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Originally Posted On: https://rebeccakaynephotography.com/what-is-a-cake-smash-session/
What is a Cake Smash Session?
Cake smash sessions have become all the rage in recent years. But what is a cake smash session exactly? It’s a fun and messy photoshoot where a baby or toddler gets to smash and devour a cake, usually to celebrate their first birthday. It’s a delightful way to capture those precious moments of joy, laughter, and cake-covered faces. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the wonderful world of cake smash sessions, exploring what they are, why they’re so popular, and how you can plan the perfect cake smash session for your little one. So, grab a slice of cake (or two) and let’s get started!
What is a Cake Smash Session? And Where Does it Come From?
The Cake Smash trend originated in the United States and has grown in popularity over the past decade, spreading to other parts of the world as well. While the exact origins are unclear, the idea is rooted in the tradition of marking a child’s first birthday with an extra special celebration.
The first birthday is a significant milestone, symbolizing the transition from babyhood to toddlerhood, and a cake smash is a playful way to commemorate this occasion. In many US households, babies under one haven’t had much access to sugary foods like cake, and so documenting their first taste of the sweet treat makes this moment even more fun for parents.
Setting the Scene for the Cake Smash Session
One of the hallmarks of a Cake Smash session is the Theme. Unlike many other portrait sessions, these sessions often display a theme related to the birthday (such as with a colorful balloon arch) or something related to the baby’s gender or personality (like flowers, airplanes, boats, or butterflies). A few things to consider when setting the scene include location, backdrop, props, cake and outfits.
Location
Choose a comfortable and safe location for the child. This could be at home, in a professional photography studio, or outdoors in a park or garden. Most cake smashes either occur at home or in a studio. Pay attention to making sure baby is safe and comfortable. At this age many babies are at least crawling, and we don’t want anything nearby that could pose a fall or choking hazard.
Pay attention to the lighting! If baby is in a professional studio, your photographer will take good care of this for you. If you’re doing a cake smash at home, I recommend doing it during daylight hours if possible and positioning baby facing (or side-facing) a nice big window so you get plenty of natural light. Turn off those overhead lights and get ready to snap away!
Backdrop
If you’re photographing baby at home, clear the background of anything distracting. Watch for clutter on counters, and try to get the focus right on baby. Often frosting (especially if colored) can leave a little residue, so make sure you take into account whatever baby is nearby and ensure anything baby can touch will be easy to clean.
If you’re in a studio, you’ll likely get to have some say over the Smash Session backdrop theme. Whether you’re sticking with something simple like a balloon arch, or you’re going with a more detailed theme, I suggest keeping things somewhat simple so the focus remains on baby. Find tasteful ways to suggest your theme without overwhelming your little one. I love to do this by keeping a blank space near where baby will be, and allowing for a few major theme elements in the background. Usually these include a prop or two, some balloons or a banner, and a ONE of some kind.
Props
Other props that can enhance the scene include something for baby to sit on (I mainly do this during the milestone portion of my sessions). Maybe a favorite lovey or other items baby loves to hold (these are very sweet, especially if they have sentimental value with the family). If baby had their newborn session with me, I love including an element from their newborn session in the cake smash. Maybe a lovey they held or the bed they laid in to show how much they’ve grown.
The Smash Cake
The cake is one of the most important parts of the session, after all- it’s the CAKE SMASH. However, this doesn’t mean it needs to be particularly special. I love smash cake sessions with simple, white frosted cakes as well as with more highly decorated ones. Simple cakes can be purchased at many local grocery bakeries (order a smash cake in advance. They should know what you’re talking about). They can also be ordered from many professional cake decorators.
When choosing a smash cake, the most important things to consider are the colors (avoid blacks, browns, and reds. They just don’t look appealing in photos). The frosting- buttercream or something else nice and whipped or creamy is perfect. Fondant is pretty, but hard for baby to get into and it doesn’t taste as pleasant. If you’d like fondant for decor, ask your decorator to use it only on the details. And flavor! Keep it simple. Most babies aren’t used to these intense flavors and are just as happy with vanilla as they are with anything else.
