Ella made it easy on me for her at-home cake smash photos! This little lady is happy, loves cake, and didn’t mind being the center of attention as we all cheered her on. I thought these photos would be a great example to many others who might be wondering how to celebrate with their little one. An at-home cake smash photo session can be simple and fun, leaving you with beautiful images to cherish.
Most one-year-old photos begin with family photos or portraits. In this case we re-created some of Ella’s newborn photos (see here) and captured a lot of lifestyle photos of her just being her silly-self! After that we changed Miss Ella and she was ready for cake.
Take note of these pointers when considering planning a one year old portrait session & cake smash.
1. Keep it simple. The more decorations and more distracted your 1 year old will be. All you really need is one blank wall and a table or floor that we can sit your little one against. In this case a simple balloon arch and cake topper were the best accents to this cutie’s cake smash.
2. Make sure your child has already had “real food” before giving them a “sugary-cake”. Instead of real cake you could opt for a sugar free cake, or something like Ella’s mom created that was made with fruit. Most bakeries will help you out with this. Note: Allie.Photo doesn’t provide cake or decorations, that is up to you.
3. Have a sippy cup nearby. When babies are given free-range to eat cake, they often start stuffing their faces and may need a quick drink break.
4. Don’t be surprised if their “cake smash” outfit gets a bit stained. Not every baby is clean and tidy when stuffing cake into their face. If you plan to re-use the outfit a festive bib or a shirtless baby is the way to go.
4. Be ready for clean up. Have a lot of wipes and paper towels on hand and don’t be surprised if your little one needs a bath afterward. That is why I love to do a cake smash at your own home, its easier for clean up! When considering if your space is right for this, just check if you have one wall with natural light. In this case we used the dining room.
Recap: What Do I need for an Easy At-Home Cake Smash?
- A cute baby, most of you have that!
- Cake, make sure it’s not frozen, fresh is best. If you did freeze the cake, set it out on the counter before I arrive to make sure it’s thawed and easy to smash.
- A blank wall, free of decor or clutter (or we can do this outside, see photos here!)
- A clean table, moved up against a wall or the floor (see samples here!)
- Balloons, Banner, or Cake topper decorations that match your baby’s birthday theme
- Baby wipes and paper towels
- A sippy cup or drink for your little one
Allie.Photo is a wedding and portrait photographer based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. I love to photograph people who love life as much as I do. I specialize in photography that is bright and joyful, and promise you will enjoy the entire process. I serve awesome people everywhere within the Greater Boston area to the White Mountains, Cape Cod, and all over New England. Reach out today you’re planning a wedding or need family photos and think we might be a great fit!
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