Adorable little W’s momma sent me this “One American Girl” themed birthday invitation to celebrate her July birthday as inspiration for her photoshoot…
I had a blast (no pun intended) bringing this idea to life; and baby girl is the cutest little firecracker! Her momma and grandma joined in for a few photos too.
This absolutely gorgeous baby showed up to her 1st birthday session sleepy from the car ride. But then… it was showtime. The moment I brought my camera out, it was like someone flipped a switch. Out came the sweetest smiles with the most adorable dimples, twinkling eyes, and heart-melting baby charm. She knew exactly what to do and completely owned the spotlight.
Scroll down for a peek at some of the highlights!
This adorable crew of cousins (two sets of siblings) came to me after winning a session I donated to Gifts of Joy through a silent auction. From the moment they arrived, the session was bursting with energy and chaos— it was so much fun and they are all such beautiful kids! Adding to the joy, both baby girls had recently turned one, so I made sure to capture some photos to celebrate their first birthday milestones too.
I’m also grateful to have the opportunity to support an incredible cause. From their website, “Gifts of Joy is a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to bringing joy, hope, and encouragement to children battling cancer and their families. What began in 2018 as a small toy drive in Temecula, CA has grown into a multi-state movement, now serving 14 hospital units across Southern California and Tennessee. Through toy drives, care packages, and hospital support programs, we strive to uplift spirits, ease burdens, and remind every child and family that they are seen, loved, and never alone. Hospitals now rely on our year-round gifts and encouragement initiatives to bring comfort and support when it’s needed most.”
To learn more about Gifts of Joy or to get involved, visit their website and see how you can help bring a little extra light to families facing their hardest days.
Now to show off some highlights from this adorable cousins photoshoot!
Happy birthday to this handsome baby boy! Enjoy some highlights from his fun and messy cake smash session!
We kicked things off with some classic portraits to capture his adorable personality before it was time to dig into the cake. Once the cake was in front of him, he dove right in. Happy 1st birthday, sweet boy! You smashed that cake like a pro!
This baby girl’s first 1st birthday photos were such a fun milestone to photograph! We started the session with some sweet portraits to capture her adorable personality. She wasted no time and was all about that cake—and was so sweet trying to offer some to everyone else! Enjoy some overdue highlights from her first birthday photoshoot!
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Want to know more about my cake smash sessions? I have photographed hundreds of babies and lots of cake smashes over the years. My style is clean and timeless so I like to keep the background more basic to draw the focus to the baby, but when you book your session, you’ll fill out a questionnaire to customize your session however you’d like.
A cake smash can be included in any of my Baby Sessions. I also offer a Mini Cake Smash session option. You will need to bring the cake (more info below). I have a variety of cake stands, cake toppers, banners, lots of baby girl dresses/outfits and bows/headbands/ crowns/flower crowns, and some baby boy outfit and hat options too. And of course you’re welcome to bring anything of your own, including any themed items you might be using for a special birthday party.
Cake Recommendations:
Cake color: I recommend white cake with white frosting or naked cakes for cake smashes. Otherwise pale or light frosting/cake is recommended (avoid dark colors, red, or neon).
Frosting: Whipped cream frosting tends to be easier for babies to swallow and is also easier to clean off, but regular buttercream is ok too. Remember to bring something for your baby to drink at the session as frosting usually makes babies thirsty! Also, feel free to bring little puffs, cheerios, or yogurt drops if your baby likes them. Some babies are hesitant to touch the cake, so putting a couple of those little treats on top usually helps to encourage them.
Fondant: For safety reasons, I recommend avoiding fondant, as it can be a choking hazard for babies.
Cake Size: This is completely up to personal preference, but I recommend a 2-3 layer 6 inch cake.
Cake Stands: I have several cake stands to choose from if you need one for your session (gold, silver, white, wood, wood slice, etc).
Grocery store bakeries usually offer affordable cakes for baby’s first birthday. Many will even give you a free little smash cake if you tell them it’s your baby’s 1st birthday.
Alternate options: Want to do something a little different? Cupcakes, donuts, cookies, pancakes, waffles, watermelon or other fruits are some cute options!
Specialty cake bakers: I can provide a list of some possible bakers to order a cake from if you need. Most require at least a couple of weeks in advance to reserve a cake, and their prices and policies vary.
Celebrating One! This handsome baby boy had his first birthday a couple months ago, and I’m finally getting around to posting his session. I also got to capture some sweet family photos to document his extra special milestone, and what a beautiful family they are! In a Deluxe Baby Session such as this, I usually start off with family photos, and mix in baby & parent shots, photos with siblings etc. Then I capture a variety of photos of the baby (the star of the show!), and end the session with a special cake smash. I also have a little baby tub that babies LOVE, and it’s always a fun way to end a cake smash photoshoot when parents request it.
I’m finally getting a chance to highlight this sweet boy’s first birthday photoshoot! His momma brought some vintage 1st birthday outfits and we started off with some family photos and wrapped up the session with a cake smash. I loved that he kept throwing hands up like he was cheering for himself—he clearly knew we were celebrating him!
Want to know more about what my cake smash sessions include? You can read all the details here! When you’re ready to book your own, click here to reserve your spot.
This little dude’s mama came prepared with a custom birthday banner, his dad’s baby blanket, and some of his dad’s motorcycle gear. She also brought some 1st birthday donuts as an alternative to a cake smash. I love when families bring personal touches to make their little one’s 1st birthday photos that much more special and unique to them.
And of course, the icing on the cake (or in this case…donuts!) was capturing the cutest portraits of this happy, growing boy.
It felt like just yesterday I was photographing this sweet baby boy’s newborn session, and again at six months—and before I knew it he and his parents were back to celebrate his first birthday with a cake smash session!
It’s always such an honor to document these milestones for families, and watching little ones grow from tiny newborns into curious, expressive toddlers is something I never take for granted. Enjoy some highlights from his 1st birthday photoshoot!
I’m a few months behind on posting — it’s great to be busy, but I’m glad to have a moment to catch up on sharing some sweet photos! I’m excited to finally showcase this cutie’s 5th birthday photoshoot. The setup was simple and sweet, with a giant pink balloon to announce that she’s turning 5 — such a big and important milestone! She was so sweet being the star of the show, and I hope she felt as special as she is.
Why Birthday Photoshoots Matter: Capturing Milestones That Fly By
Kids grow faster than we can sometimes keep up with—and birthdays are one of the most meaningful ways to pause and take it all in. It’s a special way to freeze time for just a moment and capture the growth and personality of your child at that specific age.
Every birthday marks a new chapter. Photos celebrate these milestones and tell the story of who your child is becoming, year by year. A birthday photoshoot gives you and your child lasting keepsakes to look back on.
Want to celebrate your little one with a special birthday photoshoot? Contact me or schedule through my booking link!
