The First Birthday Portrait Experience
Whew! You survived the first year! Your baby is growing up right before your eyes and surprising you with new things every day. Those toothy smiles, bright eyes, and chubby bellies make for some adorable photographs. Their life is all about exploring the world around them by playing and having fun right now. There is no better way to celebrate then with a cake smash!Β
Photographing one year olds is always a joy and I just adore the personality that comes with this age. I love creating custom sets to incorporate baby’s nursery theme, a birthday party theme, a favorite book, hobby, or any other ideas you might have. My cake smash work has been published internationally & my backdrop designs are sold worldwide.
Your First Birthday Session Includes:
- A consultation to design your session
- Use of studio props and outfits
- One hour session in studio
- Classic portraits which may include family
- Custom themed smash set
- A matching cake from my local baker
- Bubble bath to clean up if desired
- A reveal and ordering appointment
FAQ’S
When should I book my session?
As soon as you know you want to capture this unique milestone! Since each set is completely custom, please give as much notice as you can to allow for creative design. About four-six weeks is preferred.
How old should my baby be?
I know this is a first birthday session, but I prefer to photograph babies around 11 months. Most babies aren’t running away yet but still enjoy standing while holding onto something. This also allows time for image selection and editing so I can deliver your images before baby’s birthday.Β Some parents choose to display these photographs at baby’s first birthday party. If this is the case for you, we should definitely plan a date 4 weeks prior to the party in order to make sure they arrive in time. I also take last minute requests as long as my schedule allows. Please don’t hesitate to ask!
How do I choose a theme?
This can seem overwhelming to some people but don’t let it be! A theme can be absolutely anything… your baby shower theme, nursery theme, or baby’s birthday party theme are good starters. If you want something different we can discuss favorite bedtime story, movies, songs, hobbies, or occupations. When in doubt simple is always good and we can stick with a pretty color pallet. This is the one time you’ll get complete control over your little one’s birthday before they have a strong opinion about everything (hello toddlers!) so have fun with it! I’d love to help you brainstorm. Feel free to browse some of my past sessions below for ideas as well.
Do I need to bring my own cake?
Nope! I’ll work closely with a local baker to ensure the cake matches my set design. I’ll also have it ready for you at the studio on the day of our session so you won’t need to worry about it. If you baby has ANY food allergies or intolerances please let me know at booking so we can discuss vegan/gluten-free cakes or a cake substitute.
What do I need to do before we arrive?
After you book I’ll send you a comprehensive guide to help you and baby get ready for our session. It includes simple tips for preparing for our time together along with a short list of things to bring with you.
How do I choose my images?
This is the best part! After your session we’ll sit down together and review your images. I’ll guide you through the process of choosing your favorites. From there we can decide on a beautiful wall art piece, create a custom album, or design a unique image collage. For your convenience, all printed images come with the matching digital files. There are so many gorgeous ways to display your images and I can’t wait to show them to you.
