First birthday sessions are one of my absolute favorite things to photograph. The expressions, the mess, the pure joy of a baby discovering frosting for the first time — it never gets old.
But I know that for a lot of parents, the idea of a professional photo session with a one-year-old can feel a little nerve-wracking. What if they won’t cooperate? What do I need to bring? What does the session actually look like?
Here’s everything you need to know, from start to finish.
Before You Arrive
The good news is that you don’t need to plan a single thing for your session. Every cake smash at my Evans studio is fully styled — I design the set, coordinate the outfit, and prepare the cake. You just show up.
A few things that help the session go smoothly:
- Feed baby before you arrive but avoid giving them cake or sweets beforehand — we want that frosting reaction to be genuine
- Dress baby in something easy to get in and out of for the drive over
- If baby has a comfort item — a lovey, a pacifier — bring it along
- Give yourself a few extra minutes so you’re not rushing when you arrive
Portrait Time: The First Outfit
Every cake smash session starts with portrait photos before the cake comes out. We dress baby in their first outfit — something clean, sweet, and styled to match the session setup — and capture some beautiful portraits of them at one year old.
This is one of my favorite parts of the session. At one year old, babies have so much personality. The way they look at the camera, the little sounds they make, the way they fidget and move — these images are some of the most precious in the whole gallery.
We take our time here. There’s no rushing to get to the cake. These portrait images matter just as much as the smash.
The Cake Smash
Once we have our portrait images, we introduce the cake.
Every baby reacts differently. Some babies see that cake and go absolutely wild within seconds. Some sit and stare at it, completely unsure what to do. Some poke at it cautiously for a few minutes before committing. All of it is perfect. All of it is photographable.
I never rush this part. We let baby lead the whole thing and I just stay ready to capture whatever happens. The best cake smash images are never forced.
I have never left a session without joyful, beautiful cake smash images. Not once. Babies always come around — it just takes patience and no pressure.
What If Baby Gets Upset?
It happens occasionally and it is completely okay. We take a break, you comfort baby, we try again when they’re ready. Sometimes a quick snack or a few minutes with a comfort item is all it takes.
Sessions are designed with buffer time built in precisely for moments like this. You will never feel like we’re running out of time.
Wrapping Up
Once we’re done with the cake smash, we wrap up the session. The whole experience is typically 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish — just long enough to get everything without wearing baby out.
Before you leave I’ll let you know when to expect your sneak peek and your gallery delivery timeline.
Your Gallery
Your finished gallery is delivered within two weeks. You’ll receive a link to a beautiful online gallery where you can select your images or purchase additional digital images. Once you select your images, I will start doing all the finishing edits. Within three business days, you will have your final gallery where you can view your images, download your digitals, and order prints, canvases, or wall art if you’d like.
Most families tell me opening their cake smash gallery is one of the highlights of their baby’s whole first year. I work hard to make sure it feels that way.
What’s Included in Every Cake Smash Session
- Fully styled setup — custom backdrop, props, and decor
- Two outfits — one for portraits, one for the smash
- A custom cake just for your baby
- Access to my full client closet
- 10 beautifully edited digital images
- Online gallery delivery within 2 weeks
- Option to add additional images or artwork
Cake smash sessions start at $450 and take place in my Evans, GA studio. I serve families throughout Augusta, Grovetown, Aiken, and the surrounding CSRA.
| 🎂 Ready to book your baby’s first birthday session? Send me a message on Facebook or email mollyberryphotography@gmail.com with your baby’s birthday month! |
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— Molly Berry, Molly Berry Photography · Evans, GA
