How to prepare and what to bring to a cake smash photo shoot?

9 Image mockup. “Storyboard” by Littles + Bigs Photography

I love being a part of milestones, from newborn, to tummy, to sitting but one of the most fun ones is the cake smash and splash!

A cake smash session is a session where your baby can show off all that they are! At one years old your baby has a big personality and this session will let that shine through and capture it!

The first year flies by so fast and I know it’s important to try and capture as many memories as possible during that time!

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CAKE SMASH SESSION?

The portrait

All cake smashes include a portrait part before we bring out the cake. I like capturing all the details and letting baby explore a little bit! I have mom bring 2 outfits for this part so we can get some variety!

The cake smash

I take the work out by providing the cake! A simple white cake with soft whipped frosting! I choose this cake time and time again because it’s the perfect consistency for baby fingers. White frosting doesn’t stain or add any unnecessary food colorings which can cause allergies, especially in young children.

If the baby has any allergies we can arrange the cake to accommodate the needs or to choose to use fruit or an alternative favorite!

The Bath Splash

Each cake smash ends with a spash! This tends to be everyones favorite part. A mini claw foot tub filled with perfectly warm bath water. Babies will enjoy playing in the perfect sized tub!!

It is completely up to you if you want to use a swim diaper or birthday suit! Baby is always seated so nothing shows from the waist down.

SO WHAT IS THERE THAT YOU NEED TO BRING TO YOUR LITTLE ONE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY CAKE SMASH SESSION?

You have already noted the towel but is there anything else you need on the day?

We often say bring baby's favourite toy or a song on your phone. The things the baby loves are great but we keep these treats hidden for the very last minute since the little one would most definitely want to hold onto that toy and will focus on the screen too much rather than interact, have fun with the cake or the water and will get upset if the treats are then taken away.

Since it is a cake smash and we want the baby to have a little taste of it some baby puffs and other little snacks that baby likes that look similar to the white cake are really handy. Sticking them into the back of the cake encourages the baby to touch and explore the cake and helps us capture some great pictures even if sometimes the baby is not that much interested in smashing or eating the cake.

A cup or bottle with water or milk nearby in case the baby needs a short break or is thirsty - and trust me, they usually do and who wouldn't be after having the whole cake in front of them for the first time!

Since it is a cake smash session, as it stands in the name itself, letting the baby loose on the cake can sometimes get messy, really messy! Some babies don't quite get the hang of smashing right away so you may need to get your own hands into the cake to get them started. This said a change of shirt for yourself including a new pair of socks is a must in your bag. Regardless of how the baby feels about the cake pretty much all sessions end up with them crawling or running away all covered in icing and cream! What is more, one moment the little one will happily (or not so much!) tuck into the cake, the next he / she might need a cuddle from Mum and that is when a change of clothes come in handy especially if you have already planned a nice day out for some meal after the session!

What I provide with your session

Our studio prop stash is always growing and what we provide will depend on your chosen theme / style but this is what is generally included with the session:

• A custom colored and themed organic balloon garland

• A white floor

• Frosted white cake

• A matching cake stand - mostly wooden and baby friendly

• A wooden spoon

• A bathtub with warm water

What you bring along

• Baby snacks, puffs etc. (white or close to white)

• Baby's water/ drink

• 2 towels

• A change of clothes for yourself and the baby

• Swim diaper (optional)

• Some pain relief if the baby is teething (ideally just before the session)

• A favorite toy

• A favorite song / show on your phone / tablet

When to book the session for?

Some customers choose to have their baby's cake smash session on the actual date of their first birthday. Some want the images for the party invites or social media shares on the day so would book a session for around 3 weeks before the date to allow enough time for the editing process.

This said, cake smash sessions are best booked well in advance to allow enough time to prepare and style so contacting us at least 2-3 months before the date is perfect! However don’t hesitate to see if I have openings!

We can style the set up to match your party theme or you can choose any other theme / style you like.

Even if your baby has turned one a month or two ago or is turning two it is never too late for a cake smash! Remember, they will never be that little again and 5 or 10 years from now you will be most grateful that you got yourself together and did it rather than missed at all.

Best timing?

We start all sessions at 10am but are flexible and could move it to 11am if that suits baby's nap times better. The sessions can be moved to 10am or 11am closer to the date when you know baby's nap patters better.

Eating before the cake smash session?

By all means do not keep the baby hungry however if the session time is closer to the baby's snack time or if the baby only had half of the snack before the session they will be more interested in trying the cake which is the aim of the session and all those fun filled pictures.

Is there anything else to do or prepare before the cake smash session?

The biggest tip that can be given before any important photo session is to relax! I know it is often easier said than done and we have all been there but the baby can often pick up on stress and how you feel, and we want them to come happy, positive, eager to play and enjoy their photo shoot.

It is totally normal to go all Instagram crazy and have multiple outfits in mind and high expectations however remember that it is the baby who runs all the show.

Some babies really love people, new places and mess and would dig into the cake right away while smiling for the camera at the same time, some would be shy or overwhelmed by a new place and new experience and would need some encouragement or even an extra power nap to get to their normal selves.

To help the baby with textures you can give him / her some cold mashed potatoes to eat / play with few times before the session as the texture and the temperature of a cold mashed potato is very similar to a cake buttercream / icing and cake sponge with filling.

Not a fan of the cake?

Not a problem! If for whatever the reason you have decided a cake smash is not for you, do reach out for a chat. We can always arrange something alternative and not less fun at all like a donut smash, paint splash, watermelon, strawberry party or even a pasta fiesta if you like!

If you want to book please contact me for more information! Contact

Thank you!! Whitney

Littles + Bigs Photography is located in Billings, Montana. I service Billings, Laurel, Red Lodge and the Shepherd areas.

Let me lose more weight first; Mommy + Me

Want to hear a sad story, meh, me either.   So let's skip it.   Awhile ago I had the pleasure of taking pictures of one of the cutest girls ever baby Joey!  (blog coming soon). Her mommy the  extraordinarily talented Tracy Moore, not just here but all over the world,  offered to take some pictures of me in return (umm heck ya!).   You want to know what my first thought was?   Honest to goodness my first thought was that I wanted to lose more weight before the session and to push it as far back as I could, and then immediately heard a little voice say, that's not what you preach sister (buzz off voice).  

I always tell my clients don't wait! Your kids don't care, they just want their mommy in the pictures ! Yet here I was feeling exactly the same way.  It sucked.  Really, why was that my first thought, and NOT how great would it be to have pictures of us together while I can still hold her in my arms, while she still calls me mommy, while twirling in pretty dresses is fun?   Man oh man, luckily Tracy being the boss lady she is put me down and squeezed me in her very tight schedule for a week and a half away (oh $h*#).   That was that.   

Fast forward to now and yes I did watch what I ate and worked more than usual but the focus became more on how awesome it is to have a little one to do mommy and me's with and of course our outfits!  Picking out clothes is a whole other topic and can cause a lot of stress but it doesn't have to (future blog post FOR SURE).    

End results.  PURE MAGIC.  I'm living, I'm breathing, I have a beautiful baby and family and THAT should be celebrated simply because one day my future generation will cherish these and I will cherish these forever as I grow older and want to revisit the time when I could still hold her in my arms, and when she called me mommy and we twirled in our pretty dresses.   Thank you Tracy  you are incredible.  xoxo