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.
Welcome to the world, baby girl! She’s already a couple months old as I’m finally getting around to highlighting her session, but here we go! This sweet little girl’s newborn photoshoot was nothing short of dreamy. She gave me such a good mix of sleepy shots, awake portraits, and sweet little smiles. Newborn sessions are some of my favorites! It’s always such an honor to help families preserve these first fleeting days, when everything is brand new. I had a blast meeting this cute family and their two little girls. I have no doubt they’ll be besties for life!
This little one pulled off every setup and was extra pretty in purple! She had major FOMO and fought sleep so hard, but that just allowed for lots of eye contact and some extra sweet newborn portraits.
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.
It was so fun to see this little cutie again for her 2 month photos! She was still so teeny tiny and so expressive (just like her newborn photoshoot). She reminded me just how special it is to photograph babies at any age during their first year.
While many families book newborn photos in the first few weeks, it’s never too late to capture these precious moments. At 2 months, babies are often more alert, starting to smile, and already showing their personality. It’s such a fun stage to document!
Whether your baby is 2 weeks, 2 months, or 12 months—every stage brings something unique. From sleepy newborn cuddles to tummy time, smiles, and first steps, these milestones pass quickly. There’s no “wrong” time to schedule photos during that first year—just the perfect time for your baby.
So if you missed newborn photos or are just now ready to book, don’t worry—there’s still so much magic to capture. Reach out any time!
Can we just take a moment to talk about how special 9 month milestone sessions are? My most booked sessions are 1st birthday photoshoots, followed closely by child and newborn sessions—but 9 months out? It’s such a special age that deserves its own celebration!
Think about it: babies spend 9 months growing in the womb, so celebrating 9 months out is a beautiful full-circle moment. It’s that sweet in-between phase where their little personalities are really shining. They’re sitting, crawling, waving, babbling—and it’s all just too cute for words!
This gorgeous baby girl has been in front of my camera since she was a newborn, and getting to see her now—waving, crawling, and saying “hi” and “buh-bye”—was the cutest thing ever. She’s clearly trying her best to keep up with her four adoring older siblings, who were more than happy to jump in for some sibling shots.
If you’re thinking about booking photos for your little one, don’t skip the 9 month milestone. These are the moments that go by way too fast—and I promise, you’ll be so glad you documented them.
