Cake Smash Sessions in Victoria BC: Because Turning ONE Deserves Cake 🎂

I have to start by saying this because apparently I have VERY strong feelings about it...

I freakin’ LOVE cake smash sessions.

Like, reeeaaaallly love them.

There is just something so funny and sweet about putting a cake in front of a one-year-old and basically saying, “Okay, normally we spend all day stopping you from making a giant mess, but today? Go nuts.” 😂

And the best part is that we genuinely have no idea what they’re going to do.

Some babies immediately understand the assignment and dive in with both hands. Some delicately poke the icing with one finger and look at everyone in the room like we’ve all completely lost our minds. Some eat the cake, some squish it, some throw it, some feed it to Mom, and some decide that the cake is deeply suspicious and would rather crawl away from the entire situation.

Honestly, every single version is hilarious and adorable in its own way.

And that’s probably why I love these sessions so much. There’s no real way to control them. You just have to let your little person be exactly who they are and see what happens.

HOW are they already turning one?!

I know everyone tells you that the first year goes fast, and when you’re in the newborn stage that statement almost feels offensive because the days can feel approximately 400 hours long.

But then... You blink.

And suddenly that tiny little newborn who used to curl up on your chest is crawling around the house, stealing your keys, throwing food on the floor, developing VERY strong opinions about things, and getting ready to turn ONE.

Excuse me?!

A first birthday session is such a fun excuse to actually stop and photograph this stage before it changes again.

The chubby little hands. Those tiny teeth. The ridiculous belly laughs. The serious concentration face they make when they’re trying to figure something out. The way they clap when they’re excited or look over at you to make sure you’re watching.

Those are the things I want to remember.

Yes, technically we are here to smash a cake. But really, the cake is just our delicious little accomplice.

So what actually happens during a cake smash session?

First of all, there is absolutely no expectation that your baby needs to “perform” for the camera.

They don’t have to smile on command, they don’t have to sit perfectly still, and they definitely don’t need to demolish an entire cake for this to be a successful session.

I actually like to begin with a little 20-minute family mini session, because this first year around the sun isn’t just a milestone for your baby. It’s a milestone for Mom and Dad too, and that simply MUST be captured. 🤍

We’ll get some sweet cuddles, some connection, some family photos, and then I’ll snap a few little birthday portraits of your babe while everyone is still clean and adorable.

Then...

BRING ON THE CAKE!!

And from there, I mostly let them take the lead.

I’ll encourage play, interaction and little reactions along the way, but I’m not trying to manufacture some giant Pinterest-worthy cake explosion. I want to see what YOUR baby does.

Maybe they go completely feral.

Maybe they cautiously inspect the icing for ten minutes.

Maybe they taste it once and decide, “Actually, no thank you.”

All valid responses!

But what if my baby doesn’t actually smash the cake?

This is probably one of the biggest worries parents have, and I promise you, it truly does not matter.

Some babies just aren’t into it!

And honestly? Those babies can make for some of the funniest galleries.

There is something absolutely hilarious about a one-year-old staring at a perfectly good cake like it has personally offended them.

The goal of the session isn’t really to get a specific “cake smash” photo. It’s to document your baby’s personality at this age.

If they’re curious, we photograph that.

If they’re excited, we photograph that.

If they’re deeply unimpressed by the entire concept, we photograph THAT too. 😂

Those little expressions are the stuff you’re going to laugh about years from now.

A few cake tips, because apparently cake logistics are a thing

You definitely do not need some gigantic, elaborate bakery creation for these sessions.

Actually, a smaller cake with soft icing tends to work really well because little hands can actually get into it. Cupcakes work great!

Buttercream is perfect for squishing, grabbing, smearing and generally creating the level of chaos we are hoping for.

If you want to coordinate the cake colours with your baby’s outfit or the setup, that can look really cute too, but it does not need to be wildly elaborate.

But please please please avoid getting a full-on chocolate cake... the brown colour doesn't photograph particularly well, if you know what I mean😉

What should you bring?

You really don’t need much, but I’d definitely bring a backup outfit because... cake.

Lots of wipes are also never a bad idea, along with a towel, some water and maybe a favorite snack in case your baby decides that cake is, in fact, garbage and they would prefer Cheerios lol

If there’s something sentimental you’d love to include, like a favourite toy, a special birthday item or something meaningful to your family, bring that too.

And maybe mentally prepare yourself for the possibility that YOU will also leave with icing somewhere on your clothes.

These sessions have a way of expanding beyond their original cake containment zone 😂

When should you book a first birthday session?

If you want the photos back before your baby’s actual birthday so you can use them for invitations, decorations or birthday posts, I’d recommend booking the session a little bit ahead of time - especially if you babe's big day is during busy season (August-November)

But there is absolutely no rule that says the session has to happen on their exact birthday.

Eleven months? Perfect.

Twelve months? Obviously perfect.

Thirteen months? Still extremely cute.

Cake does not check birth certificates. 🎂

The whole point is just to document this stage while they’re still in it.

And really... it’s not about the cake

As much as I LOVE the chaos of a cake smash, the cake itself isn’t actually my favourite part.

It’s your baby🥹

It’s all those weird, funny, tiny little details that make them completely themselves right now.

The first year is such a huge one.

For them, obviously... But for you too 🫶

You’ve watched this tiny human go from needing you for absolutely everything to suddenly having their own personality, preferences, sense of humour and opinions about whether buttercream is acceptable.

And it just keeps changing!

That’s why I love photographing first birthdays so much.

We get the cute photos, yes. We get the messy photos. We get the ridiculous icing-covered expressions.

But underneath all of that, we’re freezing this tiny version of your baby before they become the next one.

And okay... we also get to absolutely destroy a cake.

Which is a pretty solid bonus 😏🎂

Cake Smash & First Birthday Photography in Victoria BC

If your little one is getting ready to turn one and you’ve been thinking about doing a cake smash or first birthday session, I would LOVE to document it for you.

It does not need to be perfect. Your baby does not need to behave.

They don’t even technically need to smash the cake.

Bring your little person exactly as they are, bring the cake, and we’ll see what happens.

Honestly?

That’s usually where the best stuff comes from. 🤍