Capturing Sweet Memories: How to Prepare for a Cake Smash Photo Session

Cake smash photo sessions have become a beloved tradition for celebrating a baby's first birthday. These delightful sessions capture the joy and curiosity of little ones as they dive into a colorful cake with their tiny hands and feet. As a parent, planning a cake smash photo session with Elisabeth Ashliegh Photography is an exciting way to mark this special milestone in your child's life. In this blog post, I will guide you through the process of preparing for your cake smash session in the studio. Some important things to consider when planning your cake smash are the best types of icing to use, clean-up materials, and why it's a good idea to let your baby taste cake before the big day!

Choosing the Perfect Cake
The first step in preparing for a cake smash photo session is selecting the perfect cake. Here are some considerations for choosing the right cake:

• Cake Size: Opt for a small to medium cake that your baby can comfortably interact with. A 6-inch cake is typically a good size. A cupcake, even oversized does not stay upright with little hands grabbing on to it.
• Cake Flavor: Choose a cake flavor that your baby is likely to enjoy. Vanilla, chocolate, or funfetti are popular choices. Too many flavors could be overwhelming to their sensitive palate, so stick with simple and easy classics.
• Icing Type & Design: This is a big one! The type of icing you use can make a big difference in the session's success. We recommend using a soft and easily smashable icing. Buttercream or cream cheese frosting are excellent options. The softness makes it easy for them to grab on to it and ensures a better result with those messy hands, faces, and feet we love to capture. Avoid fondant or hard royal icing, as they can be challenging for little ones to handle and babies are less likely to continue eating them. Do not add hard candies or large pieces/design elements your baby should not be eating. This can quickly become a choking hazard and a complicated element to distract them from their mission.

Cake Smash Outfit and Props
Selecting the right outfit and props can enhance the overall look of your cake smash photos. Here are some tips:

• Outfit: Choose a cute and comfortable outfit for your baby that complements the cake's color scheme and does not take away the attention from your sweet babe. Many parents opt for a colorful onesie, tutu, or just a diaper cover.
  
• Take It Out: If you purchase an outfit online, a lot of times it comes folded or balled up in the package. Take it out and de-wrinkle and ensure all buttons, clips, and pieces are in proper working order.
  
• Try It On: Try the outfits on prior to the session for two reasons - often we find out too late that an outfit is too big or even too small. There are a lot of things happening to make a successful photoshoot, clothing complications of popping buttons or sleeves constantly falling down can create an abundance of unusable images that could be easily avoided.
  
• Props: Consider discuss adding in any fun props like balloons, banners, or a high chair with your photographer ahead of time. These can create a festive atmosphere in the studio but can change the approach your photographer will take for the session. Having a discussion of your ideal vision is important for total success. 

Cake Taste Test

• Eat Cake: Babies who have never tasted cake before or have hardly had any sweets may be in for a surprise when they encounter the sweet treat during the photo session. To ensure your baby enjoys the experience and isn't overwhelmed, it's a good idea to let them try a small amount of cake multiple times and a few days before the session. This allows them to get used to the taste and texture of cake and prevents any unexpected reactions during the actual photoshoot. More often than not, a baby only takes a couple licks and is ready to move on if the cake flavor and icing is overwhelming.
• Bring A Favorite Snack: I always recommend bringing a small (& favorite) snack to your cake smash. If your babe is not a fan of the cake for any reason, we can often sprinkle in some special treats they love munching on to create more images with the cake. Cheerios, puffs, and yogurt drops are a few personal favorites.

Studio Clean-Up Materials:
Cake smash sessions can get messy, and having the right clean-up materials on hand is essential. Here's what you'll need:

• Baby wipes or damp cloths: Have these ready to clean your baby's hands and face during and after the session.
  
• Spare outfits: Bring extra clothing for both you and your baby in case things get messier than expected (and they usually do).
  
• Trash bags: To dispose of cake remnants and dirty items.
  
• Towels or blankets: To protect the studio floor or props from cake crumbs and icing during the clean up.

A cake smash photo session with Elisabeth Ashliegh Photography is a wonderful way to celebrate your baby's first birthday. By choosing the right cake, outfit, props, and clean-up materials, you can ensure a memorable and enjoyable experience for both you and your little one. Remember to let your baby have a taste of cake before the session to help them feel more comfortable with the new and sweet experience. I look forward to capturing these sweet memories with you!

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