Are you thinking of documenting that amazing 1-year Milestone Birthday!?! As a Bucks County Family Photographer, I think there are 5 things to ask before your cake smash shoot! (And yes, I’m gonna let you in on allll the secrets!!)
If your little one is approaching their first birthday, chances are your Pinterest and FYP are full of those fun sessions that are so popular for the 1st birthday celebration. There is a reason they’re a hit! These sessions are SO fun. Not only do you get to see them covered in frosting and giggling from the sugar rush, you also get some timeless images of your baby at this new stage. At one years old they are entering their toddler era, and it. is. cute.
There are so many little milestones at this time, and they are still rapidly changing! By the time they are 18 months old, this will already feel like a piece of the past you get to hold onto because of these photos.
But I want you to have a GREAT session, and there are some tips/tricks to prepare!
So here are 5 Things to Ask Before Your Cake Smash Shoot:
One: Who provides the cake?
This will vary from studio to studio! I know here at Heather Thomas photography we provide the cake at the studio! We prep it for you and have it all ready when you arrive! There is a small fee associated with this because we source from a local bakery. But we love supporting our local businesses!
Two: Can you do family photos first?
This is good to know, because I have a feeling you’re going to want those family photos if you’ve done all the work to get to the photography studio and get all dressed up! There are studios with policies that it is baby-only, so make sure you ask before you book!
For us? The answer is always going to be: yes!! Our outdoor/indoor farmhouse studio in Newtown, PA allows for outdoor family photos first.
Another thing to consider when thinking abut 5 things to ask before your cake smash shoot…
Three:What themes do you offer?
Some studios might offer different set themes, while some can custom-create one for you!! It’s always good to discuss what theme you are envisioning to make sure the photographer’s studio is a good fit for you!
Four: Can we do more than one theme?
Yes! At our studio, we accommodate different looks! See this featured session below where we photographed outside and inside. Using a fun girly, pink theme for the main event but also doing a little rubber ducky bath feature at the end! (Perfect way to clean up after all that frosting!)
Five: Have you done a cake smash before?
You want to make sure that your photographer has done these sessions before because these are special moments! And timing your photos while baby is enjoying (erm, smashing) the sweet treat is actually quite the skill! We want to make sure you have those adorable cute shots that celebrate their first birthday!
What do you think? Would you do a 1st birthday shoot? I hope these 5 things to ask before your cake smash shoot were helpful tips and tricks!!
Heather Thomas is an award-winning family and newborn photographer serving Philadelphia and Ocean City, NJ. She holds a Master Photographer Certification from NAPCP in newborn, children and family photography. Known for her organic and simple style, Heather’s work has been featured in magazines and online publications around the country.
