Capturing Joy and Mess: The Art of Cake Smash Photography
Celebrating your little one's first birthday is a milestone worth cherishing, and what better way to commemorate it than with a cake smash session! Cake smash photography has become at the most adorable way to capture the sheer happiness, mess, and unfiltered excitement of a child's first encounter with cake and balloons. Here’s a closer look at this fun and memorable photoshoot idea:
All the details about Cake Smash Photography
The Session:
Your cake smash session involves letting your little one dive into a specially designed cake in a gorgeous custom backdrop, creating delightful chaos while a photographer captures every messy and joyful moment. It's a celebration of curiosity, innocence, and pure fun. This might be the first time your little one gets a real taste of sugar and messy frosting!
Preparing for the Session:
Plan to discuss themes, colors, and preferences with the photographer to create a setup that shows your child's personality or matches a theme or an aesthetic that you would like. Some photographers offer outfit options (my studio does!) so that the only thing you have to do for your sessions is show up! All sessions with me includes family photos and those simple traditional milestone photos too. That way you get the both of best worlds— adorable cake smash photos and timeless classic portraits of your little one.
The Setup:
The backdrop, props, and cake all play a role in creating a visually appealing setting for the photoshoot. Balloons, banners, or themed decorations can add a playful touch. All accessories and props are included in my sessions— after we discuss your ideas for the session, I will put everything together to ensure that it coordinates beautifully for your photos. Often time, I will purchase props especially for your session and decorate over days to get the set up just right!
Capturing the Moment:
At 12 months, most kiddos will have stranger danger by now (if they are going to!) so it’s important to choose a patient photographer who will allow your toddler time to warm up to the studio and photographer. The aim is to capture genuine expressions and reactions— sometimes those are big cheesy smiles, and sometimes those are straight faces. Your little one may LOVE the cake, or the smashing part of the cake, others may not love the cake… but don’t despair! We can always hide toys or snacks behind the cake to make it appear like your little one is super enjoying the cake. A good photographer will have a lot of tricks up his or her sleeves to pull from, if your little one isn’t a fan!
The Joyful Chaos:
Once the cake is introduced, let the fun begin! Your child's reactions, from tentatively poking the cake to diving in with enthusiasm, create precious moments that the photographer will capture. Expect messiness and embrace it—it's all part of the charm!
Post-Processing and Editing:
Editing is one of my favorite parts! Most cake smash sessions leave me smiling and sometimes laughing while editing, as I get to see all of those silly and fun faces your child makes with the cake! I edit images to make colors pop, soften your baby’s skin a little bit, and edit out those pesky backdrop stands.
Preserving Memories:
The resulting images serve as a timeless memento of your child's first birthday, capturing their personality at this tender age. They're perfect for sharing with family and friends or creating custom photo albums and wall art. My studio offers beautiful heirloom albums that are perfect for showcasing all of your images— from family, classic photos, smash photos AND that final tub splash photo! That’s usually baby’s favorite part!
Tips for you to have the Best Cake Smash Photos
Dress yourself in a comfortable outfit that can get messy. (There are usually frosting hugs!)
Bring your little one in an outfit to wear post smash!
Bring your own wipes if you use a special kind, otherwise I have some at my studio!
IF your little one doesn’t like to get messy…. let your toddler eat with their fingers for a week before your session. That way it’s not a big shock to your little one!
Cake smash sessions are not just about the photographs; they're about creating a cherished memory of your child's first birthday that you can revisit for years to come.
Ready to capture the joy and mess of your little one's first birthday? Contact me to schedule your cake smash session and let's plan an amazing, one of a kind set up!!
