’re someone who like to travel for your birthday, then set aside some time to do a shoot in a location that really speaks to where you are, while also fitting the vibe or energy that you want to kick off your new decade with. Since I moved out of NYC just two months before I turned 30, I really wanted this photo shoot to convey my appreciation for the city. My time in NYC was setting (you see what I did there), but I was/am grateful and hopeful for the next chapter.

My top is from Klassy Network, the skort is Forever 21, jacket is Shein, tights are from Snag, and the platform boots are Uggs.