5 Things To Expect From Cake Smash Photoshoot
While every birthday is important and is one in a lifetime event, first birthday is truly special. Probably, because it’s more of a milestone for the parents than for the baby: they made it as parents, they survived, and the fruit of their love is now striving, crawling, walking, and demanding to be played with. Fist birthday is an official start of the end of the “baby phase”: the cheeks are still plump, the lips are still pouty, the gait is still wobbly, but in a couple months the baby will inadvertently turn into a toddler. Some parents cherish these last moments of their child’s infancy, others can’t wait to move on to the stage where the baby could more or less clearly state what it is that bothers her or what she wants. But for all parents, the first birthday is a celebration of life, parenthood, and joy that their precious offspring brings into their life. A Cake Smash photo session is a wonderful way to celebrate this family achievement! Here are 5 things that you should expect from your Cake Smash Photoshoot:
1. You pick a theme.
You as a parent know your child better than anybody else. You know what books she likes, what her favorite toys are, what games she enjoys playing and what snacks she prefers. You also know what you like to see in your family album or on your wall. A theme could be anything – a color, a cartoon character, a book, a game, an activity, a style- possibilities are endless. You could use the same theme as you are using for the birthday party and then use the pictures for the invitations. Or, you could go experimental and try something you have never tried. The sky is the limit, really.
But it’s also totally normal to not know what theme to pick or come up with – this is where the photographer with her creative eye will help. Ask your photographer for suggestions. If a parent is not sure what theme to choose, I like to ask a few questions about the child and the family so that my recommendations are actually relevant to the specific baby rather than being generic or gender specific.
2. Pictures without the cake.
Although the session is commonly referred to as a Cake Smash session and the actual cake eating is an apogee of the event, the non-cake photos are just as much or even more important. The non-cake pictures are a chance for the baby to explore the decor, to engage with the camera, to take a moment to get used to the new setting and the new person jumping around with a camera and cooing and singing. In the non-cake pictures, the cake doesn’t steal the show. The baby does.
3. Pictures with a caregiver.
First birthday is of course all about the baby. But what about mom, or dad, or a caregiver? The baby won’t remember this significant event – but the parents will. They deserve to be in the picture, to showcase their love for the baby, their joy. And it’s up to the photographer to capture this connection, to make sure they both remember their bond by looking at the picture. Especially, when the baby is in her teens.
4. Cake indifference.
We are all looking for these funny delicious moments when the baby smashes the cake. Of course, she will smear the frosting all over her face and her cute outfit and fall into “sweets coma”. Yeah, keep your expectations low. Some babies enjoy the cake, or sticking their fingers into it, or being in all ways cake-smash-photographable, but some babies don’t. For many, it’s the first time that they see or try something this sweet. And it’s totally fine! There is nothing wrong with your baby if she doesn’t want to throw her face in the cream frosting! You can of course encourage her and show by example, but don’t get frustrated or upset if the baby doesn’t want to have anything to do with the cake. In a couple years, you may be longing for that cake indifference to come back 🙂
5. Unposed pictures
It’s great and wonderful when the baby looks in the camera, smiles, and follows instructions all the time. But doesn’t happen. Babies cry, and can get tired, and frustrated, and annoyed – they are all humans after all. Or, they can be playful and play without bothering to look at the camera. And it’s wonderful too! We are not photographing your idea of how your child should behave. We are photographing your child as she is!
Above all, have fun and interact with your baby!
Book your Cake Smash Session now.
