Even if you’re not familiar with the concept of the cake smash photo shoot you’re likely to have caught some pictures of one on your corner of the internet somewhere as they are becoming a more common sight here in the UK. Cake smash photo shoots seem to have migrated here from the US where they are a popular way to celebrate babies’ first and second birthdays and today on the blog we’re going to talk you through doing your own at home!

Why hold a cake smash?
Cake smash shoots or full of fun and colour and of course, lots of mess. The idea is to capture your little one’s very first taste of cake along with the expressions they make as they explore new tastes and textures. By their nature they can be a bit wasteful, so you may want to be clever with your cake construction so that you don’t have too much food going to waste.

You may also want to bake or order an extra cake for any birthday party guests. While not all children love cake or enjoy getting messy, a cake smash is can be an enjoyable way to celebrate a birthday while interacting and engaging with your child and it’s sure to result in a few photos that you’ll want to treasure in the album and transfer to canvas to display on your walls.

What you’ll need
As the centrepiece of your shoot, a well-decorated cake is a must for this photo project. Bearing in mind some cakes look better than others when they’ve been bashed around you may want to stay clear of chocolate cake and red and blue cakes, which can look a little odd when they’re not fresh from the fridge!

You may also want to consider adding other birthday and cake related props, think wooden spoons or spatulas to help with the smash, balloons and bunting for the background and perhaps a birthday sash or sign featuring the child’s name.

When it comes to dressing your tot, fancy dress options can look fun though a favourite dress or outfit can help display their personality, though you’ll need to remember whatever they wear is likely to get dirty! With this in mind, it’s advisable to have a nice warm bath and fluffy towel on hand to clean off cake and buttercream once you’re finished photographing.

Painted or fabric backdrops can help add a different dimension to your shoot and hint at your babies’ favourite activities – take a peek at our home photo booth post for ideas.

How to do it
Along with lots of patience and enthusiasm you’ll need good lighting so the colours of the cake and clothing pop. To minimise mess in the home and take advantage of natural light you could consider holding the shoot as a picnic on your lawn. As you would in any other shoot take a little time to get your subject warmed up with the camera – play with some toys and prompt the baby to taste the cake and get stuck into plenty smooshing and smearing! Well-rested babies are likely to be less irritable, so consider setting things ready for after a nap. As with all baby activities supervision is key.

Cake smash photos can be great to give as thank you cards and if you’re a keen photographer but not a parent yourself you may want to consider setting up a shoot for someone as a birthday gift. Some pet owners have even been known to set up cake smash sessions for their pooches, complete with dog friendly bakes. And the trend isn’t exclusively for children either – according to this article from the Mailonline individuals are now marking there 30th birthday with adult cake smash photo shoots!

We love seeing your photography efforts as we transfer them to canvas, but you can also share your shoot results with us over on Facebook and Twitter.