What is a Cake Smash?

What is a cake smash I hear you say?

This may seem like a strange question to some but cake smashes and cake smash photoshoots in the UK are still quite a new thing and not know about by everyone. 

Put it simply - give a baby a cake and see what they do with it. Have the camera ready to capture the cuteness, cheekiness, smiles and first tastes. Every child responds in their own way but as a cake smash photographer I am there to capture all that ensues when you give a one year old free-rain with a cake. 

It is also a lovely opportunity to get some birthday portraits too and a first birthday family photo as well if you like.

For many little ones this is their first time having cake. In my experience little ones either get stuck in and need no encouragement what so ever or they are a little bit more reserved and take it all in their own time. I’ve had little ones who send cake flying everywhere and enjoy as much of it as they are allowed too. I’ve then also had ones who have sat quietly picking and eating at the topping only and ate no cake at all. My little boy loved smashing the cake but didn’t taste a single bit. All these scenarios are equally as precious. This is them. Showing us what they can do and how they will do it, their own way. Let’s do it their way. It’s a chance to capture their growing personality as babies grow into toddlers who grow into children and change so much so fast. 

During my cake smash photoshoots the shoot starts with time for some birthday portraits whilst little one is still clean and inquisitive. Once those smiles have been taken its time to bring out the cake. This is usually the time they sit still for longest too. If they're interested let’s leave them to it, if they’re not so sure we can gently encourage, show them what to do and mix things up a bit if needed. With a cake smash photoshoot usually lasting around an hour everything is done at little ones pace during that time. If they want to get stuck in straight away or need a little bit more time to figure things out the time is there for them. Once they are done that’s when we stop, we tidy up and enjoy the results soon after when the gallery is ready. 

A first birthday marked, captured and treasured.