Cake Smash Tips
Your baby is turning One! Oh my goodness! They are so freakin’ cute and totally steal your heart. Of course you want to see them smash a cake in all their adorable-ness! As a seasoned photographer in the Bothell, Redmond, Seattle area, let me share some tips to help your cake smash photo session go as smoothly as possible!
The Cake
I suggest staying away from red icing (makes the little one look like a vampire) and brown icing (which looks like…well, you know). Keep in mind that dark icings may stain the clothing that they are wearing, and even their skin! Good old buttercream frosting typically is the best. If you do layered cake… again, stay away from the red strawberry or such filling. Fondant does not smash well, so avoid that. My preference is white sponge cake (it breaks up the best!), versus other white cakes. Chocolate can be overwhelming color-wise and the flavor is sometimes too rich for the little ones, but if you know your kiddo likes chocolate, then go with that. Size-wise, a 6-12” cake is normally best. I think the 6” ones are great personally. It will look tiny, but that is okay! You will have less waste and mess, but enough to smash!
Make sure the cake is room temperature before the smash. A cold cake is harder for the child to smash and is less appealing for them to touch. Pull it out of the fridge a couple hours before. On the flip side, if we are doing the cake smash in the summer, make sure the frosting doesn’t melt in the car on the way to the session.
The Outfit
Pick something cute, but something that you don’t care will get potentially stained. You can always let them go topless too! Bare baby skin is adorable! I also recommend bare feet, because the shoes are going to get messy with icing and such. Bare skin is easier to clean, which is always a win!
Make sure you try the outfit on BEFORE the shoot and make any adjustments needed. Overalls and straps are cute, but if they don’t stay up on the baby’s shoulder it might bother you in the photos.
The Mess
Yep, your kiddo is going to get MESSY. Everything and anyone that touches them after the smash is going to be messy too. Having towels and a bunch of wipes near by will be critical. A garbage bag or two or three is not a bad idea either. Keep in mind wherever we are too, there will be a frosting. It is not quite as bad as glitter, but you will be surprised at how quickly it gets everywhere! Be prepared!
The Scene
Some simple decorations can help- you don’t need a lot! Balloons are actually really tricky to work into the shot too as they are often tall, and all the action is going on on the ground. If you have a theme, that can help tie things together, but even just base pennant banners or paper streamers can create a colorful background without taking away from the important part: Your 1 year old and their cake.
My preference is just a crate with the letters spelling “ONE” on it next to the cake for boys (maybe a couple cars or trucks in near them) and for little girls, putting some fake flowers around.
Practice Makes Perfect!
Some kiddos don’t know what to do with a cake when it is put in front of them, or are scared of getting messy. If you can, grab a cupcake or second cake to practice with them before the session. Encourage them to get used to the feel of the icing and let them know that it is okay to smash it- go ahead- demonstrate it for them! That way, during the session, you can just encourage them from the sidelines and stay out of the shots.
We all look at cake smashes and think they are adorable ways to celebrate your child’s first birthday. One note of caution is not every baby loves the smash. My youngest put one finger in the cake and broke down! She could not stand the buttercream feeling on her finger I guess. :-( So, as much as we have good intentions as parents, be sure to practice the smash at home where it is safe for the kiddo to explore the textures and sensory feelings of the cake.
Ready to book your cake smash session? I offer indoor and outdoor simple cake smashes! My cake smashes are booked as a family session where we take the first 40 minutes and celebrate your love as a family, playing, snuggling and enjoying time together either in your home, at a park or at my studio. Then we will spend the last 20 minutes changing baby and capturing the cake smash. I would be thrilled to work with your family on capturing this milestone!