HOW TO PREPARE FOR YOUR CAKE 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 real taste of sugar.
What to Expect
Cake Smash sessions last about 45-60 minutes. 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. Most parents will assume their child will just get straight into it, however this is not always the case. 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.
I suggest to all my clients to practice with their little one at home with smashing up a cake and making a mess. It is really important as some little ones do freak out if they have never done this sort of thing before. Not every child wants to dive right in and make a mess no matter what tricks we try. It’s important to know that even if they don’t completely smash their cake into crumbs, I am still able to catch fun images of them poking at it or carefully picking bits of icing or decorations. Sometimes we may need to strategically place a little icing to help things along, or other times mom or dad may have to get involved by smashing up the cake for them. It’s also a good idea to bring along a favorite toy and some snacks in case your little one needs some encouragement.
Be ready to get your hands dirty and help your little one get past all that frosting to the cake underneath!
Choosing or Making a Cake
Select a small cake or large cupcake, approximately 6-8 inches around. Due to concern for allergens, Fernanda Dames Photography is not able to provide the cake. I am happy to recommend some local bakers if you will not be making the cake yourself. Whether you are making the cake, or having it made, please consider the following items:
- Please make sure that there are no fondant, gum paste or pearls on the cake as those can be choking hazards for the baby. Small sprinkles are okay.
- When ordering the cake, please mention to the baker it is for a Cake Smash session so they do not add any support inside the cake. (Sticks, toothpicks, tubs, etc.) When baby begins to smash the cake, they can get hurt by this.
- Be sure the colors of the cake matches the theme of the session. Pastel colors and 15 cm in diameter. Remove the cake from the refrigerator 2-3 hours before the session to allow the frosting to come to room temperature. That way the frosting is soft and easy for baby to destroy.
What to Wear
Choose the theme or color of your little one’s cake smash first, and then you can choose the outfit. Please be sure to order the outfit with plenty of time prior to the session.
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. Depending on package, We will finish the session with a splash in a tub, so please bring a clean outfit for the ride home.
Things to Bring
- Cake
- Towel
- Cake Smash Outfit
- 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
- Wooden or plastic spoon. If baby does not like to get their hands dirty, they can still use the spoon to destroy the cake.
- 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
Bath Photos:
At the end of the cake smash we will be taking photos of your little one in the bucket. The bucket will have warm water, please let me know if your child is not used to having bubbles in their bath so we can just have plain water instead.
AFTER
You will receive a gallery with all images to select the ones to be edited. Editing takes 20 days, and I will let you know as soon as your images are ready!
Enjoy the memories!
To book your photoshoot or for more information please email us today at: contacto@fernandadames.com