29 Essential Cake Smash Photography Tips (Checklist)

To someone entirely unfamiliar with the concept, the idea of a cake smash photography may seem weird, to say the least. After all, why would you order a beautiful cake, dress up a 12-month old…and then take numerous photos of the child destroying the sweet delicacy, getting all messy?

However, the fact is solid: cake smashes are getting increasingly popular, bringing families together in a unique, fun and memorable way.

Today we have prepared a practical and a comprehensive guide with these essential cake smash photography tips for making the most of your baby’s cake smash! From ordering the best cake for the shoot to the cake smash outfit and props to managing your baby’s behavior during the shoot, we’ve covered it all so your baby can smash it.

Here is a quick overview of what we cover in the article.

• When should you do a cake smash photoshoot?
• Why do a cake smash for the 1st birthday?
• Why wait till the 1st birthday for a cake smash photoshoot?
• Picking a theme for your photoshoot
• Which cake would be ideal for the shoot?
• Cake Smash Outfit for Boys
• Cake Smash Outfits for Girls
• Indoor vs. Outdoor Cake Smash Photoshoot
• Getting ready for the cake smash photography shoot
• How to manage the baby’s behavior during the cake smash photoshoot
• And finally ….Tips for hiring a professional photographer

So when should you do a cake smash photoshoot?

Typically, the cake smash photography session is done around the baby’s first Birthday, and the photos are then used to adorn party invitations or let family and friends know about important developmental milestones (not to mention the hilariously embarrassing opportunities for when the kid grows up).

Before that age, there wouldn’t be much use in offering the little one cake, as they wouldn’t necessarily show any interest. On the contrary, at 12 months, a sudden rush of sweetness is often the first time the child can consume as much cake as they want, or better still — do whatever they want with it. From face painting into it to throwing the bits and pieces around like there’s no tomorrow, the possibilities are endless!

Why do a cake smash for the 1st birthday?

First birthdays are as much a celebration of the parents as the baby. One year of dirty diapers and late nights survived. One year of all the stress and the love, the giggles and the tears… survived. Oftentimes, it surely feels as though the year will never end… and other times as though the year is passing all too quickly. Before long, this same small baby will be all grown up, preparing for life as an adult. Their time as a baby is all too limited.

A cake smash is the perfect commemoration of all that has happened during this year. Many people will have their photoshoot in the weeks before the birthday party, using the resulting images for darling invitation pictures.

Cake smash photoshoots can be as simple or as elaborate as you would like.

If you want a low-stress, low-maintenance cake smash, just choose two or three complementing colors for a theme (when in doubt, turn to your color wheel. Colors across from each other tend to compliment very well.). Dress the little birthday boy or girl in one of these colors, find a cake in complementing colors, and smash away! (Don’t forget the protective plastic or other easily-cleaned surfaces, for your own sanity!) Some cake smash photography studios in Singapore provide the outfits and/or the cake — definitely consider contacting a studio if the lack of stress would make it worth the price.

If you are looking for something more elaborate — go full out. Hire a professional photographer. Order a multi-layered cake in all its oozy goodness. Purchase an all-new outfit (or five) for your little darling — after all, they only have a first birthday once. Choose a theme, whether it be your favorite sports team, a Disney princess, or whatever else you desire. Enjoy it!

Why wait till the 1st birthday for a cake smash photoshoot?

The cake smash may well be your little one’s first introduction to the oozy goodness of cake (even if you decide to go non-sugar and non-dairy for health reasons). Any younger and the babe might not care for it (think of Christmas presents, for example. How often has a baby enjoyed the box more than the gift?). The first birthday seems to be the perfect cut-off age for a cake smash

A mostly-unconsidered advantage of a cake smash photography session for a first birthday (particularly in a studio) is the bathing facilities. Every little one-year-old needs a bath, but this way you can have fun bathing her, knowing that the cake smash mess will be fully cleaned… by someone else, for once.

We 100% recommend a cake smash photography session for your little one’s first birthday.

• A theme doesn’t necessarily mean sticking to characters, eras or anything like that: sometimes you may choose to simply pick a few colors that go well together and go from there!
• Sometimes, the surroundings themselves make for a great theme, offering stunning backdrops. For instance, an outdoor shoot calls for all things natural and bright, such as flowers, animals and so on.
• Of course, when it comes to character or animal themes, you have plenty of exciting options limited only by your imagination! Some of the most popular themes for girls include Unicorn, Mermaid, Princess, or Disney characters. Boys generally like being sent into space, playing with cars, as well as being surrounded by famous superheroes. And remember — there are no truly “boy” or “girl” themes — just pick something your little one is most excited about to put a smile on their little face.

According to a cake smash photography expert, Steph Donaher, some of the best color combinations to consider for themes include:

• Pink/Yellow/Blue/White
• Gold/Red/Black
• Navy/Silver
• Navy/Pink
• Navy/Turquoise/Blue
• Purple/Orange/Turquoise
• Grey/Orange/Blue
• Black/Gold
• Navy/Gold
• Black/Pink/Gold

• There are pretty much only two colors to avoid when it comes to picking the cake: first, many shades of brown look like poo, so chocolate sponge and cream aren’t the best choices. In addition, red looks a bit creepy resembling blood, so avoid it as well — unless you’re going for Halloween vibes.
• Ultimately, if all else fails, resort to a white cake with colorful sprinkles as it’s the safest bet, albeit not the most creative.
• Remember: the cake is there to be destroyed! Don’t go overboard with expensive creations — some experienced photographers say that store-bought sponge decorated at home with bright toppings works best.
• Speaking of decorations, avoid using fondant since it’s hard for the kids to deal with! As a result, your child will either lose interest or make much less mess than intended. Instead, use brightly colored buttercream, or even whipped heavy cream, with sprinkles and other edible bits on top.
• Another tip is to leave the cake out of the fridge for about 15–30 mins, so the icing softens. Don’t leave it out for too long though — food poisoning isn’t fun.

But remember … Safety first!

Always consider potential allergens to avoid dangerous adverse reactions. Some babies are allergic to one or more common cake ingredients, such as wheat, eggs, and nuts. In addition, suddenly consuming too much sugar can send a baby into an anxious sugar rush — so all things considered, pick a recipe wisely.

To read the complete article, please click here. The complete article has the following additional sections -

• Cake Smash Outfit for Boys
• Cake Smash Outfits for Girls
• Indoor vs. Outdoor Cake Smash Photoshoot
• Getting ready for the cake smash photography shoot
• How to manage the baby’s behavior during the cake smash photoshoot
• And finally ….Tips for hiring a professional photographer

Originally published at https://www.shutterturf.com on January 1, 2019.