Happy Birthday to your little person!!
Are you ready for cake smash fun?
If you are here then you are already considering a cake smash and splash session with FamilyTales Photography, LLC. So, I am sure you’ve got some questions. I hope after reading this guide they will all be answered.
What do you need to bring?
This varies from session to session. The one thing every client needs to bring me is an almost one year old. The almost one year old does not have to be happy. The almost one year old does not need to be outgoing. The almost one year old needs to be whatever the almost one year old is. Don’t worry….I will work with whatever your kiddo throws my way (which could be cake…it’s happened).
Once you schedule your session we will need to decide what your theme/color scheme will be so I can get the info to Alixe at The Flour Child and she can be ready to bake your baby the most amazing cake ever. (All of Alixe’s cakes are amazing!). Many, but not all, clients choose to use the same theme/color scheme as the child’s birthday party. If you opt to use the birthday party theme/color scheme for your child’s portraits then you might want to bring the banner from the party. You also will want to bring a cake smash outfit…something that can get messy and that goes with the theme/color scheme. Most clients purchase an outfit through Etsy.
Lastly, I also encourage, but certainly don’t require, clients to bring along a cute, more traditional outfit. Some people bring dress-up outfits like a fancy dress or some suspenders and a bow-tie. Other people bring an outfit (a tutu, romper or cute t-shirt) that coordinates with the rest of the session theme/color scheme. Some people skip this outfit altogether and choose to just get some pictures of the child in their smash outfit before things start getting messy. It is completely up to you. Don’t forget an outfit that your child can go home in!
What will I provide for your session?
I have a wide variety of banners and tissue paper puffs and various other things that you are welcome to use should you not want to provide one of your own. I also provide the balloons for your kiddo’s session. And I provide a gorgeous cake from The Flour Child Bakery. If you are lucky your almost one year old will only eat from one side and you can take home and enjoy the untouched yumminess.
I will also provide a towel, a washcloth and a bag for you to take your messy smash clothes home. I will also provide a gallery of adorable portraits between 2-3 weeks after your session.
What will your session look like:
You will arrive with your almost one year old. Your almost one year old and I get to know one another. I will show them all my fun studio gadgets while they cling to you like I am the scariest person on Earth. This process takes a long time for some kids and just a few minutes for others. I do not rush this process…partially because I enjoy it so much and partially because if I rush it the session will be generally less successful.
Once your child is comfortable we will start with some portraits of your almost one year old in their “clean” outfit. This consists of a lot of silliness, some singing and whatever other tricks I can think up to get some smiles. During the entire session you are welcome to be just off the backdrop, just an arms length away from the star of the show.
After I have gotten some clean outfit pictures we will change into the smash outfit and I will change the set-up.
Here is where things get interesting….We will sit the birthday kiddo behind their cake and let them do whatever it is they want to do. Most kiddos cry. In fact, almost all kiddos cry. A few pat their cake happily and then freak out because their hands are dirty which causes them to….you guessed it, cry. I have a variety of distraction techniques to hopefully redirect their tears into happiness. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. I make no promises.
When the child is clearly over the cake smashing part of things (or when they are screaming hysterically and obviously can’t be calmed) I will bring in a basin of warm water with a toy in it. I will help you strip the little star and get them into the bath. Then I will snap some pictures (sometimes splashing and sometimes screaming….and sometimes both!) before we wash them up and wrap them in a warm towel for you to dry and dress.
Things you need to know:
- No matter what you think your child is going to do during this session, you are wrong. If they hate being messy and love bath time then they will likely love the smash and scream through the splash.
- My baker offers cakes to accommodate dietary restrictions, just let me know ahead of time.
- My studio will be a MESS when this is finished. That is expected and perfectly ok. Don’t apologize and don’t stress. This is what I do and I love it. (So do my dogs)
- If you are having a party and want to display the smash and splash portraits of your almost one year old you have two options: 1) Schedule 3 weeks prior to the big bash or 2) Let me know that you would like to have one of the previews I post on Facebook or Instagram as one of your chosen images and I will email it over to you, watermark-free 🙂