Advice for Parents Before Your First Birthday Photoshoot

First Birthday Sessions in the Studio 🎉

The best advice I can give parents is to come in with an open mind. We typically photograph clean portraits, the cakesmash, and a bath. And I can tell you that while babies almost never enjoy all three, they also almost always love at least one!

In this case, Emily loved her clean portraits and especially loved being with her brother. But she wasn’t a huge fan of the cake and the bath.

Often babies don’t want to sit still for clean portraits, but then enjoy playing with their cake.

And just as often, babies hate the feeling of the sticky cake, but then love splashing around in their bath!

The point is, we WILL get amazing photos. But at the end of the day, your one year old will dictate what those photos will be. And I love that because it all creates that memory of the day and depicts their unique little personalities!

Some other helpful tips:

Schedule your session in the morning, leaving plenty of room before nap time, to ensure a happy baby.

Bring some finger food that your baby loves - this will get them eating in case they don’t like the cake!

I recommend giving your baby solid foods, and specifically cake/cupcake prior to your session. Your baby will be more excited and receptive to eating if they have had it before.

Keep it simple - I highly recommend not pulling out phones, toys and music until we’ve exhausted all of our options, as these things usually overstimulate babies and make them upset.

Birthday Sessions include use of the wardrobe, studio props and cake. If you already did a maternity or newborn session, you will receive at least 20% off as part of our baby membership! 🙌

Cakesmash Birthday Sessions are held in the Shelton, CT Studio. Stefanie Cole is a photographer servicing Fairfield County, New Haven County, NYC and beyond.