Category: child portrait

What is a cake smash?

What is a birthday without cake?! Over the recent months, your baby has been trying out new foods in their weaning journey, so why shouldn’t they have a cake to celebrate their very first birthday? (Unless they have allergies of course!)

You choose a set to reflect your favourite interest or colour for your baby, we give them a cake, and they do what babies do best when they are a one year old and given a whole cake in front of them…. get messy! The results are super cute. There is something gorgeous and sweet about a baby (potentially) covered from head to toe in frosting, smooshed all over their face.

Don’t worry if mess isn’t your thing – we finish with cleaning up in the bath.

Why choose me as your photographer?

The simple and most honest answer? I love kids!

There are loads of local photographers out there and each one will have their ultimate ‘why’ they chose that career. The main reason I moved into photography and then chose to be a newborn specialist, and a cake smash photographer is that as a Mum of 3 myself, I know how important photos are.

I was so keen to document everything in that first year they were each born as it passes way too quickly. They achieve so many milestones in that first year and the age of newborn to a year is my absolute favourite. I would have so many more babies if my body could take it and I could keep them in that newborn stage for longer!

I worked with children in a nursery, then as a private nanny, before exploring photography and moving into it full time after the birth of my second child. Many previous clients comment on my positive interaction and patience with their children, and it makes me so happy that this is what shines through during a photo session. 

“Not only are her finished photos so beautiful, she is so patient and engaging with my boys”

Leanne Phillips

What should my baby wear for the cake smash?

There are 4 smash options to choose, starting from £50; birthday splash, simple smash, smash and splash, custom smash and splash.

Clothing can vary between a full outfit, (fancy dress or 3 piece suit), to a nappy cover and accessory. Depending on the theme you choose for the smash set, a particular style may suit one more than another. You can opt for an outfit change for the latter two sessions which also include birthday portraits either in the cake smash set, or a separate set – the best of both if you can’t decide on what to wear!

I email a preparation guide to you once you have confirmed the booking (see here for details on the booking process), to help with choosing suitable outfits. The prep guide includes more specific details and suggestions on how to dress your baby for the photo session.

Some of the gorgeous outfits from smash sessions:

Do I need to bring the cake?

No – I provide these in all my cake smash sessions and it is factored into the session fee. I want this to be as easy and stress free as possible for you, so I take care of the cake. By working with a local baker in Aylesbury, where I am also based, the cakes are all designed to perfectly match the set. You only need to choose and provide the outfit you wish your baby to wear.

When do I need to book?

It is best to book a cake smash photoshoot around a month before your baby turns one. Many parents like to include the images of these milestone sessions on birthday party announcements, so it is great to get the session scheduled with ample time before the actual birth date. 

I recommend booking ideally 8 weeks in advance. The baker and I both need adequate time for planning and accommodating in our diaries. We can sometimes squeeze in last minute bookings though, so do get in touch even if you have only just considered a cake smash photoshoot and the date isn’t far away. 

I have a newborn – is it too early to book?

It is never too early to prepare for a birthday celebration! I offer package sessions which are perfect for those who like to be prepared; Baby to birthday, and Baby’s First year. These are very popular and are often booked during the second trimester, ready for the newborn photoshoot. 

What if my baby doesn’t like the cake?

In my years of experience as a cake smash photographer, it is quite rare for a baby to completely refuse to go near the cake. Some babies do take a little while to warm up to the idea of touching or eating the cake – others dive straight in, occasionally face first! I have lots of methods to encourage the baby to try touching, and sometimes that is all that is needed. Other times, they will still refuse to get involved.

There is no need to worry if they really don’t like the cake smashing part of the photoshoot,

The images from this part are just as special and a beautiful memory of this milestone. Those cheeky smiley faces, and trying to catch bubbles are utterly gorgeous – sometimes the favourite!

An advantage of the baby not completely demolishing the cake, is that you can take the remainder home to enjoy. Of course, you are welcome to take home any remains, however deconstructed it may be!

I don’t want a framed wall art of a cake smash – can I just get digitals?

Yes – I offer digital bundles as well as the option of print collections (which include matching digitals), individual wall art, and multiple aperture framed wall art. In the digital world we are experiencing, digital images are often sought after, and although wall art is something I absolutely adore, I also want to meet desires to own the digital images.

That being said, people so frequently leave images stored on a computer, on an external device or USB in a drawer and never get round to printing them; please don’t leave your beautiful images unprinted. Part of my job, after creating the moments of treasured milestones, is to help you decide on how to be able to enjoy the memories of these images, and share them with others, through print.

Check out this related blogpost about some products I offer: Displaying your photos

Can I have some family photos at the same time?

Yes, this is included in the custom smash and splash option (session fee – £125). You will be provided with a preparation guide for choosing your family wardrobe for photos all together, along with a separate guide for the cake smash part of the session. You can choose to have the photos taken within the cake smash set, or on a separate background for a more classic portrait.

If you would like to get booked in for a cake smash session, just pop me a message via the contact page, and I’ll aim to get back to you within 1 working business day.

I can’t wait to chat with you about the birthday celebration of your little one! I love that age!