Did you know that a baby grows faster during that first year than any other time in their life? One minute you’re bringing home a sleepy little newborn, and the next you’re chasing a busy toddler all over the house! But all those sweet months in between are just full of precious memories and sheer joy. Some of my favorite milestones to witness are when they finally start sitting up on their own, pulling up to stand, and flashing those contagious little belly laughs. Those days pass by in a blur of late-night feedings and early morning cuddles. Getting cake smash and milestone photos made is just the best way to freeze-frame each stage before time gets away from us.
Before you know it, the first year has just flown right on by, and it’s time to start planning their big birthday! First birthday pictures bring so much happiness to a growing family. These pictures mark a whole year of loving them and watching them grow. Celebrating with a fun smash cake photography session creates fun memories you will cherish for a lifetime. I like to keep the booking process simple and offer a customized experience tailored just for your family.
Why Capture Every Stage of Year One?
Every single stage of infancy brings a brand-new personality to life. Milestone photos are great for 3, 6, 9, and 12 month sessions. They are also wonderful for birthdays, as well as Highschool or College graduation. Each milestone marks a whole new chapter in your child’s story.
At three months old, babies are showing off their bright eyes, sweet gummy smiles, and strong tummy-time poses. By six months, they’re sitting up all on their own, giving us wonderful opportunities for playful, happy expressions. Nine month sessions catch all the adorable crawling, peekaboo games, and curious looks. And before you know it, those one year sessions are bringing our standing, walking and pure, magical fun!
Documenting all these ever-changing stages weaves together a complete story of your baby’s earliest days. You will just love looking back at your newborns’ tiny fingernails and precious hand creases (my favorite!), then marveling at how those same hands transformed into squishy, growing toddler hands just a year later.
Customize Every Milestone Photo Session
Planning a photo session with me is as simple, clear, and stress free as it gets. My studio is located in Moore, Oklahoma and is stocked with all kinds of lovely color palettes and background styles to choose from. Every regular session comes with a complimentary styling appointment over Zoom. This is where we will discuss outfits and setup ideas together so you feel completely prepared. Life gets busy and can be a bit chaotic, but once you’re in my studio I will take care of every last detail. Whether you lean toward timeless neutrals or a fun custom themed setup, we’ll have it all planned out before you step foot through the door.
You won’t have to stress about styling your little ones alone, either. I can help coordinate family outfits so everyone looks natural and put together. All of the personal prep work ensures that your final images match perfectly with your family’s home and style! All sessions include up to an hour session time. I know that young children have short attention spans and changing energy levels. Working efficiently allows us to capture authentic smiles without wearing your baby out.
We’ll start off with family photos, to capture the sweet connections before we turn all of our attention to your little one. Parents love having these updated portraits right alongside their baby’s individual pictures. Capturing the family shots first means you can sit back and relax for the rest of the hour. (Because let’s be real, wrangling kids is hard work!)
Smash Cake Photography
Turning one is a huge deal for babies and their parents!! (Congrats, everyone survived that first crazy year!) This is a major event worth celebrating in a big, joyful way. When parents plan first birthday photos, smash cake photography adds so much energy and laughter to the session.
Every one-year cake smash session starts off with immediate family photos for 10 to 15 minutes (I love to do this but it is optional!), up to an hour session total, the cake smash setup and an optional splash bath session. You’ll just need to provide the cake of your choice so it matches your exact theme (I can order this for you too!), colors and any dietary needs your little one might have. Whether you decide to pick up a little smash sized treat from a local favorite like Nothing Bundt Cakes or order a custom creation from a talented local boutique baker, bringing your own cake ensures your baby gets trusted ingredients while fitting right in with the overall look we’ve planned.
Now comes the main event, the cake smash! Anything goes at this point, so watch out for flying frosting! Just kidding, I will gently place that cake right in front of your baby and let them explore at their own pace. You can usually tell how a baby will react by how long they stare at their sticky fingers after that very first touch. The long pause usually tells us whether pure excitement or a big crying fit comes next! While some babies dive right in with both hands, others will gently touch the frosting with one finger. Some babies even think “this lady is crazy for making me eat this” and we hide their favorite snacks in the cake to get them photo worthy! Smash cake photography captures every hilarious moment and reaction. From timid first tastes to messy frosting covered toes, every reaction creates expressions that are just too adorable!
Once the frosting fun is done, we offer an optional splash bath session to clean them up. I’ll fill a tiny vintage tub with warm water and soft bubbles. This is when your baby can splash around, clean off the sticky cake and share some of the sunniest smiles of the day. Honestly, parents usually love the bath images just as much as the cake smash itself!
Prepare Your Baby for the Studio
A cake smash session can feel a bit overwhelming for some little ones. Following a few steps at home ahead of time makes a massive difference in how much your baby enjoys the whole experience!
First off, try letting your baby play around with some warm, gooey mashed potatoes the week before your session. Mashed potatoes have almost the exact same consistency as cake icing, and babies usually love them. Letting your child dive into mashed potatoes gets them used to that sticky, squishy texture ahead of time so the cake frosting doesn’t catch them by surprise.
Second, always plan your session time around your baby’s natural schedule. I like to schedule cake smashes immediately after their main naptime when they are well-rested and ready to play.
Finally, try to keep your schedule nice and simple. Make it a low-key day at home beforehand. Avoid packing the morning with any big outings or family gatherings. An exhausted baby will get overwhelmed in the studio real quick, even if they were flashing those sweet smiles to everyone earlier in the day. Keeping the day easygoing ensures your baby brings plenty of happy energy to their big photoshoot!
The First Year Baby Plan Package
If you want to document every big milestone during that fast first year, I offer a special baby plan package. This plan combines three essential portrait sessions into one seamless experience.
The package includes a newborn session, a sitter session, and a 1st year session. You get to preserve delicate newborn features, proud sitting moments at around six to nine months, and vibrant first birthday photos. Choosing the baby plan ensures your child’s milestone photos stay cohesive in style, color, and presentation. It also reserves your spots on the studio calendar well in advance so you never miss a moment.
Aside from the cake smash photos, the six-to-nine-month sitter session is always a favorite because babies can finally sit up without being propped up, allowing their developing personalities, toothy grins, and silly expressions to truly shine. Combining these three major chapters creates a complete first year album that tells your baby’s story from the very beginning. If you’re ready, book the baby plan today.
Reserve Your Milestone Photo Session
Your precious baby is only going to turn one once, and smash cake and milestone photos are the sweetest way to hold onto these memories long after the crumbs are swept away and those tiny shoes are outgrown. I’d love to help you capture all those big and little moments as your little one grows throughout their first year. These months just pass in a whirlwind of rapid growth, development, and countless unforgettable firsts. I am a mama myself, so I know just how vital it is to capture these precious moments. As hard as it is on our hearts, they’re only this tiny for such a fleeting second. As the saying goes, the days can certainly feel long but the years truly do fly by.
When it’s time to celebrate your baby’s growth and start planning their darling cake smash photos, just pick your milestone session below to save your spot on the calendar. Let’s make some magic together! Book your child’s milestone session today!
