Tips for Your Cake Smash Session

I’ve always said a child’s first birthday is as much a celebration of the child as it is the parents. You’ve kept your little one safe and healthy for a whole year. Whether it’s your first baby or your last, that’s a huge accomplishment!

There are so many ways to celebrate your baby turning 1, but what could be cuter than a cake smash and photos to document the special occasion? Today I’d like to share my Top 3 cake smash tips to help you prepare for your session.

Some cakes are built for smashing…some aren’t!

When selecting a cake for your child’s cake smash, consider a cake 6-12 inches in  diameter. Smaller is definitely better in this case so as to not overwhelm the baby! Additionally, order or bake a cake with soft icing, not fondant, and let it sit out for a bit before arriving at your session. We want baby to be able to sink her hands into the cake from the start and fondant or refrigerated cakes make that tough for little fingers. Finally, consider sticking with vanilla cake and brightly colored icings if possible. Chocolate cake can look like #2 and red coloring sometimes photos graphs like blood. 

Safety first. Have a cake test run at home before your session.

Nothing produces anxiety for parents more than feeding little ones new foods. For this reason, it’s best to try cake out at home before arriving at your session. This will not only familiarize baby with the feeling and taste of cake, but also help us avoid allergic reactions or choking during your session. 

Cake smashes are a messy venture. Prepare accordingly, parents!

If you choose to schedule a cake smash as a part of your child’s milestone photo session, we will do the smash during the second half of the session. Why? Cake smashes are a mess! Whatever outfit you would like your child photographed in will be covered in sweet mess by the end of your session. You may want to consider bringing a spare set of clothes for baby, lots of wipes, and a plastic bag to hold the messy outfit. Also, you may not want to dress in your favorite outfit for the session as you’ll likely get some cake and icing on you, too!

Cake smashes are some of my favorite sessions to document because they’re simply so adorable! Interested in hearing more about a milestone session and cake smash for your little one? Click HERE to be in touch today!