It’s true what they say, the first year of your baby’s life flashes by in an instant! What better way to celebrate such a special milestone, than letting them make the biggest mess in some CAKE! As a cake smash photographer serving the Clare and Mount Pleasant, Michigan areas, I know firsthand just how fun these sessions can be to plan, shoot, and experience for a parent. I offer both a simple cake smash (think neutrals and simple design) and a deluxe cake smash (think specific themes and backdrops). The studio is equipped with dozens of backdrops to choose from, however, I’m always up for new suggestions from parents! The opportunities are truly endless!

So, what can you expect for your cake smash session? A cake smash session typically lasts somewhere around an hour and includes family portraits (if requested), individual portraits of your baby, and then the actual cake smash portion. You can also add on the smash & splash bathtub for extra cute images and easier cleanup!

As fun as these sessions can be, they do take some planning and honestly just some good ol’ fashioned luck sometimes to go off without a hitch! Here are some of my top tips for a great cake smash session:

• If you’re hoping to have your images displayed for the baby’s first birthday party, make sure to schedule your session a few weeks in advance of the party date!
• Let your baby try cake/frosting before our session! Most grocery stores will sell individual cupcakes and it really helps babies in getting used to something so sweet as well as the texture of frosting.
• As a food allergy mama, one of my TOP concerns is making sure your baby is safe. Please be sure to discuss with me any dietary restrictions and/or food allergies as we’re planning for your session!
• The deluxe cake smash includes a custom cake from my baker, but with the simple cake smash, you provide the cake. My number one suggestion is to NEVER go with chocolate cake/frosting – it does not photograph well as you can imagine!
• A happy baby is what we’re hoping for, so as we’re planning for your session, let’s discuss their current nap schedule so we can best work around that.
• Make sure to bring some small snacks (such as cheerios/puffs) just in case the baby is not interested in the cake, we can hide some of their snacks behind it in hopes that they’ll move towards the cake!
• Sometimes, babies really do go ALL IN on their cake, so make sure you have a sippy of water close by for drink breaks. The studio is also equipped with a lifevac choking device as a precaution.
• Bring along their favorite toy or have their favorite youtube video prepared in case they need a little bit of encouragement.
• Bring a change of clothes for the baby (and sometimes parents too as these get MESSY) and potentially a towel if the baby is doing the bathtub add-on.
• Lastly, it’s important to understand that sometimes, despite all the planning in the world, your baby is just NOT interested in either having their photo taken, or going near their cake. In these situations, I try to get as much as I can get, however, I’m not willing to put your baby into further distress, so sometimes unfortunately we just have to call it a day.

Ready to start planning your baby’s one-year celebration? Submit your contact info here: https://amandasteffkephotography.com/cake-smash