Planning and Preparing for your baby's Cake Smash Photoshoot | Little Yellow Boots Photography, York

Baby's 1st Birthday Cake Smash Photoshoot at Little Yellow Boots Photography, York.

Cake Smash photoshoots are such a fun and memorable way to mark your baby's first ever birthday! Even though you will remember how you celebrated their birthday, your baby probably won't, as they are so young at the time. However, capturing images during celebrations ensures that you can show them what you all did, show them who was at their party, show them what their very first birthday cake looked like! Photos jog the memory too, so looking back through them over the years will transport you back to that special day and bring back the mixed bag of emotions you will have undoubtedly felt as you reflect on your baby's first year.

So, you've decided to book in a super fun Cake Smash session with me at Little Yellow Boots Photography, hurrah!! But what next??

1 - Choosing your backdrop set.

You can choose any theme or colour preference for your cake smash backdrop. Maybe you love a particular colour, or have a colour in mind that will really compliment the walls in your home as you imagine displaying the photos on them. Maybe your baby's name has reference to a colour, e.g Rose, Olive, Bleu.

You might love a theme idea, such as jungle animals, Winnie the Pooh or rainbows... the list is endless! If you have seen something you like, I can design something very similar with my own style applied, I have so many backdrops, props, balloons and birthday decor. We will discuss your preferred backdrop set during the booking process so that it is what you envisioned by the time you arrive for your session.

2 - Cake preference.

A homemade bespoke and truly scrumptious cake is provided for your cake Smash photoshoot, baked by talented local York baker @Bears Cakes and Bakes. Each one is designed and baked by Heather, and she will make sure the cake complements your preferred theme/colour choices, and she can cater for any allergies your baby may have.

There is always leftover cake, and I encourage you to take it home and enjoy -yum!- so there is no food wastage at the session.

3 - Food is for fun!

During the first few months of your baby beginning to eat solid foods, a big part of it is making food fun and enjoyable, testing out flavours and textures. Some textures will be pleasing for your baby, others will take a bit of getting used to. It is a good idea to introduce the textures of cake to your baby prior to the photoshoot so that they are not completely new and strange to them, the crumbly sponge and slimy sweet icing are such a contrast to things like broccoli and veggie crisps. So have fun with a bit of baking in the weeks before your session and let your baby try out cake and icing so that they are more familiar with the textures.

4 - Outfit

You may have had a special outfit for your baby in mind before you even decide on your backdrop set, or you choose your theme and then turn to think about the outfit. I do have a selection of baby outfits in my studio wardrobe that you are welcome to choose from, I am always adding to that range! By borrowing one of those outfits, it does mean that you can literally leave ALL of the mess with me and not need to bag up a cake-covered garment to take back home and wash. However, you are completely welcome to bring along your own, just make sure that it does complement your chosen theme or colour choice and not clash.

You may also bring along a second outfit choice for the natural portrait pre-cake photos. During the first part of the photoshoot, we take some photos of your baby just as they are, often with some wooden toys and O N E number blocks, just to document them with neutral tones and complete focus on them at 1!

5 - checklist

Some other items you may wish to bring along;

-Your usual changing bag with nappies, wipes etc.

-Beaker/bottle of water or juice (cake makes babies thirsty!) I do always have bottled water available in my studio.

-A towel, if you wish to bring your own rather than use one provided by me, for after your baby's bath following the cake smash.

-Bath solution/soap, if you do not with to use the one provided by me, to add with the warm water to make soapy bubbles!

-Beige snacks; Please DO bring along a snack that your baby does eat that is sponge-coloured (something like Pom Bear crisps or Ellas kitchen snacks)... occasionally a baby will be reluctant to eat the cake, or even touch it to begin with, so having a small snack that we can place in or behind the cake will encourage your baby to reach over and grab them, fully disguised as the sponge cake! Babies usually then realise that they can eat the cake itself and begin to tuck in!

-Spare clothes for yourself, because there may come a point where your baby crawls to you for a cuddle and before you know it you're covered in icing too!

And that's pretty much it! My studio is very well stocked with everything required for Cake Smash Photoshoot fun, so if you just want to turn up with just your changing bag then you can be confident that everything else is taken care of and you don't need to worry about anything, you can come along, enjoy the fun and return home with cake and some gorgeous photos to look forward to seeing.

For more info or any questions, please hit the button below!

Nikki - Photographer @ Little Yellow Boots Photography, York.

CONTACT