A first birthday session can be about so much more than the cake. At Crabapple Photography in Andover, MA, a 1 year session can include a variety of photos. From classic milestone portraits to photographs with mom and dad, and of course a cake smash designed around your baby’s personality. For Mr. D’s session, we kept everything simple and timeless. This began with classic clothing and a neutral studio setting, and finished with a blue and white cake smash setup. The great thing about 1 year cake smash sessions is that they are the perfect blend of fully customizable while also being something my staff and I have down to a science. I have been photographing babies and children since 2009 and over the years I have perfected my routine for many types of milestone sessions. And one of those milestone sessions is definitely the first birthday session. I make sure to discuss details and preferences with parents ahead of the session. When the time comes for your session, everything is ready to go. Whether you want an intricate theme or something more classic, my team and I can make it work.

What is included in a 1 year cake smash session?

Before bringing out the cake, we photographed Mr. D in a few classic outfits against a dark wood backdrop. His navy sweater with khaki pants was a perfect preppy choice. And his striped sweater with jeans gave the portraits a timeless look that will still feel beautiful years from now. We also included portraits with both mom and dad, along with individual baby portraits. Including these portraits allows the final gallery to tell more of the story of this stage rather than focusing only on the cake.

And then it was time for cake! For cake smash sessions in my Andover, MA studio I strive to make the session as easy and customized as possible. Any milestone session includes a styling and preferences questionnaire sent out ahead of time. This way I can make sure that the proper props and accessories are ready to go when you get here. You have the option of bringing your own cake or I can source it using my preferred bakery. For Mr. D we kept the styling simple with a white background. Then we added blue, navy, white and silver-gray balloons, wooden letters spelling ONE, and a baby blue bubble outfit. The result was a classic first birthday setup that let Mr. D’s expressions and personality take center stage.

What if my baby won’t eat the cake?

Not every baby immediately understands that the cake is there for them to destroy! For many children this is their first time having cake, so you never know how it will go. Some babies dig right in, while others are more interested in looking at the cake, touching it, or wondering why everyone suddenly wants them to play with their food. During a cake smash session, there are plenty of tricks we can use to keep a baby engaged. Singing, playing with a favorite toy behind my head, making silly noises, and simply following their lead can all help bring out those big smiles.

And when a baby needs a little extra encouragement to actually taste the cake, we have tricks for that, too. Sometimes placing a few familiar snacks into the cake gives them something interesting to grab, which can result in those adorable hands covered in frosting photographs parents are hoping for.

Mr. D was happy to crawl right over his cake, grab handfuls, and enjoy his first birthday celebration.

A first birthday session that captures more than the cake

A 1 year session is such a fun milestone because your baby has changed so much since their newborn photographs. Including both classic portraits and the cake smash creates a gallery that captures who they are right now, from their sweet expressions and favorite outfits to the messy, happy personality that comes out when there is cake involved.

If you’re looking for a 1 year photographer or cake smash photographer in Andover, MA, Crabapple Photography offers milestone sessions in our Andover studio with simple, timeless styling and plenty of experience working with babies at this age.

Ready to plan your baby’s first birthday portraits? Contact Kate at Crabapple Photography via email or text at (617) 918-7149 to start planning your Andover milestone session.