Why celebrate with a cake smash session?

Cake Smash Sessions are absolutely our favorite sessions to shoot in the studio.  Why?  You take a perfectly decorated cake, put it in front of your 1 year old and let them smash it and get pictures of the whole thing!  Sounds like so much fun, right?

It’s often their first taste of sugar. We capture all moments, from that first hand into the cake, their expression as they feel the smoosh of frosting through their tiny fingers and the priceless moment of cake meets face; their little tongue licking the icing, the cake smearing all over their face and hair, everywhere. A cake smash isn’t about posed family shots or siblings or coordinated outfits. Because this is a special time for the birthday child to have all attention on them in total celebration of their first year in a relaxed and carefree atmosphere.

• THE CAKE. Get a cake or large cupcake.
• THE OUTFIT. Bring in one birthday outfit that won’t be covered in frosting, and one outfit that will definitely get messy.
• THE FIRST BIRTHDAY PORTRAIT. We start every session with a few timeless photos of your birthday child. These are cakeless and often include family.
• DONT CHOOSE A LARGE CAKE. We recommend a cake that is 8 inches or smaller, or a large cupcake. We don’t want the size of the cake to seem larger than your child.
• THE SMASH. The birthday baby gets stripped down to explore the cake. Several shots will include the cake without the smash then the cake is a fun game.
• TIMELESS MEMORIES. The end result is a artwork that will capture their one year old spirit.

The easiest way to make this a great experience is to sit back and let us do what we love to do.  Enjoy watching your child do what they do best, be themselves.  Don’t stress, we’ve done this hundreds of times.  Even if your child isn’t into the cake, we promise we will still get amazing photos.

Ideas to help select the best cake for your smash

Choosing a cake is really one of the most important things for your cake smash…of course, only second to your baby.  However, we know that choosing a cake can seem overwhelming.  Here are some great tips to make the process easier, and stress-fee:

• PICK YOUR OWN CAKE. You get to choose the cake. We always ask parents to provide the cake, that way you’ll be able to be sure to get the look you want.  You will also be able to take into consideration any dietary needs or allergies your child may have.
• DONT CHOOSE A LARGE CAKE. We recommend a cake that is 6 inches or smaller, or a large cupcake. We don’t want the size of the cake to seem larger than your child.
• AVOID FONDANT. Fondant, while it looks great on the cake, doesn’t make it easy for your baby to smash the cake. Make sure the icing is soft and pliable. Whipped frosting or a light buttercream are our favorites. They smoosh the easiest for your child. The color of the icing should remain light. Pastel colors photograph beautifully.
• DON’T CHOOSE CHOCOLATE OR RED VELVET. When they smash the cake, the chocolate or red velvet tend to look like other things rather than cake. We prefer plain vanilla or white cake. You can really go with any flavor or type of cake though
• DECORATE THE SIDES, NOT THE TOP.  We ask that the sides are decorated more than the top because when the cake is photographed, it is from the side and not from the top.  We love sprinkles, fun stripes, or polka dots. You can even do your child’s name on the side instead of the top.

A few tips for the cake before you arrive.

If the cake has been refrigerated, please allow it to get to room temperature before arriving.

Feel free to bring your own extra decorations, number one candles, sprinkles, etc.

When travelling, be sure your cake is in a travel safe container.  We don’t want any of the frosting or decorations to be ruined.

Help picking the perfect outfit for your cake smash

The outfit your baby wears will be an important part of the photo session. We recommend that you choose the cake first, as it, along with your baby, will be the star of the show. Then choose clothing that compliments the color of the cake. Some additional things to consider:

• SHOW SKIN. White onesies, tutus, and blue jeans always photograph well. We recommend simple with lots of skin showing to get messy.
• COVER THE DIAPER. If you choose to leave your baby mostly undressed for the session, remember that a cute diaper cover will be more attractive than a disposable diaper alone. We have plenty of diaper covers that are plain for your use.
• BRING ACCESSORIES. Accessories such as bows, ribbons, crowns, fun ties, suspenders, and necklaces can add interest to your photos. We have a selection of party hats. Accessories are also an easy way to change the look of their outfit without having to do a full change.
• WASHABLE. Of course, make sure that any outfit you choose will be easy to wash after the festivities are over.

Things are about to get very messy

Naturally, your little one is going to make quite a mess during the photo shoot – and that’s a big part of the fun!

BRING WIPES. While we supply a towel and have a stash of wipes in the studio, bringing extra wipes can’t hurt.  Also having your own towel or washcloth for clean up may be helpful.

EXTRA CLOTHES FOR THE BABY. Please bring a change of clothes for your baby to make sure he is happy and comfortable after the festivities. There is no telling how much of a mess they are going to make.

EXTRA CLOTHES FOR YOU. Remember, once your baby’s session is over, they are going to want lots of hugs and kisses from you. There is a good chance you will get covered in cake and icing as well. So please remember to bring a change of clothes for you in addition to your child.

The best part of a cake smash photography session is that we do most of the clean up for you!