Maybe it’s my sweet tooth that makes me extra excited about photographing first birthday cake smash sessions. When I see a one-year-old’s face light up after they’ve tasted the first bite of sugar, I think, “I know, kid. It’s pretty awesome!”
Whether you’ve scheduled a studio or outdoor cake smash, here are three tips for a successful experience:
Anticipate a range of reactions
Many parents envision their child being absolutely delighted by their cake and joyfully scooping icing into his or her mouth. Picture perfect, right? However, it’s also possible that your child may be scared of the cake – or ignore it. If placing a little icing onto your baby’s lips to pique their interest doesn’t do the trick, consider using tiny snacks (e.g. puffs, cereal, raisins) to coax their participation (or at least make it look like it). During a recent session, a client’s daughter was apprehensive about her cake. A few discreetly placed raisins in the icing and, voilà, we had a baby reaching for her cake and much more willing to check out the gorgeous confectionery creation in front of her.
Keep the cake smashable
It’s actually pretty hard for a baby to scoop into cold icing! Before your session, allow 30-60 minutes for a refrigerated cake to come to room temperature. The thicker the icing, the longer it will take. On that note, opt for buttercream frosting and avoid fondant; fondant might as well be a force field around the cake because of its stiff consistency.
Dress for a Mess
The last image of a smash session is often my favorite because there are (hopefully!) cake bits everywhere. In the midst of the controlled chaos, your child is definitely going to get dirty, and so may you. Because you will be standing just out of frame (in case you need to catch a cake stand from toppling), you will be in the splatter range. He or she may fling icing, try to feed you, or treat you to a mid-session hug. Plan to wear something that you don’t mind getting messy.
Do you have a soon-to-be toddler? Let’s start planning their cake smash session!
