CAKESMASH GUIDE

This guide is here to help you know what to expect from your session, as well as a few ways we can prepare for a great experience.

Rule #1 of working with toddlers: throw all expectations out the window

One year olds can be quite fickle. They sometimes are too scared to be put down, often don’t want to sit still, and sometimes even hate the cake. No matter your child’s preferences, we will find a way. But I highly recommend coming in and being ready to go with the flow and keeping an open mind.

What to expect: OUTDOOR SESSION

Outdoor sessions start with 20-30 minutes of family portraits and solo portraits of your baby. The second half of the your session will be the cakesmash! You are welcome to change your child’s outfit if you’d like, but most parents find that it is best to just keep the session moving and stick with the same outfit.

What to expect: STUDIO SESSION

Babies tend to have a short attention span in the studio so we move the session along quickly. We spend 10-15 minutes on family/solo portraits, before moving on to the cakesmash and bath. Your baby may cry, want to crawl off set a lot, or not be interested in eating…all of this is totally normal!

What to bring:

Wipes and bath towels for clean up
A snack that they like (puffs, blueberries, cheerios, etc) to stick in cake in case they don’t like the cake
Baby bath soap (for studio-only)
Cake - I recommend leaving out at room temperature to soften

THE CAKE

For an outdoor or studio-style cake size, please follow these guidelines for your cake:

6 inches (5 or 7 inches is ok if your bakery doesn’t do 6). Anything bigger is TOO big and covers the baby!
Ask for buttercream frosting (not fondant) - it is easier to “smash”.
Avoid dark frostings or chocolate cake - it doesn’t photograph well when smeared on your child’s face
I recommended that you get a cupcake from the same bakery and give it to your child a day or two before - not only will it ensure your child has no allergies, but it also can lead to a more excited reaction at your photoshoot.
You are welcome to add a topper, flowers or greenery but most babies end up getting distracted by it and pulling it off anyway.
WHERE TO BUY? Any local baker can make you a cakesmash cake, just be sure to reach out early. If you have allergy issues, Izzy B’s in Norwalk is a great option. It is not recommended that you bake your own cake unless you are an experienced baker.
Concerned about sugar? Some parents have had “cake” made out of banana or zucchini bread and the babies have loved it.

STYLES

Below are samples of naked cakes (top row), textured (middle) and ombre (bottom).

Babies HATE the feeling of frosting on their fingers - it’s the number one cause of crying at a cakesmash! For this reason, the naked cake style really work great and I highly recommend.