Your baby is about to turn a year old. It’s an exciting time! The baby has grown from a little, squirming bundle to an energetic, miniature person who can now interact with you. So much has changed in the past year, and now it is time to celebrate. What better way to begin then with cake smash photography, photos of your baby smashing and eating the birthday cake.Cake Smash Photography – UPDATED 2019 Your baby is about to turn a year old. It’s an exciting time! The baby has grown from a little, squirming bundle to an energetic, miniature person who can now interact with you. So much has changed in the past year, and now it is time to celebrate. What better way to begin then with cake smash photography, photos of your baby smashing and eating the birthday cake.
Cake Smash Photography – UPDATED 2019
The idea of cake smash photography is not a new one. For decades, parents have delighted in snapping photos of their beloved one-year-old making a huge mess while eating the first piece of the very first birthday cake. The messier the baby, the better the photo. It’s a time-honored tradition.
As the new millennium began, the practice of taking baby’s first picture eating cake began to evolve. Parents starting making mini cakes for the birthday boys and girls. These mini cakes were most often miniature versions of the bigger, official birthday cake. A step up from a cupcake, they are to cakes as personal pizzas are to the whole pizza pie.
Then the bakeries got in on the act. When parents would order their baby’s first birthday cake from the bakery, the bakeries wisely began offering the smaller cakes to match. Some did this at a nominal price, and others threw them in for free as a marketing ploy. It was probably around this time that the phrase, smash cake, really began to take off.
The final piece that sealed the deal and made this a marketable phenomenon was when the photographers caught wind and invited parents to do a photoshoot of the baby with the smash cake. The idea was to do the photoshoot ahead of time and use the photos as the invitations to the actual birthday party.
Soon, photographers and bakeries started teaming up and offering packages together. The parents chose a theme, the bakery made an appropriate smash cake, and the photographer set the scene. Smash Cake Photography became a legitimate trend. Prices vary from city to city and also based on the complexity of each photoshoot. Most are priced from $150 for a mini session to $400 for a deluxe package. In larger cities, the prices can be twice that.
It’s not just a trend anymore. It is now a money-making opportunity. But what if parents don’t have enough money? Or, what if they’d rather take that $400 and put it into the college fund?
As the new millennium began, the practice of taking baby’s first picture eating cake began to evolve. Parents starting making mini cakes for the birthday boys and girls. These mini cakes were most often miniature versions of the bigger, official birthday cake. A step up from a cupcake, they are to cakes as personal pizzas are to the whole pizza pie.
Then the bakeries got in on the act. When parents would order their baby’s first birthday cake from the bakery, the bakeries wisely began offering the smaller cakes to match. Some did this at a nominal price, and others threw them in for free as a marketing ploy. It was probably around this time that the phrase, smash cake, really began to take off.
The final piece that sealed the deal and made this a marketable phenomenon was when the photographers caught wind and invited parents to do a photoshoot of the baby with the smash cake. The idea was to do the photoshoot ahead of time and use the photos as the invitations to the actual birthday party.
Soon, photographers and bakeries started teaming up and offering packages together. The parents chose a theme, the bakery made an appropriate smash cake, and the photographer set the scene. Smash Cake Photography became a legitimate trend. Prices vary from city to city and also based on the complexity of each photoshoot. Most are priced from $150 for a mini session to $400 for a deluxe package. In larger cities, the prices can be twice that.
It’s not just a trend anymore. It is now a money-making opportunity. But what if parents don’t have enough money? Or, what if they’d rather take that $400 and put it into the college fund?
No worries, Do It Yourself Cake Smash Photography is doable and fun.
Cake Smash Photoshoot At Home – Everything You Need To Know
DIY cake smash photos can be done in your own home using your own camera and can be printed however you wish. You can have a simple set up with minimal props or you can go all out. Either way, you will save money over hiring a professional photographer and bakery.
The first thing you need to do is decide on how elaborate you want to be with the pictures.
Minimalistic
These photos can be as simple as the baby in a diaper sitting in a highchair and going to town on a cake. The baby could have a cute outfit on over that diaper and maybe even a paper party hat. This idea will cost you the price of the cake. If you make it yourself, it could be $5 or less. If you would like a bakery to do it for you, plan on $10 or more depending on which cake style you choose.
Staged
The baby is strategically placed in a special location such as the middle of the nursery floor, outside by the flower garden, or something silly like in the bathtub. The baby’s attire matches the setting in color and style. Balloons, streamers and other party decorations found at party supply stores are used to dress up the scene. This will cost a little more as you will need to buy the party decorations and will likely also will need to purchase new attire to match your theme. On average, this will cost around $40.
