Smashing Your First

Becoming one is quite a milestone, leaving babyhood and becoming a toddler.
Walking, talking and growing up rapidly before our eyes. It is worth a celebration, and one that deserves to be documented.
Cake smash photos are unique and fun and are traditionally done just before a baby turns one, the images are perfect for birthday invitations, home decor or family gifts.

I get quite excited when someone inquires about doing a cake smash photo shoot. Preparing for a cake smash is so much fun. It all starts when I get the booking and begin to plan and picture how it will look. Where is the best location going to be, what will baby sit on, does the client like certain colours?
I will ask a few questions to make sure we agree on how it will look.

I definitely prefer the outdoors for the location, its a much more relaxed and attractive place to photograph and the new one year old seems to be happier outside.

First item to be considered of course is the main prop - the cake, these can be made by a professional cake maker, ...

... supermarket bought or you can make one at home, your budget and imagination will decide, you certainly don't have to go overboard.

What I have noticed though is as long as it looks interesting your one year old wont be able to resist sticking their fingers in it.
I have also noticed that normally the one year old starts with a few little finger swipes into the cream/icing, a little taste and is very very dainty, but it doesn't take long before there are big hand grabs, whole handfuls getting smooshed all over the face. So funny.
Very soon, the cake becomes very messy, knocked over, sat in, all hopes of having some with a cup of tea is gone.

A sponge with cream is great, add colourful sprinkles, blues or greens for boys and pinks and purples for girls, or crazy multi colours for anyone. Lighter colours photograph better than darker colours, but pure white can be difficult to photograph and reds looks like blood when all over a little ones face, so steer away from those colours. 

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Outfits and props... I  will work with you to decide what to dress your one year old in, I have a good number of outfits to dress up your little person. Matching the cake, outfits and props always looks a lot more cohesive.
I have different colours and types of tutus, beads, I will make hats to match, crowns or flower head bands, anything to make each cake smash different and personal to each child. Boys look great in ties or caps and a pair of jeans, maybe a little waistcoat...

Banners, balloons, ribbons, stars, tea party style, tee pees, letters and numbers, names, blackboards the ideas are numerous.

If you would like to book, please give plenty of advance notice so you will have a well planned event. It would be my pleasure to work with you and craft a special experience for your young person.

Enjoy the following photos from a couple of recent sessions.