A Beach Theme First Birthday Cake Smash

I cannot believe Oliver is already a year old! He came into the studio for his newborn portraits just yesterday, I swear! :o) Now, he’s a year old and came back to the studio for a beach inspired cake smash. His family recently moved to the beach and he absolutely LOVES it there - so it was definitely a perfect theme for this little guy. His parents brought a beautiful cake from Kelly’s Kitchen to bring this setup to life and it was just stunning!

Despite the delicious looking cake, Oliver wasn’t quite sure about it all when he actually got to the studio. Even though he wasn’t too fond of the cake, we managed to capture some great expressions! I’m all about capturing your little ones as they are - happy, sad, or in between - when it comes to their smashes. Even if your baby isn’t too sure about their cake or the icing, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve for their time in the studio!

Worried your little one won’t be interested in their cake? Try one of these tips:

  • Hide snacks in the frosting that they love! They’ll dig for them, trust me.

  • Let them play with wooden spoons - they can eat from them or just bang them around!

  • Play their favorite songs on Alexa!

  • Take a break and grab a snack or their favorite toy.

  • Have the parents hang near the edge of the backdrop so they’re nearby.

  • Lots of breaks for hugs and kisses!

  • Toys and rattles on hand for distractions can be a great option!

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