The best part about first-birthday cake smash photos is that there is so much more to the experience than just taking beautiful pictures! First-birthday cake smash photos are about celebrating your baby’s very first trip around the sun and (maybe) their first taste of cake. It’s taking the time to embrace every moment of their childhood and honoring the beautiful journey that you get to watch unfold each and every step of the way.

Sweet little baby Julien is celebrating his first birthday, and he was on the go! Julien is not quite walking yet, however, he’s standing and moving, and I have no doubt that his very first steps are just around the corner.

Knowing that Julien is a happy little “mover”, my approach to his first birthday cake smash photos incorporated jubilant birthday moments with portraits that honor such a cherished moment in a baby’s life. Judging by the cheerful smiles that Julien shared, I’d say he shared in the excitement!

Don’t get me wrong, as a parent, I know all too well that there is such a big push on our baby’s “firsts”. You might be constantly fielding questions like when did they switch to solids? Are they standing? Are they sleeping through the night? It’s a never-ending parade of terribly invasive questions that somehow make us feel like maybe, just maybe, we aren’t doing this parenting thing the right way. If your baby is standing and walking for their first birthday photos, amazing! If your baby is sitting for their first birthday photos, amazing! When my tiniest clients are in front of the camera, there is no pressure to “perform”. Come as you are, enjoy the cake, have fun, and let’s document it with beautiful imagery each step of the way.

First Birthday Cake Smash Photos

We kicked off Julien’s first birthday photos with classic portraits. I love offering these portraits as part of my first birthday packages for a few reasons. First and foremost, it helps your baby get comfortable with the idea of being photographed by someone they’ve never met before. They have time to warm up and see that we’re here to have fun in a safe environment that feels welcoming yet playful. Secondly, I know so many parents have their hearts set on a beautiful first-birthday outfit. However, when the cake comes out, all bets are off! It’s best to enjoy the carefully selected outfit prior to digging into the cake. That way, you receive stunning portraits of your baby in their special birthday outfit alongside the fun, messy cake photos!

Julien’s mama selected my “lightning bug” cake smash theme. It’s an adorable setting filled with lanterns, twinkle lights, mason jars, and crates, accented by a rich tone of blue. It’s a fun, light-hearted setting, but, above all, it’s a setup that keeps the focus squarely where it needs to be: on the birthday boy! For Julien’s cake, I went with a simple, classic round cake with white frosting. To blend it with the chosen scenery, I used a tree-ring wood slab. From there, it was perfectly positioned within Julien’s reach, and he was not afraid to dig right in.

As we finished our session, the smiles continued and Julien hopped in the ‘tub’. With a rubber ducky in hand, friendly whales all around, and plenty of festive birthday balloons, it was the perfect way to wish Julien a resounding “Happy Birthday”!

Booking Your Session

Is your little one getting ready to celebrate their very first trip around the sun? With over two decades of experience and countless themes and setups to choose from, let’s capture first-birthday photos while your sweet baby enjoys their first taste of cake! You can contact me here for more information or to schedule your session. Or, you can navigate through the links below to see even more of my work.

• Space-Themed Cake Smash Photoshoot
• Flowers & Tulle for a First Birthday Girl
• Cookie Monster Themed First Birthday
• Baby Bakery – First Birthday Fun
• 3rd Birthday Celebration