A cake smash session is a first birthday portrait experience where your baby gets to do what one-year-olds do best — dig into a beautifully styled cake with both hands and absolutely no rules.

We start with classic birthday portraits of your baby looking their adorable best, then introduce the cake and let the magic (and mess) happen naturally. The results are joyful, expressive, and full of personality. It's one of the most fun sessions I get to photograph.

You provide the cake and any balloons, I’ll provide the cake stand, backdrop and party hat.

Book 4–6 weeks before your baby's first birthday to secure your preferred date and allow time for planning the theme and styling. If your baby's birthday falls near a holiday or in a busy month, book even earlier. A pre-session consultation is included so we can plan everything together in advance, including colors and the theme.

Yes — you provide the cake, and I’ll provide the cake stand, the backdrop and the party hat, plus help you plan it. During our pre-session consultation we'll talk through your theme, colors, and vision so the cake fits the overall aesthetic of your session. A single-tier smash cake (roughly 4–6 inches) is ideal — big enough to be beautiful in photos, sized just right for little hands to dig into. Your local bakery can absolutely make something perfect, or a home-baked cake works beautifully too.

Tip: You’ll want to make sure the frosting is soft enough for little fingers to dig into; fondant or hard-shell frosting is frustrating for little ones and won’t likely achieve the desired results.

Absolutely — the theme is one of the most fun parts to plan. We can do classic and timeless, whimsical and storybook, seasonal, or something that reflects your baby's personality. During your consultation, we'll plan the backdrop, props, and styling to bring your vision to life. I provide the props and backdrop — you just bring the cake and your baby's outfit.

For the classic portrait portion, dress your baby in something adorable that fits the theme — a birthday outfit, a pretty dress, a little bow tie. Whatever makes your heart happy.

For the cake smash portion, you can keep the same outfit or switch to something simpler (a onesie, a diaper cover) since it will likely end up covered in frosting.

Tip: Bring a complete change of clothes for after the session.

Yes — I love including parents and siblings for some of the classic portrait images at the start of the session. These family moments alongside the solo birthday portraits make for a beautifully complete gallery. Just let me know when you book and we'll plan the session flow accordingly.

It happens more often than you'd think — and it's always okay. Some babies are cautious explorers, and that's part of their personality too. We will work with your baby's temperament and capture beautiful images whether they dive in with both fists or approach the cake with the careful deliberation of a tiny food critic. Either way, we get the shots.

Sometimes, a little frosting on a finger to get them started often does the trick or having you dig in with them can help.

This is totally normal. Babies have their own schedule, and one-year-olds especially come with big feelings. We build breaks into the session and follow your baby's lead completely. If they need to eat, nurse, or take a few minutes to reset — that's exactly what we'll do. These sessions are typically 30 minutes; however, the goal is to capture your baby’s best images so if we go over that timeframe , that’s okay too.

It can get pretty messy , depending on the baby — and gloriously so. Frosting in the hair, cake on the nose, fingers absolutely coated. The studio is fully set up for easy cleanup, and you should bring a change of clothes and a bag for the frosting-covered outfit. I'll have wipes on hand and will assist with cleanup.

Tip: Dress your baby in something you don't mind getting messy, and plan to change them into clean, comfortable clothing right after the smash portion.

Cake Smash Mini Sessions are designed to run approximately 30 to 45 minutes — enough time for a few classic birthday portraits, and the cake smash. Mini sessions are focused and efficient, with a beautifully styled set ready when you arrive.