What To Expect During a Cake Smash Session

one year old girl sitting on a mirror for her cake smash in Fremont, Ohio

Planning your little one’s first birthday smash cake photo session? As a photographer who’s captured countless cake-smashing moments over the years, I’m here to share my insider tips to help you prepare for this milestone shoot. Trust me, a little preparation goes a long way in creating those adorable, frame-worthy memories you’ll cherish forever!

Brace Yourself: Early Walkers Mean Extra Work!

Suppose your one-year-old is already walking before their first birthday, congratulations! That’s an amazing milestone! But here’s the reality check: be prepared to work (and by work, I mean REALLY work). While I’ll obviously be helping during the session, you’ll be constantly grabbing your little speed racer and setting them back into place. You have no idea how many times you’ll be doing this! 🤣 LOL, it’s going to be A LOT, and you WILL be getting your steps in for the day. I absolutely love the milestone of them walking (yayyy! 😵‍💫), but as a photographer, that just means more coordination required. 😉

PRO TIP: Bring two parents to help with this, ESPECIALLY if we’re shooting inside. If it’s nice out and we’re doing an outdoor session, it’s a little more manageable since they have more freedom to run and more space to “let that energy out.”

Timing Is Everything: Schedule After Naptime

Here’s a game-changer: I highly recommend scheduling your smash cake session right after your child’s normal nap. This simple timing trick makes them a little bit happier, more smiley (for most kiddos), and well-rested. Plus, it’s a nice little “reward” they get. Who doesn’t want to eat cake after a nap?? 😝 A well-rested baby means better smiles, more cooperation, and an overall smoother session for everyone involved.

Let Go of Expectations: Not All Cakes Get Destroyed

Here’s something that surprises many parents: do NOT be mad if your child doesn’t destroy their cake! Whatever happens, happens, and that’s perfectly okay! I’ve shot countless smash cakes over the years, and here’s the truth: some babies absolutely demolish their cake, while others may just touch it with two fingers. If they want to dig in, they will. We can try and “force it” by shoving a hand in the cake, but sometimes that doesn’t go over well and can result in tears instead of smiles. 👎🏻

Another tip that has helped tremendously over the years: get down on the ground with your little one, right beside them, and “help them” eat it. This may help them see, “Oh, hey, Mom is eating this, so it’s okay! Maybe I should try it too!” Consider bringing a fork for yourself so you can enjoy that delicious cake together. 😉

PRO TIP: No matter WHAT and or HOW MUCH they eat, I will capture it all! You may be thinking, “But I won’t get enough photos of him/her eating!” Don’t even worry! I will get PLENTY of shots of them eating whatever amount they choose to consume. Quality over quantity, always!

The Three-Outfit Rule

For my smash cake sessions, I allow three outfits for the child. Why only three? Anything more than that means we’re rushing through each outfit and making your child change more and more, which some babies absolutely don’t like. I would rather you have more photos in each outfit (and well-deserved time showcasing those adorable outfits!) than fewer photos overall with constant outfit changes. Remember, changing outfits takes time, which means less actual shooting time. 📸

Collaboration Is Key: Let’s Plan Together

We will work together to make this session perfect! What I mean by this is simple: a few weeks before (or even earlier than that sometimes), I’ll be texting you to find out what outfits you have planned for your little one. I do this so I can see the colors and figure out what props I have that will coordinate beautifully. I have a TON of props, so here’s an important tip: don’t buy anything until you talk with me!

PRO TIP: Buy your birthday party decorations early and bring some of them to the session. I can easily put them to use during the shoot, creating cohesion between your professional photos and your party theme!

The Ultimate Bonus: Outdoor Tub Splashing

If you’re fortunate enough to schedule your child’s smash cake session outside during warm weather, we can add a little “splashing in the tub” AFTER the cake smash. 😏 Here’s how it works: after they’re done with their cake, I fill up an old white tub (I’ve got a few we can use!) with warm water, and we let them splash around! Every baby loves this! Even if they’re just standing behind the tub with their hands in the water, the photos are absolutely precious. 🥹 I LOVE water photos because they capture pure joy and make for stunning summer memories! ☀️

For even more tips and help on how to get ready for cake smashes beforehand, read my past blog post here! Your child’s first birthday session should be fun, stress-free, and memorable for all the right reasons. By learning what to expect during your cake smash photoshoot, you’ll set yourself up for success and walk away with incredible portraits you’ll treasure forever. Let’s make some magic together! Check my calendar to see if I have your preferred date available!