Cake Smash


Planning a cake smash for your little one. Here are some FAQs and some helpful tips.

What is a cake smash session? 

It’s a small part of a birthday session. Sometimes the cake smash part of a birthday session only lasts 10 minutes at the most 15 minutes. It can be a fun, exciting and very messy experience. So here are some tips on what to bring and what to expect.

What kind of cake do I get?

I usually ask my clients to bring the cake for the session because some kids have food allergies. Vanilla is usually a great flavor and photographs well. A small 6 - 8 inch medium size cake will be perfect. I am more than happy to provide the cake for an extra $30. If you do order a cake through me I must have a 2 week notice before the session.

What about decorations on the cake?
Choose a color scheme or theme for your child’s session and keep it simple. Go to your local bakery and tell them that it's for a cake smash. My suggestion is to get a cake with butter cream frosting since it’s easier to smash. Fondant can be tough to smash and eat but it can be used for small decorations on the cake.


Does it have to be a cake?
Of course not! Your little one can smash whatever their little heart desires. Pies, tacos, watermelons, cookies, donuts, pancakes!! They all can be smashed.


How to set up the background? 

I do have a few decorations. I can provide props such as cake stands/plates, floor drops, chairs, boxes etc. for the session. (Discuss with photographer first.) Anything specific (toys, balloons, name banners), you are welcome to bring for the photos. 

What should my baby wear?
Choose an outfit that is simple and you don't mind getting dirty. Also, choose an outfit that matches the theme or color scheme. If you plan on just having your little one wear a diaper, a diaper cover is something that will be nice for them to wear.


What to expect?

Please remember I am an on-location photographer. Meaning I do outdoor photo shoots only. I no longer take indoor cake smash photos. But don’t worry cause an outdoor cake smash can be just as fun and unique as an indoor cake smash session.
Don’t expect or demand your child to really dig in during their cake smash. Some kids don’t like to get messy, some prefer to be clean. It all just depends on how they are feeling that day. But don’t worry even if they decide to just pick at their cake, it still makes for great and fun photos. 


How do I clean up?
For parents, wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. (Cause you will get dirty.) For the kids, bring an extra pair of clothing to change. Bring baby wipes to wipe their face. You can bring paper towels to wipe arms and legs, but I will also have some. Sometimes the places I take the photos don’t have a restroom or access to a sink, so I’ll bring a tub and some water to help with the clean up. The clean up can be just as fun as the cake smash. It's also helpful to bring a towel to dry them up. 



This is a memory of you child’s birthday, so just remember to have fun!  

Checklist:
- Extra clothes
- Baby wipes
- Towel
- Regular necessities such as diapers 
- Paper towels