Cake Smash Photo shoot - Handy Hints and Tips

Sarah Mclean Photography - Maternity and Newborn Photography, Babies and Milestones, Cake Smash and Family Portraits in Longridge, Preston, Lancashire and surrounding areas Clitheroe, Blackburn, Chorley, Leyland.

Wow how fast has that first year gone?

​It’s nearing your baby’s first big milestone – their first birthday, it’s been a busy first year and you have done it! So why not celebrate this special occasion with a first birthday cake smash photo shoot.

What is a Cake smash?
 
It’s a fun filled celebration portrait package, with cake, balloons, bunting, and party decorations – to mark this first big milestone, turning one.
 
It involves a professional portrait session in my photography studio based in Preston, Lancashire. I create a bespoke set to your chosen theme, colours and source the decorations to make a unique set for your baby’s birthday. We start off capturing those important milestone birthday pictures, and then we bring out the cake.
Your baby has fun, touching, tasting and playing with the cake whilst creating beautiful memories of this once in a life time occasion.
Clean up is just as fun with a splash session, with lots of bubbles and ruby ducks and lots of giggles – little ones, love bath time!
 
So you have booked your Cake Smash session, here are some handy tips on getting the most from your portrait shoot in the studio. 

Preparation
In the weeks leading up to your cake smash, let your baby play with finger foods. Introduce new tastes and textures and encourage messy play. Move away from the high chair to the floor so your baby is introduced to the idea of eating on the floor with finger foods. This helps to build up their confidence.
 
NEVER force your baby to eat or touch food, or stick their hands into the food or cake.
Some babies prefer to try new things, and others prefer a little more time.
Encourage play, and get involved too – this helps them to become more confident with experiencing  new textures and flavours prior to their cake smash.
Finally Introduce a cup cake with frosting. Some babies haven’t experienced such sweet and sticky foods before, so doing this won’t be such a shock on the day, gradually build them up with different textures and flavours and find their favourite type of cake.

​Cake Smash Day
Relax and take it easy and try not to over stimulate your baby with lots of activities on the day of their cake smash, and try and encourage a nap so they are not over tired and grumpy when they arrive to the studio.
 
Give your baby a healthy protein filled breakfast on the morning of their cake smash.
 
Remember the studio and me; the photographer are new to your baby and like trying new foods, some little ones need time to adjust and feel comfortable in a new place, with new people and their new surroundings.

What to bring
Bring your cake, Pack a bag with, a change of clothes (for you and your baby), Cake smash outfit, towel, baby bath, drinks, snacks (savoury ones work best as we use these to get the most of the cake smash when your baby doesn’t want any more cake), favourite toy.
 
This is a celebration session, please enjoy the experience and be in a happy mood, even if the session is moving slower than you expected – your baby can sense tension, and may need a little more time to ‘perform’ on the day. We sing songs and play games, so please have your babies favourite songs saved on your mobile phone ready.
 
Smile and enjoy the fun - let me create you those beautiful memories for you and your family.

For more information on Cake smash & celebration packages click the link > ​www.sarahmcleanphotography.co.uk/cakesmash.html

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Author

Sarah McLean is an award winning photographer based in Longridge in Lancashire specialising in your babies first year from Bump, Birth and Beyond. 
Sarah's creativity is unleashed when designing and creating Bespoke smash sets for each individual client, and their chosen theme. 
Sarah works from her photography studio, and loves capturing those precious few days of newborn babies and their families. 
Sarah is a mother to her daughter, Louise (10). 

Sarah McLean Photography
14a Berry Lane
Longridge
PR3 3JA

01772784499

​Website: www.sarahmcleanphotography.co.uk