Smash Cake Sessions with Villanueva Portraits
Smash Cake Sessions are Absolutely my favorite session to photograph! This age is when you can really see the personalities of each 1 year old unravel and I Love capturing every precious moment of it. Every smile, laugh, cry, and stare is un-posed and natural.
I like to start each session with traditional portraits in the first outfit so they can get comfortable with me and my flash. After we have broken the ice, we can change and the fun begins! Ending with a nice clean Bath.
Every once in while I will get someone who has heard of a smash cake session but is unsure of exactly what it is. So I am here to Help! It is literally just me Capturing your 1 year old or soon to be 1 year old Celebrating with a Cake. I Love It and so will you, I Promise! Some like to dive all in literally hands and face first while others take the clean approach, dipping one finger to pick at the icing. I will be ready with camera in hand to capture every moment of it.
Your baby will be one and you will wonder where the time has gone.
It is always a bittersweet moment in time, one that you will wish would last a bit longer.
Don't let it go by without capturing it.
So since this is such a big milestone for them, I figured I would give you some insight on setting up a cake smash session.
LOCATION
I photograph all my smash cake session in studio. That way I can better control the lighting and I can have everything ready when you arrive. I make sure that I clean my studio, I have the backdrop and props all setup ready to shoot, and if changes are done that it is an easy and fast transition. We have the cake set aside for the main event. Their attention spans are shorter, so I don't waste time.
The Floor is my Friend, you will catch me on my belly one second and the next popped-up on my knees. This is because, I always set up the smash on the ground.
I do this for safety. I don't want my babies falling off of a lifted fixture being as they are more mobile (crawling and/or walking) by this time. Also, having the session on the floor makes for great use of angles and perspective.
Backdrop, Theme & Cake
This is where our creativity really gets to flow. Its always best to think of what your baby is into at this point and who their favorite character is? Parents also like to use the same theme as their party. Once I have a theme you can leave the rest up to me! I will get everything to set up but you are always welcome to bring items to be incorporated in a session.
Your cake is part of the theme and is just as important. I suggest getting your cake professionally done (always specify allergies to your cake artist). I would refrain from buying store bought cakes. Store-bought icing tends to harden during refrigeration, making it a little harder for your baby to smash. As a bonus I will provide you with information to great cake artists so you can be stress free.
Perfect Timing
Sessions should be booked in at least 2 month in advance. This will allow for enough time to get everything in, incase items need to be ordered or customized for a session.
If you are expecting to print and display the portraits at the birthday party, think about scheduling your session when your baby is 11 months. This will give you enough time to get your images back and time to print. If you aren't worried about it, do the session after the party (especially if the party and shoot have the same theme). You can relax and take your time so there is no rushing.
When picking a time for your session, please take into consideration your babies sleep/nap schedule. Sleepy babies can be cranky. There is nothing wrong with that, but you want them to be happy for their portraits. Timing is everything!
Bring a Snacks
It is rare but it can happen. Bringing your babies favorite hand size snack can sometimes come in handy. You may be a little confused by this. Isn't cake snack enough? Well, if your baby isn't quite interested in the cake then we use snacks to get them to interact with the cake, by sticking the snack behind the cake where it wont show in the pictures. I would rather you have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I always keep bottled water in the studio but if your baby prefers milk with cake, I would bring it. Babies are not at all used to having that much sugar in one sitting. Having some water, or even milk available for them helps to wash the cake down. Most babies look for a drink during the cake smashing portion.
Be Prepared to Get Involved
It's party time and WE are in this together.
I encourage parents to buy a cupcake with icing and introduce baby to it at least 2-3 times before the session. For some, this is the first time the baby is having sweets it's normal for any curious mind to be suspicious. Your baby is no different. During the session babies my look to you for approval to have some cake this is when you help them. This is when I ask my parents to feed them some and help them understand that it is edible. Your babies trust you most of all. You say "its good" and offer them some, they will go right ahead and dive in! It works every time. It's important for their biggest support to be present and active. It's party time and WE are in this together. It's important for their biggest support to be present and active.
Trust in me and Enjoy the Moment
After your little one is all caked out! This is when we introduce bath time. Bath time allows them to have fun splashing while at the same time cleaning off all the icing and cake they smeared all over. Every baby loves Bath Time! Very important! Don't forget to bring their favorite towel, and a comfy pajama or clothes. By the end of bath time your little one may be ready for a nap.
I know you have high expectations for your baby and preconceived thoughts of how your session should go. You know them and they are the most comfortable with you. Don't be discouraged if they do not give you the immediate reaction you want. It is fine! I Promise we will capture precious moments that will last a lifetime. Your family will have beautiful portraits to remember your baby's first birthday. They will only turn 1 once; they will only celebrate their first year once.
Soak it all in. Soak up every single precious moment. Don't allow stress to ruin this for you. You worked so hard to get them here so enjoy this moments of success and remember your amazing baby is worth celebrating and I will help you every step of the way.
Feel free to head over to my Smash Cake Page to take a closer look and when you are ready, I am here.
Comments