First Birthday Cake Smash Photos for Audrey
As a family photographer, I love capturing real, special moments that families will treasure forever. They tell a story and resonate deeply with the families I work with. I absolutely love celebrating big milestones, like a first birthday! I want to share a recent personal session that perfectly embodies the values I hold dear—my daughter Audrey’s first birthday cake smash.
The Setup
For Audrey’s cake smash, we kept things simple and sweet. To be honest, my life has been so chaotic lately. On the other hand, what a great opportunity to show what can be done with a small amount of time (and money–why are berries so expensive and why do kids eat them so fast?) We used my husband Cameron’s office, which is one of the smallest rooms in our house with a big window that let in lots of natural light. We set up foam boards for the background and used blankets to cover the rug. It was cozy and perfect for capturing Audrey’s fun and curiosity.. All the props were purchased on Amazon and the foam boards I got from Hobby Lobby. And full transparency, the cake is just a $6 cake from Walmart!
Why Small Spaces Work
One cool thing about this session is that it shows you don’t need a lot of space to take great photos. I think when people image “in-home” sessions, they think they need to do a deep clean of their entire house. But that’s not the case! Just pick a room that has the most natural light (windows) and do a little decluttering. Cameron’s office is such a small room, but it worked perfectly for Audrey’s cake smash. With a little creativity, any space can become a wonderful place for photos.
Check out this Instagram Reel of me creating my husband’s office into a lil studio! In total this process took me about 20 minutes. I knew the clock would be ticking as soon as I brought Audrey in the room so I tried to make everything as ready to go as possible. Gotta be quick when working with the little ones!
The Joy of First Birthdays
First birthdays are a big deal, and I mean–how adorable is she? Audrey’s expressions as she played with her cake were priceless. Every smile, every curious touch, and every messy moment told a story of her having fun and discovering new things. One common misconception about first birthday cake smash sessions is that the cake will be obliterated. For most babies, that’s not the case! So be prepared to get your hands on that cake too, it helps baby feel more confident with this new experience. Those are the moments families will always remember, and I feel lucky to be able to capture them.
Final Thoughts on her First Birthday Cake Smash
Audrey’s first birthday cake smash session was a beautiful reminder of why I love what I do. It’s not just about taking pictures; it’s about capturing the essence of a moment, telling a story, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. It’s not always easy to catch these moments when we’re busy, but so worth it! Whether it’s a first birthday, a family portrait, or any other special occasion, my goal is to provide images that are authentic, holistic, and deeply meaningful.
This was such a sweet (no pun intended) session with my little girl, and I’m looking forward to the other one year photo sessions I have coming up. If you’re interested in capturing your own special moments, feel free to reach out! Contact me here!
Much love,
