If you’re planning your baby’s first birthday session, you might be wondering what a cake smash session actually looks like. I always try to keep these sessions moving because at this age, babies don’t have a lot of patience for pictures, and that’s completely okay! One of the biggest things I tell my parents is that if you’re bringing multiple outfits, put the outfit you love the most first. Babies usually have the most patience at the beginning of the session, and for the most part, those big smiles happen within the first few shots. Once they realize they’re here to take pictures, they can start losing interest pretty quickly.
I usually start with baby by themselves before bringing the cake in. This gives me a chance to get some really sweet photos of them in their outfit while they’re still happy and interested in what’s going on. Once I’ve gotten a few good shots, we bring in the cake if you’ve provided one and let the fun begin! I try to get as much as I can in the beginning because babies don’t have a whole lot of patience at this age. We leave room for breaks, cuddles, snacks and whatever else baby needs.
Toys can also be a great distraction, especially if you bring one that your baby really loves. Having a song or two that they enjoy can help too. Sometimes putting on their favorite song and letting them dance for a minute is all it takes to get those big smiles back. I also recommend bringing some small snacks. Anything smaller than a Cheerio works great. If baby starts getting a little fussy, you can give them a tiny snack to keep them happy without it becoming a huge distraction or ruining their photos. Yes, things can get messy!!
If you love the idea of a cake smash but don’t want your little one covered in cake, you can always request a fake cake. You can still get the adorable cake smash photos without the giant mess afterward. The biggest thing I want parents to know is that you really don’t need to stress about making your baby smile or behave perfectly. They’re one year old! They’re going to get distracted, they’re going to want a break and they may decide they are completely over pictures halfway through. That’s okay. My job is to work with them, move quickly when they’re happy and make the most of those little moments. Some of my favorite photos come from the moments that parents weren’t expecting. So bring the outfit you love most, bring the cake if you want one, bring their favorite toy, have a couple of songs ready and bring a few tiny snacks. Let your little one have fun and we’ll take care of the rest. ❤️