Why do a cake smash session?

First birthdays are as much a celebration of the parents as the baby. One year of dirty diapers and late nights survived. One year of all the stress and the love, the giggles and the tears… survived. Oftentimes, it surely feels as though the year will never end… and other times as though the year is passing all too quickly. Before long, this same small baby will be all grown up, preparing for life as an adult. Their time as a baby is all too limited.

A cake smash is the perfect commemoration of all that has happened during this year. Many people will have their photoshoot in the weeks before the birthday party, using the resulting images for darling invitation pictures. A typical session lasts close to one hour. I like to take pics of your little one in a cute outfit that shows their personality, then we get right down to business! Worried about the mess, don't... you won't have to clean a thing! Just wipe off your kiddo, jump in your car and leave the mess to me!

These sessions can be enjoyed by any age, even adults! Schedule a birthday session for any age and any theme! I'll work with you to make sure we capture these special moments that can be shared and remembered for years to come.

Cake smash photoshoots can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like.

• There are pretty much only two colors to avoid when it comes to picking the cake: first, many shades of brown look like poo, so chocolate sponge and cream aren’t the best choices. In addition, red looks a bit creepy resembling blood, so avoid it as well – unless you’re going for Halloween vibes.
• Ultimately, if all else fails, resort to a white cake with colorful sprinkles as it’s the safest bet, albeit not the most creative.
• Remember: the cake is there to be destroyed! Don’t go overboard with expensive creations – some experienced photographers say that store-bought sponge decorated at home with bright toppings works best.
• Speaking of decorations, avoid using fondant since it’s hard for the kids to deal with! As a result, your child will either lose interest or make much less mess than intended. Instead, use brightly colored buttercream, or even whipped heavy cream, with sprinkles and other edible bits on top.
• Another tip is to leave the cake out of the fridge for about 15-30 mins, so the icing softens. Don’t leave it out for too long though – food poisoning isn’t fun.

The toddler years are so honest, adorable, intense and fleeting.

We tend to love the things that are most scarce. The less there is of something, the more we value it. But far too often, we didn't realize it's value until it was gone. Our babies. One day they outgrew the constraints of infancy. They learned to crawl and then pulled themselves up by whatever they could. And now they think they're going to keep growing right up! But not before we document them along the way.

Photographing our children's journeys and experiences along the way gives us a way to look back and remember those overwhelming feelings! As parents, we're in a constant race with time, trying to save every moment we have with our kids. Their first smile, first words, first steps. The way they run into your hands for a hug.