DIY Cake Smash Photo Session

Have you ever heard of a 'cake smash' photo session? It is a special and fun event for your child before they turn one. The child is given a cake to eat or smash, and you take pictures of videos as memories.

You can set up a beautiful backdrop and decoration to make the space aesthetically pleasing. If you want your pictures to be done professionally, you can hire a photographer or take the photos yourself.

For the setup, you can go on Pinterest and search for an idea or a theme that you like to get your inspiration going. Instead of ordering a cake, you can make a giant cupcake by purchasing a silicone pan from Amazon for $20.

I used an external flash (Canon 430ex ii Speedlite picked up for $80 on eBay). If you don’t have an external flash, take some practice shots at various times of the day in a location where there is ample natural light to see what time would work best for lighting with no shadows, nasty sun glares, etc.

Tips for the Day of Shoot:

– Frost the cake shortly before the shoot. If you have to do it the night before, take it out of the fridge at least an hour before the shoot. You want room-temperature frosting, so it’ll make a better mess.

– Have someone assist you in tapping the wrapping paper. Doing it yourself, you’re more likely to get some areas that aren’t entirely smooth.

– Don’t wear anything you don’t want to get dirty because you'll mostly get dirty from the cake. – Check the time that your local party store opens so you know when to start the shoot.

– Bring the wrapping paper you’ll use for the backdrop to the party store so you can coordinate the balloons.

Make sure you have a snack that your child loves at hand. Some kids tend to dive right in, while others are hesitant. If you stick some puffs or a snack of choice on the back of the cake, this usually get the child to grab the snack, which gets lost in frosting and still gives you the end photo you’re aiming for.

Swipe up now to read the full post!