All About The Cake Smash | Sacramento Cake Smash Photographer

All About The Cake Smash by Sacramento Cake Smash Photographer, Megan Escheman

Today it’s all about the cake smash. Sacramento Cake Smash Photographer, Megan Escheman is going to give you all the tips you’ll need! We are going to be going over how to prepare for a cake smash! Cake smashes are so much fun and typically happen for a baby’s first birthday, but it’s totally acceptable and cute to do it for another milestone birthday! A first birthday is a fun experience and milestone for both you and your little. Plus it doesn’t get cuter than babies covered in cake, right? 

First up, decide on your theme! This is a photoshoot that’s meant to be fun so pick a theme that you or your little one love. Whether it’s their favorite cartoon character, food, activity, or maybe just some colors you love. There’s no wrong answer. Over the years as a Sacramento cake smash photographer, I have collected a pretty large variety of backdrops for my clients to choose from, but if I don’t have what we are looking for, or “THE ONE” that you want, I will go on a hunt and find it!

With any great themed party comes a great outfit right?! Dressing your cutie-pie in a theme-related outfit just adds to the look you’re going for. There are so many options here. For instance, if you’re going for a more simple and elegant look, you may opt for just a diaper cover or a simple onesie or jumpsuit. Maybe you have that specific camping theme in mind and you’ve been pondering that adorable pair of overalls. The options are unlimited, and this is actually one of my favorite parts about planning the session! Oftentimes parents can’t decide on just one outfit, so they bring two and that’s totally ok! We can use one outfit for some adorable-themed photos before we even introduce the cake, then switch to the other outfit for the actual cake smash portion. Then we have the best of both worlds! 

You’ll want to schedule your session near your child’s first birthday to document the milestone as accurately as possible. Sometimes they’ll be standing, walking, or even running at this point, and other times they are still only interested in crawling. If you plan to hang the images for their birthday party you’ll want to be sure you book your session with plenty of time before the event to allow for turnaround time. 

Once you have your theme selected, you’ll want to either order your cake from a bakery or figure out how you’ll make it.  If you plan to make it yourself, I’d do a trial run first. Cakes can be as simple as a naked cake or as elaborate as a decorated theme-matching cake.  Depending on your vision, we can talk about this and I can help guide you. Whoever makes the cake, I suggest taking the cake out of the fridge a few hours before the cake smash session so that it has time to soften and isn’t too cold for your baby.  Babies can be finicky about textures and temperatures, so you’ll definitely want to make sure the frosting is soft and easily squishable.

Now to prepare your baby for the cake smash! As much as you’d think a baby would love to dive into a cake, that’s not always the case. Babies can sometimes be confused about what they’re supposed to do with the cake, especially if they aren’t used to the texture or the taste.  I mean, after all, we spend most evenings at the dinner table telling them not to play with their food right? This is where preparation will really help for the day of the cake smash. For a few weeks leading up to your cake smash, I suggest letting your baby play with slimy foods like spaghetti or similar texture foods like cool whip, frosting, or yogurt. This way they will be used to picking up food and putting it in their mouths if they aren’t already.

Finally, let’s talk about what to bring to your cake smash! Of course, you’ll want to bring your cake, your baby, and their outfit. It’s also a good idea to bring some of their favorite snacks or beverages in case they aren’t taking to the cake right away. We can sneak some of their snacks into the cake to get them wanting to dig into it. I also suggest bringing a change of clothes for your baby for once the session is over, and a fresh shirt for you. Plus lots of wipes if you don’t want to give your baby a quick bath in my sink. 

Those are my best tips for prepping for your cake smash. Once you’re at your session it’s my job to capture your baby, the cake, and all the fun! If you have any other questions about preparing for your cake smash, feel free to reach out to me with questions. 

Megan is a Sacramento Cake Smash Photographer, serving Northern California for all your photography needs. She specializes in family, graduates, engagements, weddings, maternity, and newborn photography.  Contact Megan today!

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