Small child in green outfit playing with gold and green balloons during a photo session.
A baby in a green onesie sits on a blue velvet couch next to a plaid blanket and stuffed toy.
A baby's small hand reaches for a white frosted birthday cake decorated with blue dots and green accents on a pedestal stand.
First birthday photo with large gold ONE letters against a blue tufted background in a studio setting.

After officially being in business for four years now, one of the biggest thrills is seeing repeat customers… especially as their families grow and the little ones pack on the years! It is such a thrill to be able to photograph a family when they have a stubborn toddler in tow and then have them come back the following year pregnant with their second. And then getting to see the family again when they’re finally a family of four to capture big brother’s birthday pictures in addition to their newborn photos is icing on the cake.


But the cherry on top is when they get in touch the following year for fall family photos PLUS a cake smash session to celebrate their youngest’s first birthday! Seeing the kiddos grow throughout the years and being able to capture so many special moments is such an honor as a family photographer! I love seeing the personalities come out and bringing back iconic photos from past sessions.

Small child sitting casually on a blue velvet sofa outdoors in a garden setting with a playful expression.
A touching family moment captured in tall autumn grass with browns and greens in natural outdoor lighting.
Sleeping infant cuddled up with a small white teddy bear on a couch with colorful plaid blankets.
A smiling baby wearing green overalls and striped sleeves sits on a blue couch with large yellow letters spelling 'ONE'.

In all my experiences with cake smash birthday sessions, I have had some of the daintiest eaters. Even my own children at their first birthday, very gently touched the icing of the cake and barely liked it off their finger. A long way from where they are now as toddlers when cake is put in front of them! Even with encouragement to dig in, most cake smashes wound up being more staged as the parents and I broke apart the cake.


However, there was no holding this little guy back! We began the session with some traditional birthday photos; mom even brought the bear from his newborn session along for an additional touch of sweetness. And then, with an outfit change, we moved into his cake smash. His romper and suspender outfit complete with a matching bow tie made for some of the cutest photos!

A small child wearing suspenders and a bowtie enjoys smashing cake with frosting covering their face during a celebration.
Sweet cake smash portrait features baby in suspenders and bow tie with white cake and gold balloon decorations.
Overhead view of a cupcake with white frosting and sprinkles next to green and gold balloons on a white surface.
A small hand reaches for a vanilla cake covered in whipped cream and colorful sprinkles.
Baby wearing suspenders and bow tie enjoys first birthday cake with gold and white balloons in background.

It was so exciting to have a little guy dive into a cake smash like he did. Getting messy and the overabundance of sweetness couldn’t slow him down… even when he flipped the cake upside down mid-smash! With frosting all over his face, his adorable smiles just got sweeter as he continued to chow down. When we eventually cut him off to avoid sugar overload, he literally had frosting from head to toe.


Are you planning to jump in on the cake smash tradition as your little one approaches their first birthday?! Get in touch and schedule a session so we can celebrate together! And let me know… Do you think they will be a timid taster? Or will Hulk come out to smash?

Baby in navy suspenders and bow tie sits with cake and green and white balloons for a special cake smash photo session.
A joyful baby wearing a bow tie and suspenders sits on the floor with a smashed birthday cake and green balloon nearby.
A baby in overalls curiously explores a white frosted cake placed on a pedestal cake stand during a cake smash photo session.
A toddler in suspenders and bow tie sits with party decor and balloons while enjoying birthday cake.
Small child wearing suspenders and bow tie smiles while playing with birthday cake and balloons at cake smash photo session.