Previously, we have covered what to expect for newborn sessions and family/children sessions. Today is all about smash cake sessions. When your little one (or ones) turn, well, one you may want to commemorate the occasion with a smash cake session.
You may choose to have the session indoors with up to 2 studio set ups and 2 outfit changes, or outdoors with 2 outfit changes. These sessions take place in two main parts; some photos of the birthday boy or girl alone, then some of the little one digging into the cake. Photos by Karen does not provide a cake, so you will have to bring one to your session. *For recommendations for bakers or cake/frosting flavors that photograph well, contact me!* Before they get covered in cake, we’ll get some shots of your little one in an outfit of your choosing (usually something that pertains to the theme of their first birthday party). If you chose to have your session with the studio set ups, this will be set up one (unless you choose to have both segments with the same backdrop/floordrop combination). You can bring your own themed props or use some of mine. If you want me to bring any, please be sure to ask before hand! I’m more than happy to pick up a few things if you need them! *I have 2 simple chalkboards that can be customized by me for your session* Next, I will change the set up and photograph the cake while it’s still intact. Then, we switch out the cake for the birthday boy or girl in their 2nd outfit. Lastly, we give the cake to the little one so they can smash it! Don’t panic if they don’t dig in! They might not know what to do or like the texture of the frosting. Sometimes if Mom or Dad help them get the first little bit torn open, they start to get the idea. But for my little one, she barely picked at the pearls on her huge cake! If the session is outdoors, we simply do everything in the same area. We still have shots of the little one alone, then of the cake , then birthday boy or girl in their second outfit, and finally the cake smash itself.
Sessions usually last between 1 and 2 hours. Things will get messy, so come prepared! If you wish to display photos from this session at your little one’s first birthday party, I recommend having the session roughly 2 weeks before the party to allow time for editing and ordering prints.
Well, that’s about it! Smash cake sessions are a fun way to celebrate your child’s first birthday while capturing the whole thing to share later on!
I look forward to helping your little one dig in to their delicious cake!!
As always, thanks for reading!
Until next time,
Karen