A cake smash session is exactly what it sounds like: a baby, a cake, and a camera ready for whatever happens next. At my Farmington, CT studio, I offer session options for every birthday, but cake smash photography sessions are some of the most entertaining I do all year. The results range from sweet and quiet (some babies need a minute to figure out the whole cake situation) to completely unhinged. Both make great photos.
If you’re considering a cake smash session in Connecticut for your child’s first birthday, here’s everything you need to know before you book.
What Is a Cake Smash Session?
A cake smash is a portrait session centered around a baby’s first encounter with birthday cake. The whole point is to document a baby interacting with their cake in a way that’s genuinely unscripted. You can’t choreograph a 12-month-old, and you wouldn’t want to.
Sessions take place at my studio in Farmington (Unionville), CT, with a clean, simple backdrop that keeps the focus on your baby and the inevitable mess. I don’t use elaborate themed setups or prop-heavy backdrops. The photos hold up better without them, and your baby ends up being the actual subject instead of part of a styled scene.
How a Cake Smash Session Actually Works
The session runs in two phases. We start with simple portraits before the cake comes out. This is where we get the sweet, polished shots while everyone is still tidy. Family members, including parents and siblings, can join in for a few photos during this portion of the session.
Then the cake comes out, and we see what your baby does with it.
Some babies go straight for it. Some babies inspect the cake for two full minutes before making a single move. Some babies decide frosting is a hair product. Some babies are no entirely sure what to do and keep glancing over at you for answers. All of those reactions make great photos, and I’ve seen every one of them.
We reach the end of the shoot when the baby has gotten too messy or just decides that they are done.
Who Can Be Part of a Cake Smash Session?
The actual smashing of the cake itself is typically baby-focused, but family is absolutely welcome throughout. Parents and siblings generally join for the portrait portion at the start, and they can jump in for a few shots with the cake too.
Some families want the whole crew in for as much of it as possible. Others prefer a solo session with just baby and cake. Both are options, and we’ll talk through what you’re looking for when you book so I know how to plan the session.
Siblings in particular can make the cake smash portion even more entertaining, for obvious reasons.
The Cake: Options, Style, and What Photographs Well
You have two options: add a cake to your session booking through the studio, or bring your own.
If you’d rather source your own cake, I’ll send you guidance on style and size before your session. Simple and clean photographs best. White or light-colored buttercream, a minimalist design, and a small smash-cake size (usually a 4–6 inch round) tend to work really well with my studio setup. I’m also happy to recommend my favorite local bakery if you want a starting point.
Whatever route you go, I’m always here to answer questions so we can make sure the cake fits the look and feel of the session before we start.
When to Book Your Connecticut Cake Smash Session
Cake smash sessions are typically booked between 9 and 14 months. You want a baby who can sit up on their own and actually interact with the cake. That’s really the only hard requirement. For families enrolled in the First Year Membership, the first birthday session is the final milestone in the package and I will reach out when it’s time to consider booking your session.
You don’t need to schedule on the exact birthday date. If booking a few weeks early or late makes scheduling easier, that works fine. And if the timing around your baby’s birthday party makes it easier to do the session close to that date, that’s a common approach too.
I’d suggest reaching out at least a few weeks in advance, especially if you have a specific date window in mind. Cake smash and first birthday sessions book up faster than you’d think, and lead time is always something to consider if you plan to order the cake from a bakery or would like the photos printed before baby’s birthday party.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should my baby wear for a cake smash session?
Something soft and simple that photographs well. Light colors and simple fabrics are ideal and you want the outfit to look good before the cake comes out. The studio wardrobe has baby options available at no extra charge. I will send wardrobe guidance when you book.
Do we have to do a cake smash if we book a first birthday session?
No. The smash is a separate option, not automatically included in a first birthday session. You can book portraits only, smash only, or both. If you’d rather do portraits without the cake, first birthday portrait sessions work on their own.
Can siblings be in the photos?
Yes. Siblings are welcome for the portrait portion and can jump in for a few shots with the cake too. I offer different session types depending on who is being photographed. Just let me know when you book so we can plan for it.
How do I book a cake smash session?
Contact the studio and I will send a session planning guide and wardrobe information once you’re confirmed.
Do you offer birthday sessions beyond the first birthday?
Yes! I offer birthday session for children from age two through the teen years. To learn more about what those sessions look like, read Birthday Portrait Sessions in Avon, Simsbury, and the Farmington Valley.
Kelli Dease is a Farmington, Connecticut newborn and family photographer specializing in timeless, light-filled maternity and newborn portraits, baby and children’s photography, and family portraits. She offers a relaxed, full-service experience for growing families, creating in-studio and outdoor portraits with a focus on simplicity and ease. Clients receive access to a curated studio wardrobe, thoughtful guidance throughout the planning and session process, and digital images, with the option to add fine art prints and albums. Please contact Kelli Dease Photography today to find out about session availability.
Kelli Dease Photography serves families throughout Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Canton, West Hartford, Burlington, Granby, and the surrounding Farmington Valley, Hartford County, and central Connecticut areas.
To see more of Kelli’s photos, please follow her on Instagram.
