How to Plan a 1st Birthday Cake Smash
Your baby’s first birthday is such a wonderful milestone. Somehow, the tiny newborn you brought home not so long ago is suddenly crawling, standing, laughing, showing off a very definite personality…and getting ready to celebrate their first birthday.
A cake smash session is a fun way to celebrate everything that has changed during that first year, while creating photographs that capture exactly who your little one is right now. But if you’ve never planned a cake smash before, you may also be wondering where to begin.
What kind of theme should you choose? When should you schedule the session? What should your baby wear? Do you need to bring decorations? And what happens if your baby takes one look at the cake and wants absolutely nothing to do with it?
The good news is that you don’t have to have all of those answers before you book. Here’s what to know when planning your baby’s first birthday cake smash.
When Should You Schedule a First Birthday Cake Smash?
One of the first decisions is whether you want the session to take place before or after your baby’s actual birthday. Hint: There isn’t one right answer. There are a few things to consider when looking at when to schedule a first birthday cake smash session.
If you would like to use the photographs for birthday invitations, party decorations, or to share on your baby’s birthday, scheduling the session several weeks beforehand gives you enough time to receive your finished images.
If you simply want the session to commemorate this stage, it can happen closer to the birthday itself. The more important consideration is reserving your session early enough that there is time to plan all of the little details without feeling rushed.
Cake smash sessions can involve more preparation than a traditional portrait session, particularly when we’re coordinating a theme, colors, clothing, decorations and the cake itself. Booking ahead gives us time to create something that feels intentional rather than thrown together at the last minute.
Choosing a Cake Smash Theme
This is usually the part parents have the most fun with.
Your cake smash can coordinate with your baby’s birthday party, incorporate something your family loves, or simply be based around a color palette that you’re drawn to. Themes can be very literal, but they certainly don’t have to be. Sometimes a simple color palette, beautiful textures and a few carefully chosen details photograph more beautifully than a setup filled with lots of decorations.
And your baby should always remain the focus.
When we plan a cake smash, I want the setting to complement your little one rather than compete with them. The goal is to create photographs that feel joyful and playful now, while still being beautiful enough that you’ll want to look at them years from now.
What I Provide When You Book a Cake Smash Session
Everything! Well, almost everything. You bring the baby and I have everything else set up and ready when you arrive. I setup the unique background and props tailored to the theme we choose along with the cake and stand, all ready to go when you arrive.
What Should Your Baby Wear
Most cake smash sessions work beautifully with more than one look.
We can begin with traditional first birthday portraits before introducing the cake. This gives us an opportunity to capture your baby at this stage without the frosting, crumbs and wonderfully inevitable mess.
For the cake smash itself, simpler clothing often works best.
Depending on the theme, that might mean a diaper cover, bloomers, suspenders, a simple dress, a romper or another outfit that coordinates with the setup. I’m always happy to help you think through clothing choices as we plan the session. Colors, textures and even small details can make a big difference in how everything photographs together.
And because babies have their own ideas about wardrobe changes, I always recommend bringing a backup outfit as well.
Choosing the Cake
The cake may be called the star of a “cake smash,” but bigger isn’t necessarily better.
A smaller cake is usually the perfect size for little hands to explore without completely hiding your baby behind it. Soft frosting also tends to work better than heavy fondant or decorations that are difficult for a one-year-old to grab.
Color matters, too.
Some frosting colors photograph more beautifully than others, and very dark or highly saturated colors can quickly end up everywhere…on your baby’s face, hands, clothing and occasionally places no one expected.
If your baby has any food allergies or sensitivities, those should always be considered when selecting or ordering the cake. I do provide the cake based on the color scheme or theme we discuss ahead of time. If you already have a preferred baker or special requests, you are also able to bring your own cake as well. We want everything to be perfect for your one year cake smash!
What Happens If My Baby Doesn’t Smash the Cake?
This may be one of the most important things to know before your session:
Your baby does not have to perform.
Some babies dive into their cake immediately.
Some carefully touch the frosting with one finger.
Some inspect it suspiciously.
Some eat the cake delicately.
Some knock the entire thing over.
And yes, some babies decide they are completely unimpressed by cake.
All of those reactions are part of your baby's personality at this age, and those are often the photographs parents end up loving most.
A cake smash isn't successful because we captured a particular Pinterest-worthy moment. It's successful when the photographs feel like your child. Giving babies time to warm up, explore and react naturally usually creates much more meaningful images than trying to force a specific response.
What Happens During a Cake Smash Session?
Every session is a little different because every baby is different, but we don't begin by immediately putting your little one in front of a cake and hoping for the best. We give them time to get comfortable.
We can start with traditional birthday portraits, giving your baby a chance to become familiar with the environment before the cake comes out.
Then comes the fun part.
Once the cake is introduced, I photograph all of those tiny expressions and reactions. The curiosity, hesitation, frosting-covered fingers, belly laughs and occasional complete confusion over why the adults suddenly want them to make a mess.
The experience is meant to be fun rather than rushed.
Clean-up can also be a fun part of the process! We can add fun ways of helping baby get cleaned up after the cake smash fun such as mini bathtubs or washing tubs. I have several fun pieces that make for adorable photos of your little one that will preserve these sweet days for you to always cherish.
Want to make it a family moment, too? Parents and siblings are always welcome to be part of the session by request. Adding a few family or sibling portraits creates another layer to the story of this milestone. Not just who your baby was at one, but who was loving, laughing, and celebrating alongside them. Those are often the images that become even more meaningful with time.
What Should You Bring to a Cake Smash Session?
You won't need to bring your entire nursery with you, but there are a few things that can make the session easier.
I recommend bringing:
Your baby's regular diaper bag essentials
A favorite snack or drink
Two outfits to wear during the session
A backup outfit
A familiar comfort item if your baby uses one
Any special item we have discussed incorporating into the session
A change of clothes for yourself if you plan to be close to the action - because frosting has a way of traveling
We'll talk through any session-specific items before your appointment so you know exactly what you need to bring and what will already be taken care of for you.
Don’t Forget the Portraits Before the Cake
The messy cake photographs may be what first comes to mind when you think about a first birthday session, but I always love creating beautiful portraits that document this stage as well.
At one year old, babies change almost daily. The round cheeks. The tiny teeth. The curls that are finally starting to come in. The way they scrunch their nose when they laugh. The way they stand while holding onto something before they're completely confident on their own.
Those details won't look exactly the same six months from now. That's why I think of a first birthday session as much more than photographs of your baby eating cake.
It's a portrait of who they were at one.
One of my favorite parts of photographing babies through their first year is seeing just how much they change. Sometimes I first meet a family during the newborn stage, then get to welcome them back months later for a milestone or first birthday session. Seeing those two sessions side by side is such a beautiful reminder of how quickly that first year passes. You can see one of those newborn-to-milestone stories here.
Creating First Birthday Photographs You’ll Want to Keep
The best cake smash sessions aren't necessarily the most elaborate ones. They're the ones that feel like your child and your family.
Whether you envision something whimsical and colorful or soft and simple, we'll work together to create a session where all of the details make sense together…and where your baby can simply be themselves.
Because someday the frosting-covered face will be funny. But the little expressions, tiny hands and personality captured underneath all that frosting are what you'll really want to remember.
If you're beginning to plan a first birthday session in the Indianapolis area, you can reserve your session with a $250 booking fee. From there, we'll begin planning the details together so your baby's first birthday portraits feel completely their own.