Themed
Parents choose a theme based on the baby’s personality and likes. It could be based on a favorite book or character. If the baby has a dynamic personality trait, the parents could build on that. Whatever theme is chosen, the baby is dressed accordingly. Parents may wish to go on location for these photos to get the best backdrop, or they may create a backdrop at home. Decorations go beyond typical party decor and reflect the theme. Though this is more elaborate, the costs can still be manageable. You may already have many of the props you wish to use, or you might be able to borrow from friends. Either way, you can easily keep the cost below $100 and maybe even less than $50. The real cost for the themed DIY Cake Smash photoshoots is time and effort.
Cake Smash Photoshoot Props
Going along with the degree of how elaborate you want to go above, the props for cake smash photos can range from zero to anything.
The most important prop is the cake. You want to make sure that it looks special and stands out. It is a good idea to get a photo of the cake all by itself so people can see how pretty it was before it was ultimately smashed. You will want to make sure that the cake is placed properly with the baby. If it has any wording or special characters, make sure to shoot from an angle where they can be seen pre-smash. Also, aim for colorful icing. It is pretty on the cake and even prettier all over the baby’s hands and face after the smashing begins. If you can put the cake on a pedestal, even better!
The best place to start looking for props is your local dollar store. They always have a party section filled with balloons, streamers, hats, and other decor. Craft stores are also a great resource with silk flowers, paper crafts, and more.
If you are using a specific theme, have fun with the props, but remember that the focus of smash cake photos is the baby with the cake. Place the props around the baby, but not too close. About an arm’s length away is a good distance. The props should enhance, not distract.
Make sure the props are big enough to be seen. What you see with your naked eye will look different in a cropped photo. If you use balloons, use a lot. Stuffed animals should be about the size of the baby. Once your props are set, take a photo of the scene without the baby in it to make sure it is acceptable before you start.
Other fun props include:
Large, colorful toys like fire engines and train sets for boys and dollies in rocking chairs and stuffed animals for girls;Big flower pots with large, colorful silk flowers;Sports equipment like basketballs, soccer balls, and baseball gloves;Wooden letters that spell the baby’s name;Any of the baby’s favorite toys;So much more! Use your imagination!
Cake Smash Backdrop For Boys
Some parents might prefer to use nature or their own home as the backdrop. Others may opt for a traditional plain background. If you do not have access to a photographer’s backdrop, hang a colorful vinyl tablecloth from the party store. They are inexpensive and can be reused if they do not get too messy. If you use a backdrop such as this, make sure it contrasts with what the baby is wearing and especially with the baby’s hair color. Otherwise, the dark baby hair might blend into the dark backdrop and the baby will look bald.
Parents who want to add a little more depth to their son’s cake smash photos might want to use a bike rack at a local park or dad’s tool bench (just make sure to clean it up first).
For outdoor shoots, the side of a bright barn would be striking or sitting the baby on the grass with a pretty pond in the distance would be nice too.
Many party supply stores now sell backdrops and wall decals. The boys will look delightful with decals of their favorite superheroes or cartoon characters behind them.
Of course, don’t discount using your own home as the backdrop. The baby’s nursery or playroom provides a great backdrop for photos and will add to the memories.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH CAKE SMASH VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE!
Baby Girl Cake Smash Outfit
What parent doesn’t love to dress up their baby girl? Frilly pink dresses with big bows are always a hit. Just remember that the point of the cake smash is to get messy. It might be the first and last time she gets to wear the beautiful satin dress with all the pretty lace.
Costumes are fun for cake smash photography. If your daughter loves to play with dolls, dress her up like a rag doll. Some baby stores will sell butterfly, ladybug, and other costumes year-round. Who can resist a baby in a pea pod costume?
If you want to keep it simple, put your darling in a colorful onesie or find a onesie with the numeral 1 on it. It will be easier to clean or just toss out if she gets it too covered with frosting.
Photo Equipment for Cake Smash Photography
If you plan on taking the Cash Smash photos yourself, you will want to take some time to acquire a few items to best capture the shot. Remember, there is usually just 1 take.
First, you will want to decide if you intend to videotape the event or take still photos. In most cases, you will probably want to video it. You can use your smartphone, or a handheld video recorder.
Some of the items you will want to consider: Selfie Stick, Gimbel (Keeps camera steady when shooting video), tripod or monopod, lighting.
Be Prepared and Have Fun
The most important thing when doing DIY smash cake photography is to go in with a plan and be ready for big smiles! It should be a fun time, so make sure whatever theme you choose or however elaborate you want to be is realistic with what you have to work with.
Pinterest has thousands of ideas to choose from. Take a look and figure out what you can do at home. It is important to get the right photo if you will be using them for party invitations or thank cards, but you also want to look at the picture down the road and remember how much fun it was.
Cake Smash Photography – UPDATED 2019 – Props, Outfit & Backdrop!
