Capturing a baby’s growth and milestones during their first year is one of my favorite parts of photography. From this gorgeous little one’s newborn session to her 6 month photos and now her first birthday, she is always such a star in front of the camera!
What’s soft, sweet, and full of squishy fun? A Squishmallows cake smash for a very special 1st birthday photoshoot!
We started with some family shots and classic first birthday baby portraits. Her momma requested soft pastels to match the whimsical Squishmallow vibe. When the cake came out, baby girl dug in and absolutely loved gobbling up her strawberry cake (can’t say I blame her — it looked delicious).
First birthdays only happen once, and capturing all that magic is something I absolutely love to do. If your little one has a favorite character or theme — let’s make it part of the celebration. Customizing sessions to reflect your baby’s unique personality is one of the best parts of creating these memories.
Kennedy’s 1st birthday cake smash was full of her gorgeous smiles and beautiful brown eyes! She was so happy and joyful through every moment, even with a bit of a mishap with the cake at the end. Her personality is every bit as beautiful as she is, and I loved meeting her and her parents.
1st Birthday Cake Smash Photography
Cake smash photography is such a special way to celebrate a baby’s first birthday! A lot of families love to display these photos at their baby’s first birthday party, or simply as a way to commemorate this precious milestone.
A typical cake smash photo session consists of:
Pre-cake portraits: I love to capture baby’s portraits and personality and do a few different setups before bringing out the cake!
Cake smash: The main event where the baby gets to dig in to the cake. Some babies absolutely love it while others are more timid, but that’s the beauty of every session…getting to see baby’s personality and curiosity shine through!
Clean-up: This can include some cute photos with baby playing in a little tub — babies usually love this part the most!
When planning a cake smash session, consider the following tips:
Choose a theme or color scheme that complements your baby’s personality or birthday party decor.
I recommend light or white cakes with whipped cream frosting or “naked” frosting. Buttercream tends to be a bit sticky and difficult for babies to swallow.
Be prepared for a mess — frosting tends to get everywhere! Bring extra clothes for both the baby and yourself.
I have a variety of outfits, headbands, banners, cake stands, cake toppers, and balloons. Clients are always welcome to bring anything to make their session unique. Personally, I prefer to keep things simple to truly focus on the baby, but I’m always happy to discuss client’s wishes for their baby’s first birthday photos! After all, babies only turn one once…make it special with a 1st birthday photoshoot! For more information, take a look at my cake smash info page and reach out to discuss your baby’s first birthday session.
Handsome little Benjamin is turning one! His 1st birthday photoshoot was filled with smiles and so much personality! I got to capture his portraits, birthday outfit photos, and some Toy Story themed photos for his birthday party. I always love meeting new clients, and meeting Benjamin and his momma was extra special because I learned they live in my neighborhood.
Emily Menzie is an experienced baby photographer in Menifee, California, capturing baby photos from newborn to first birthday for clients throughout Southern California.
Being a Christmas Birthday Baby is so special! Adorable Christopher’s momma contacted me several months ago about doing a Christmas themed birthday photoshoot to celebrate his big day — turning one on Christmas! When his session finally rolled around, I couldn’t believe how quickly this year flew by! Getting to incorporate a Christmas theme into this session was so much fun. Christopher got to end the session in my little baby tub which he and every baby LOVES, always making for some cute shots.
Wishing a very happy 1st birthday to Christopher and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!
Rhees’ first birthday came by in a flash! Getting to photograph her every 3 months since she was born has been such a highlight this past year! She is such a joy to photograph — so beautiful and full of the cutest personality!
