After photographing hundreds and hundreds of cake smash sessions as an Indianapolis photographer, I have learned that the flow matters.
Cake smash sessions are adorable, messy, and fun. However, they can also be a lot for a one-year-old. There is a new setup, a new cake, lots of attention, and plenty of excitement. Because of that, I keep the session simple from the start.
Keep Outfits Simple
For cake smash sessions, I recommend two outfits total.
One outfit is for the clean portraits. The other outfit is for the cake smash.
Most one-year-olds do not enjoy being changed over and over again. They also do not understand why it is happening. So, keeping outfits to only two helps prevent overstimulation before we even get to the main event.
Start With Clean Portraits
We start with the clean outfit first.
During this part, I photograph family pictures, sibling pictures, and baby alone. I move through these pretty quickly so we can get a nice variety without wearing baby out.
As an Indianapolis photographer who works with lots of one-year-olds, I know how important it is to keep things moving while baby is still happy.
Take a Short Pause
Before the cake comes out, we take a short pause.
This gives me time to get the cake smash setup ready. It also gives baby a minute to relax. During this break, baby can have a bottle, a snack, snuggles, or whatever they need.
Bring Out the Cake Calmly
Once baby is ready, we bring out the cake.
This is the exciting part, but staying calm matters. I know it is fun to watch your baby experience cake, but loud excitement can scare them. So, I always encourage parents to stay cool, calm, and relaxed.
Let Baby Explore First
At the beginning of the cake smash, I like to let baby explore on their own.
They can poke the frosting, stare at the cake, flip it over, eat it, or ignore it completely. All of it is okay. There is no wrong way for a baby to do a cake smash.
Once baby gets more comfortable, parents are welcome to jump in with songs, silly faces, dancing, and all the fun things that make baby smile.
Follow Baby’s Lead
The best cake smash sessions happen when we follow baby’s lead.
With a simple flow, limited outfit changes, and a little patience, we can get a full gallery without overwhelming your little one. If you are looking for an Indianapolis photographer for your baby’s first birthday pictures, a cake smash session is such a fun way to celebrate this milestone.
