Everything you need to know about my cake smash and splash photography sessions

I’ve been offering cake smash photography sessions from my cosy studio in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire for a few years now. And all the sessions have a few things in common:

They’re always messy.

They’re always cute.

And they’re always so much fun!

Each session usually lasts around an hour and a half, but my sessions are completely child-led. So we’ll give your child as much time as they need to feel comfortable. And we won’t be racing from one section to the next. If they’re still having fun, we’ll just let them have fun! I want to give you beautiful photos of your little one enjoying a brand new experience. So the most important thing to me is that they actually enjoy it.

If you have selected film too I will film the cake smash photography sessions as well as photograph them. So you’ll be able to sit and watch the video whenever you need a smile. Or even embarrass them with it at their wedding! Whether you’re celebrating your child’s first birthday, or just want some adorable photos of them having fun and getting messy, cake smash photography sessions are a great experience. Honestly, you'll love it, and the photos and film are guaranteed to make you smile!

Where to go and who to bring

My photography studio is in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire. And it’s like a home away from home. I’ve got a comfy sofa and changing facilities, and there’s plenty of space for you and your little one to spread out. There’s underfloor heating for little bums and legs. And there’s even tea, coffee and biscuits for you. As well as the promise of (albeit slightly mangled) cake to come!

But that’s not to say you should just play on your phone and drink tea on the sofa the whole time. Your cake smash photography session will be so much more fun if you’re both involved.

And I don’t mean I want you on the floor covered in cake next to them (unless you want to be!) But I’d love for you to stand behind me, doing peekaboo or making silly faces while I take photos. It'll get us the widest of smiles from your little one, and you’ll love the photos all the more for having a part in them.

If you have someone else who’d love to come, feel free to bring them along. It’s always handy to have two adults. And if there’s two of you, you can each have a bit of downtime chilling on the sofa, having a cuppa and enjoying the show! All I ask is that you don’t bring any more children unless you want them to be in the photos. Simply because if I am filming I have filming equipment set up as well as my camera. And we all know how much mischief and danger they can get themselves into when they’re not being watched!

The cake smash photography session has three main parts

A cake smash photography session isn’t all about the cake. Sure, there’ll be cake. And it’ll definitely get smashed! But I really want to give you the widest range of different shots possible from the time you have with me. So I split the session into three main parts.

1 - The warm up!

It’s always nice to get a ‘before’ shot of the cake before your little one gets their fists (and face!) stuck in! So while you’re getting them ready and comfortable, I’ll get a few nice shots of the intact cake. If you’re booking your cake smash photography session to celebrate their first birthday, it’ll also mean you’ll have some professional shots of their first ever birthday cake for your baby scrapbook.

For younger babies especially, getting comfortable by themselves in front of the camera can take time. So before I start filming, we’ll give your child a chance to get used to being in front of the camera. We'll pull some silly faces, make them laugh, and get some beautiful, natural shots of them just being their adorable selves before all the messy, tasty excitement begins!

Once they’re happy and comfortable, I’ll set the video going and ask you to bring in the cake.

2 - Cake smash photography session

And now the real fun begins! We’ll place the cake in front of your baby on the floor, and just give them space to explore!

Sometimes children (especially older babies) will start eating and pulling the cake apart before it’s even touched the ground! Sometimes they’re a little more cautious. If your child needs a little encouragement, I might ask you to have a little nibble of the cake yourself to show them what to do. But either way, there’s absolutely no rush. We want them to enjoy themselves and have fun with it, so we’ll take the lead from them.

But once they start, they usually don’t need any more encouragement. And then you can just sit back and laugh while your child demolishes a cake! It’s always so wonderful watching your child having fun exploring something new. And I always find the parents enjoy the sessions as much as the babies (well, almost!)

3 - The tub session (the ‘splash’ part of ‘cake smash and splash’!)

As a mum of two myself, I know you’ve already got enough mess to be getting on with. So I’m not going to send you home with a baby covered head-to-toe in cake!

So after the cake smash, I’ll run your baby a warm bath and we’ll get them nice and clean. It’s also a great opportunity for us to get a whole new range of photos of your baby in a calmer, more artistic setting.

The bath is lovely and warm, and my studio is heated, so your baby will be completely comfortable the whole time. It’s also a really nice idea to bring their favourite bath toy. Not only will this help them feel more at home, seeing the toy in the photos in a few years time will bring back waves of nostalgia and loads of wonderful bathtime memories.

The water can be clear or with bubbles, it’s completely up to you. Babies can have sensitive skin, so if you’d like to have bubbles, I always suggest you bring the bubble bath you use at home. Please also bring a towel to dry them off!

Want to book your cake smash photography session in Cambridgeshire?

So let’s be honest. There’s a time for serious, artistic photography, and a time for being silly, getting messy and having fun. And when you’re celebrating your child’s first birthday, it’s definitely time for mess, tasty cake and the cutest of smiles!

The main reason I offer to film the sessions is because it’s always such a wonderful experience to get to relive over the years. You get to see the way your child moved in their first few months of sitting by themselves. Get to see their toothless grins and little chubby fingers mush into a pristine cake! It really is an experience like no other. And the photos and film will make you smile for decades to come.

My studio can get booked up quite far in advance, especially at times when there are lots of birthdays! So if you think your child would enjoy a cake smash photography session with me, get in touch and let’s get you booked in.

Quick checklist of what to bring for your cake smash photography session in Cambridgeshire

Change of clothes (for your child)

Towel
Bubble bath (if you want bubbles)
A second adult if possible
A beautiful baby ready to get messy!!!

Cake smash photography in Cambridgeshire