Welcome baby number three for this beautiful family: the cutest baby girl!! I first met them earlier this year for adorable big sister’s 4th birthday photos. I was so thrilled when they booked again for their baby girl’s newborn photos. One of my many favorite things about their session was the sweet sister’s bond that was already so evident!
Enjoy an overload of sweetness, and if you’re looking for a newborn photographer in the Menifee area — contact me to chat or book here!
I LOVED this gorgeous little one’s first birthday photoshoot and her purple butterfly theme cake smash! Mom warned me that she might be shy for photos, but she ended up completely shining in her spotlight— smiling and smashing her cake like a pro. This was a mini cake smash session — short, fun, and perfect for quick 1st birthday cake smash photos. Check out more information on my website and book here.
For this session, I styled everything around a purple palette. Balloons, cake decorations, and the gorgeous little dress her parents brought her in all tied together beautifully (I offer a variety of baby girl 1st birthday outfits in my studio too!). Whether you’re drawn to soft, neutral tones, cake smash sessions can be customized to fit your vision for your baby’s 1st birthday photos.
A baby’s first birthday is such a fun celebration for the whole family! For this session, Mom requested recreating big brother’s cake smash photos—and I was thrilled when she showed me the inspiration, since my go-to backdrop is nearly identical. Meeting their beautiful family was a blast, and little brother celebrating his first birthday couldn’t have been cuter. We had to postpone the original session due to a a fall that resulted in stitches, but once he healed, I was so glad we could capture these memories.
Family is such an important part of the story in milestone sessions. Including parents and siblings not only documents your baby’s growth but also celebrates the love that surrounds them. Years from now, these photos will be treasured reminders of how small your little one was, how proud big brother looked, and how happy this season of life felt.
When planning a first birthday session, I love incorporating simple, timeless setups that keep the focus on your child and your family connection. Whether you want to include a cake smash, favorite toys, or just heartfelt family portraits, every detail can be customized to fit your vision.
If you’re searching for a baby photographer to capture your little one’s first birthday, I’d love to help you preserve these memories. Contact me to capture your baby’s 1st birthday cake smash photos!
Sharing this session is long overdue, but I couldn’t miss it because it was so special—a newborn photoshoot for their sweet baby boy combined with his big sister’s 5th birthday portraits. I was extra excited for this session after meeting their beautiful family last year for big sister’s 4th birthday photos!
When families welcome a new baby, it’s also a big moment for siblings. This proud big sister was turning five, and it was the perfect opportunity to celebrate her milestone alongside her baby brother’s first portraits. I loved that their brother in the middle was so extra sweet with his baby brother. It was so precious to see the new bond between them.
Combining sessions is a wonderful way to capture both occasions in one sitting, creating a gallery full of meaningful images you’ll treasure for years to come. For big sister’s 5th birthday photos, we made sure she had her own time in the spotlight. Five is such a fun age!
These kinds of sessions go beyond just newborn photography. They capture the growing connections in your family—how siblings welcome the newest member, and how each child’s milestones weave together. In this case, the gallery told a beautiful story of new beginnings and growing up, side by side.
Welcoming a new baby is such a precious time for families. While many choose to book their newborn photos within the first two weeks, I always remind parents that it’s never “too late” for beautiful baby portraits. I’m so glad to finally getting around to sharing this gorgeous little one’s 2 month old newborn photoshoot — a perfect reminder that every stage of your baby’s first year is worth documenting. I first met her family when her big brother was a newborn, and I loved meeting their newest little one!
At two months old, babies are starting to show more personality—those first little smiles, curious eyes, and sweet stretches. While they may not curl into the tiny, sleepy newborn poses anymore, a 2-month-old session captures a different kind of magic: eye contact, expressions, and connection. Parents love the mix of candid and posed images that highlight just how much their baby has already grown.
Ideally, families reach out during the third trimester to reserve a newborn spot, but if life gets busy (as it often does with a new baby), don’t worry! Whether your baby is 2 weeks, 2 months, or even older, there’s never a wrong time for professional portraits, and I strive to capture photos your family will always cherish.
Ready to book your baby photoshoot? Contact me to reserve your spot or go ahead schedule through my booking site!
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.
