Preparing for your baby's Smash Session
A cake smash session is a fun and joyful way to commemorate this milestone in your child’s life. Take this opportunity to capture your child’s delight as they tear into their first taste of sugar (or even a food of choice!)
Please follow our step-by-step guide to ensure a fun and successful smash session, and make sure to check off our "What-to-Bring" items at the bottom of this guide.
Step 1. Pre-Session Questionnaire
I'm so excited you've booked your baby's 1st birthday with me! I want to make sure this session is absolutely perfect to you & your family, by providing me with detailed information I can do just that! Please take a moment to fill this out as best as you can! If you have any questions for me, you can reach out at any time.
Step 2. What to Expect
Cake Smash sessions last about 45-60 minutes. The beginning is comprised of milestone pictures, in which I capture the personality of your little one alone.
Next we begin by taking pictures of your little one in their cake smash outfit before introducing the cake. Once we bring in the cake, the photo session takes approximately 15 minutes. We let your baby set the pace, as some little ones dig right in and destroy the cake, and others need a little bit of encouragement and sometimes even help to get into their cake.
Be ready to get your hands dirty and help your little one get past all that frosting to the cake underneath! I always suggest bringing an extra set of clothes for parents, this way you're not leaving with frosting covered clothes as well.
Step 3. Custom Made Smash Cakes
Gold + Grace Photography offers a custom-made cake for each Cake Smash Milestone session. These cakes are handmade by Moozie's Cake Studio in Woodhaven and are delivered by Amanda, the owner of Moozie's, on the morning of your session. Amanda creates beautiful cakes and has been a part of Gold + Grace for three years. The cakes are made with a delicious buttercream frosting on a yellow cake.
ALLERGIES:
If your child has any food allergies, please provide your own cake for the session. We cannot make any accommodations since Moozie's makes a variety of cakes in her studio, and there is a risk of cross-contamination. If you need to bring your cake, we suggest bringing a 5" or 6" cake and nothing larger.
Step 4. What to Wear
Gold + Grace offers one outfit for your baby to wear during their smash session. The outfit will coordinate very well with the them of your choosing.
However, if you would like to have a different outfit for their milestone portraits or bring your own, please make sure to use color choices that fit your baby's theme. If you're looking to buy custom-made outfits to make this photo session even more memorable, Etsy is a great resource. Amazon is also a good option. Just make sure to order the outfit with plenty of time before the session.
Step. 5 the MESS
I hope that your little one makes a HUGE mess! That’s the whole point of this session and most fun of the day!
We will finish the session with a splash in a tub, so please bring a towel and a clean outfit for the ride home.
What to Bring:
- Cake (if you are bringing your own or your baby has a food allergy)
- Towel
- Cake Smash Outfit (if you are not using one from our client closet)
- 1 additional outfit for Baby as backup
- Change of clothes for parents, just in case
- Diapers & wipes
- Sippy cup to help wash down the cake or milk
- Snacks (think cheerios, or puffs) in case they don’t like the cake. I sometimes have to hide them in the back of the cake to make it look like your little one is actually eating cake.
- A favorite toy for distractions and smiles!