Smash cakes are smaller than regular cakes, as baby will be making a mess and will be the only one eating it. Typically they are 2-3 layers in height, and are 4-6″ in width. While often they are round, some cake decorators will give other shape options. If you’re using a professional photographer for photos, they will usually provide the cake stand for your session. Some will provide the cake as well. You’ll just want to double check so you know what you’re responsible for.
Preparing the Child
You will want to do all you can to ensure the child is comfortable and happy during the cake smash. Consider these preparation tips to help:
Timing
Schedule the cake smash at a time when the child is usually well-rested and in a good mood, typically after a nap or a meal. I tell parents to try to schedule the session for a time when baby won’t be hungry or tired. Obviously, baby schedules are constantly changing. Just do your best to make sure baby is getting good sleep for the few days prior to the session, and bring a snack along just in case baby needs a little food (that isn’t cake).
Clothing
Dress the child in an outfit that complements the cake smash theme. I love neutral, solid colored outfits for the cake smash, especially if there is a busy theme. Keep in mind that the frosting may stain clothing, so don’t bring anything sentimental for baby to wear during the smash portion of the session.
Introduction
Allow the child to explore the cake at their own pace. Some children may dive right in, while others may be more hesitant. Encouragement and patience are key. If baby really doesn’t love the texture of the frosting, we can give them a wooden spoon to use to poke and prod it. These make for really cute pictures as well! The fun of the cake smash is the un-known of how baby will react to the cake experience, and how every baby is different!
Capturing the Moment
Photographing a cake smash can be a lot of fun. Whether you hire a professional photographer or take the photos yourself, here are some tips for capturing the best moments:
Lighting
As stated above, natural light (such as from a window) is ideal for cake smash photos if you’re doing your own. If indoors, set up near a large window or use soft lighting to avoid harsh shadows.
If you’re using a photographer, they may use natural light or studio light. Most smash photographers will use a studio light and will know just how to get beautiful lighting on your baby!
Angles
Take photos from various angles. Get a mixture of close-up and wide shots. Getting down to the child’s level can help to really capture their expressions and actions. Make sure if you’ve set up a theme, that you pull back enough to get the entire backdrop in some of the shots as well.
Details
Don’t forget to capture the little details, like tiny hands covered in frosting, cake crumbs, and the child’s joyful expressions. These are what make the cake smash such a delightful occasion.
Patience
Be patient and ready to capture spontaneous moments. Some of the best photos come from unexpected reactions and interactions with the cake.
After the Cake Smash
Once the cake smash is over, it’s time to clean up and enjoy the memories. Here are some post-smash tips:
Cleaning Up
Have wipes, a towel, and a change of clothes ready for the child. A quick bath may be necessary to remove all the frosting and cake. If you’re in a studio, just do your best to remove all the frosting you can. It’s helpful to bring along a disposable bag (like a grocery bag) to put dirty clothing items in.
When you’re ready to clean your clothing, I recommend spraying a laundry spot remover on any frosted areas (I love shout). Let it sit for about 20 minutes and then wash your item on as hot a wash as your clothing fabric can handle (check the tag!). Many washing machines have an extra button that will let you select something like “steam for stains“. This is AMAZING and I highly recommend using it! You’ll never go back. It will often even remove set in stains from previous wash cycles.
Preserving Memories
Create a photo album or a digital slideshow to preserve the cake smash memories. Often families will do the smash session prior to baby’s birthday and use the photos as decor for the baby’s first birthday party, or to send in cards to grandparents. Parents will also print the photos to display on their wall next to baby photos. These photos can also be used for thank-you cards or as part of a baby’s first year keepsake box.
Smash Alternatives
If a cake isn’t preferred, consider alternatives like a watermelon smash, a donut smash, or even a paint smash with edible paints for a creative twist. You know your child best, so you will know which theme will appeal to them the most.
Cake Smash Photography – Choose Rebecca Kayne Photography
You want to make sure that your baby’s first birthday is a smashing success (pun intended). At Rebecca Kayne Photography, I offer a few different cake smash session options to help fit every budget. Themed sessions or balloon arch sessions each include pictures without the cake (milestone photos) to start out, then the cakes smash followed by a splash session (bubble bath) in an adorable baby sized claw-footed tub.
I’d love to be your photographer! Contact me today to set up a cake smash session!