Cake Smash Photography
7 steps for a Successful Photo Session
Your baby is turning ONE! And all of the planning has started. The party theme, the cake, the balloons and most importantly, the One Year Photoshoot! As a photographer of primarily babies (newborn through first year) I thoroughly enjoy cake smash photo sessions. Although babies are so different, some just LOVE their cake and others break out into tears at the sight of it. Either way, the pictures are priceless and worth every penny.
I have prepared some helpful tips to ensure a SMASHING success (pun intended)!
1. Choose your Photographer
Be sure to select a photographer who has a great portfolio and a style that you like. Some photographers create very elaborate setups while others stay a bit more simple. I tend to keep a fairly simple style which helps keep my price down but it’s also my personal taste.
2. Schedule your session
Choose a time of day that your baby is most likely to be all smiles. I know for my own children, morning was always the best time of day for them, but you know your baby best. Also be sure to communicate with your photographer if you are needing the images back by a certain date if you are wanting them in time for the party. If you are scheduling your cake smash session with me, I would recommend about a 2-3 week window between the session and when you need the images.
3. Choose your theme
There is such a wide array of creative and amazing themes for Cake Smash photoshoots. I always recommend visiting www.pinterest.com and search for things like “girl cake smash photo session”, “boy cake smash photoshoot” “one year photo session ideas”, etc.. the list and ideas are endless; however, hopefully your eye will catch something and you can narrow ideas down from there. Your photographer will help you plan and create the setup from any needed props down to the cake details.
4. Purchase props
Be sure to purchase any props that you are responsible for bringing in plenty of time, especially if you are ordering online!
5. Make a list
Make a list of items that you are responsible for bringing to the session and pack the items the night before your session. Some helpful things to bring along are:
- An extra pack of baby wipes
- paper towels
- 2 standard bath towels
- an outfit for baby to wear home
- baby’s favorite puff/snack (many times babies who are reluctant to try their cake will reach for their favorite snack even if it’s on the cake out of vision from the camera)
- baby’s favorite toy(s) that produces smiles
6. Dress appropriately
If you plan to be in some images with baby prior to the cake smash, bring a separate change of clothes for the cake smash portion that can get messy. Parents will often get some cake on them as well, lol.
7. Session Time
The day of the session is here! When I capture a baby’s first year photoshoot, I typically start off with some portraits prior to the cake smash. After a short portrait session I will set up the cake smash portion while baby might change outfits, etc.
My biggest suggestion to parents for the portrait portion is to try to stay calm and quiet and allow me to work my magic. While there are times where I need a parents assistance and babies may take a few minutes to warm up to me, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to encourage smiles from them. If I am competing with a parent for baby’s attention, more often than not, Mom and Dad will always win. And if all 3 of us are trying to get baby’s attention, often babies get overstimulated and instead of feeling relaxed and happy, they get irritated and uninterested. At times I might borrow a favorite toy of baby’s (I also have some that I bring out if needed) to get them to smile at the camera or I ask mom or dad to play peek-a-boo right above my head, but I usually start out with my simpler methods and interact with your baby in a way that won’t overstimulate them and will hopefully get genuine smiles.
During the cake smash,
I typically want baby’s attention to be on the cake. I might attempt to get their attention back to the camera, but I just let them play and eat and follow their lead while capturing different angles. If baby gets uninterested in the cake and begins to crawl away, I will have mom or dad catch baby before they leave the smash area and place them back near the cake. I do love capturing baby and the session exactly how it happens.. even if baby knocks over the cake and starts crawling away from it, it just makes the images even more special.
I hope this helps give you some ideas and tips for a great cake smash photoshoot! If you are in the Kansas City area and need an amazing photographer to capture your baby’s One Year Photo Session, please CONTACT me!
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