PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE GUIDE
What is included?
I supply everything for the session! The cake, outfit, & all decorations on the set. The outfits that are used are purchased for the cake smash shoot ONLY. They have to wear their custom outfit during the entire shoot (except during the splash session). If the outfit gets ruined or stained during the shoot I am not responsible for purchasing a new one. I do tag the supplier of the outfits if you'd like to purchase another for their party. For girl outfits: Clients are allowed to keep the custom shirts only. The tutus & themed outfits are very expensive & I use them with other clients.
What to Wear
Please wear clothing that can get dirty. I can guarantee that your child will crawl over to you with cake-filled hands at least once during the session. You can bring a change of clothes if you have plans after the shoot.
The Mess
We hope that your little one makes a huge mess! That’s the whole point of this session. We will finish the session with a warm bath, so please bring a dry towel and a clean outfit for the ride home. Don't worry about any of the mess that is made. I will clean it up after the session.
Things to Bring:
• Remaining balance is due in cash at the session • Dry Towel and bath soap of your choice
• An additional outfit for the Baby
• Change of clothes for parents, just in case
• Diapers
• Wipes
• Sippy cup to help wash down the cake
• Snacks (think cheerios or puffs) in case they don’t like the cake. We sometimes have to hide them in the cake to make it look like your little one is actually eating the cake. Ssshhh... If you don't tell, we won’t :)
How Long Does the Session Take?
Allow for around 45 minutes. Believe it or not, the cake smash itself doesn’t take very long. I usually start with about 5 minutes of pictures before I introduce the cake. Then the cake smash takes around 20 minutes or so depending on the baby’s interest level. (Be prepared to chase your baby if he/she is very active.) Once the baby loses interest or I have plenty of pictures, allow for another 10 minutes for cleanup/bath time. My sessions are usually back to back so I have to be strict on the 1-hour time slot. Therefore, please make sure your baby is in a good mood
Things to Think About
• It’s best to bring a baby that is well-rested, first thing in the morning or right after their nap usually works well.
• Make sure the baby is well fed prior to your session because babies usually eat little to none of the cake.
• If you suspect the baby might be teething (as a lot of them are at this age) you might want to consider a pain reliever about 30 minutes before your session.
Allergies, Aversions, and Options
If your baby has any known food allergies, please let me know! If you are not sure if your baby will have an allergy to any ingredients used to make a cake, I recommend trying a cupcake at home first. (This is a good idea for practice, even if you’re not concerned about an allergy.) If your baby has an allergy or aversion, there are lots of other options, here are a few ideas:
• Taco Smash
• Spaghetti Smash
• Pancake Smash
• Watermelon Smash
That's just to name a few. It could literally be anything.
Working with your Baby in Mind
Every baby is unique and at different stages in their development. And even the happiest babies can have an “off day.” (Don’t we all?) So I want to mentally prepare you for any outcome. Some babies don’t like cake. Some babies don’t like being messy. Some babies don’t like new people. Some babies get overwhelmed in my studio. Knowing that tiny humans have an array of reactions when working with them, I can assure you that I will try my very best to make them feel comfortable and take extra time with them to get to know me if I need to. With that being said, photography is all about capturing your baby’s personality at this stage in their life. So try to relax and roll with the punches.
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