DIY Cake Smash Photo Session
Harper’s first birthday just passed, and having a cake smash photo session was something I knew I wanted for her baby book. When I started reaching out to local photographers I was being quoted around $400-500! No Ma’am! I refused to pay that much for her to smash a cake. So I put my creative hat on and got to work.
DIY cake smash photos are an easy, affordable way to preserve memories of your child’s first birthday. Below I will walk you through how to get professional looking photos using these four easy tips.
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Props
When it comes to props, always follow the less is more rule. In the same way that clutter can cause distractions, so can too many props.
Choose 2-3 decor items and stop there. Remember, a cake smash photo shoot is all about your baby and their first birthday milestone. Let the baby and the cake be the star! I recommend shooting a few practice shots of your set, to ensure the focal point is indeed your babe.
Don’t know where to begin? We opted for pastel balloons and tissue paper tassel. We also added foil curtain tinsel to serve as the backdrop. Other great items to use are flowers, natural wooden toys, or a favorite stuffed animal
Clothing
The best option for taking great cake smash photos is really based on personal preference.
Why?
Less clothes = Less mess to clean up after!
When choosing an outfit for your little one, stay away from multiple clashing colors, fabrics, and pictures. As a rule of thumb, just keep the clothing simple.
For Harper’s cake smash photo shoot session she wore a pink bodysuit, a white floral tutu, and a crown to top off the look. Her entire outfit blended with our chosen color theme.
Cake
The cake is oh so important! The cake should also tie into your overall theme. This may sound a bit silly, but make sure the cake is delicious so your little one will dig in. We had Harper try a cupcake beforehand, and it was disgusting! Thank goodness we did a trial taste test a few days before this shoot. The more your babe enjoys the cake, the better the photos!
We got our cake from our local Harris Teeter. Did you know Harris Teeter will give you a 1st birthday cake for free?! Head to their website for a free 5 inch first birthday cake. Lastly, we used a glass cake stand to display the cake right next to Harper.
Lighting
You can take all the photos you want, but if the lighting is not right, the photos will miss the mark. We bought an affordable softbox a while ago, and it has elevated all of our indoor shoots.
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