Get the most out of your cake smash
Your baby is one years old hurray! If you have chosen to celebrate with a cake smash you are in the right place. I specialize in cake smashes and it is 80% of the work I do. It is my job to get you gorgeous photos, and I will! There are some things you can do as well to help get the most out of the session. The following are tips a result on completing a lot of cake smashes and a lot of trial and error.
No need to learn the hard way I have already done it for you. Let’s dive in!
1. Bring your baby well rested and fed (but not stuffed or they may not want the cake).
I do my photo shoots Monday to Friday at 1:30pm however I may be available at a different time, so if your baby is usually napping at 1:30pm let me know and we can try to schedule another time. I am not available after 4:30pm, but could do a morning or lunch session if need be.
If you are coming from the NW or NE Calgary your baby may nap in the car on the way to the studio as it’s about a 30-45 minute drive.
2. Bring small dry snacks like puffs or whatever they love to snack on. Occasionally for whatever reason a baby is not interested in eating the cake. In these cases they can eat their own snack while sitting with the cake!
3. Bring as few people as possible.
Nothing personal! My studio is just very tiny for the time being, and can comfortably accommodate small families but it is too small for extended family to also attend.
Another reason for this is that the cake smash is all about your baby, and sometimes too many people in the studio is distracting and overwhelming for them.
If siblings are under 5 it is best to leave them at home. That being said if you do bring a second small child it is good to bring another adult who can supervise them while the baby is having their cake smash. It is quite stressful for moms to have one baby covered in cake crying for them and a second small child running around the photo studio.
4. Take advantage of the wardrobe!
I have tons of outfits for babies who are 12-18 months. The outfits are perfect for cake smashes and help to give the photos a professional feel. Bring your own outfits as well and once you arrive we can decide which one to use. You can see some of the outfits here. There is also tons of adorable headbands.
5. Bring their favourite stuffy or toy to make them feel at home. If they are shy in the beginning they can take some time to play on the backdrop with their toys.
6. Keep the cake simple and avoid chocolate or bright icing. I have noticed that the “nearly naked” style cake with hardly any icing on it is the most popular with babies. Most happily eat and smash this one. Too much icing or decorations may be cute but often they do not eat it or smash it.
7. Bring an outfit change for them and for you. Moms and dads, you will be covered in icing! Don’t wear anything you don’t want stained.
8. Have realistic expectations. All children are different and one year olds are no exception. At age one they may be making strange and feel shy in front of a new person and in a new place. They may be very smiley or not. They may smash the cake or just touch it a bit. They may eat the cake or just play with it.
9. Get messy with your baby. If you baby isn’t interested in the cake, sometimes it helps if you hop in and feed them a bit. You can even have a bite yourself! If they are apprehensive this helps to relax them.
10. Don’t stress. These are only suggestions based on my experience but everyone is different and you know your baby best. Not much planning is needed, grab your usual diaper bag with snacks, your baby, and head to the studio. I have outfits, provide the cake and props so you don’t have to bring much with you. The best photos result when everyone is relaxed because baby will be relaxed.