Start The Year With a Smash
Quite often we talk about the year starting with a bang, but 2023 has started with a smash for me. The most popular shoot by far in the studio since Christmas has been the Cake Smash and Splash.
What is a Cake Smash?
This has been a huge trend in the states for years and now becoming more popular in the UK as a way to celebrate your child turning One. Sometimes people do to celebrate turning 6 months, two years, three years…I’ve even seen turning forty or fifty cake smashes with cake and fizz (I can see the appeal)!
The birthday boy or girl gets presented with a cake to smash and the photographer captures all the moments!
How does a Cake Smash & Splash work at JB Moments?
I tend to get Smash and Splash shoots two ways. One to celebrate that first milestone and one as the culmination of my Grow with Me Package where I have already captured them as newborns, at 4 months old, and 8 months to produce a beautiful photo book of babies first year.
I always start with some ‘formal’ photos of the little one in their outfit. Then I get mum or dad to introduce the cake. Finally we finish up with a tin tub full of organic bubble bath.
I thought I would share some common questions that people ask about Smash and Splashes using some of the images from all these recent shoots.
Can I chose the Colours?
Of couse. At the booking stage I ask clients if they have any preferences or themes.
Mathew’s mummy said he loved Baby Shark so I added banners and balloons for him. He also wanted his furry pug brothers involved (just like his brother a few years earlier). Love these pug boys so much – they are great at helping clean up the cake crumbs too!
Sometimes I get free reign like I did with Miss Thea.
I had some black and white accessories that I had been dying to use so I paired them with some hot pink and the set looked fab.
Who Supplies the Cake?
I do. Unless your little one has specific dietary requirements or allergies, then for peace of mind I ask the parents to organise. I’ll be honest, I don’t use a lovely artisan bakery to supply my cakes. They get thrown about the floor and bashed with a spoon. I get them from the nearest supermarket to tie in with whatever theme we are going with.
Do we have to use Cake?
No! We can use whatever your little one would like to smash. Doughnuts, Spaghetti, Fruit or even paint if you don’t want it to be edible.
At least half of the little ones don’t even like the cake when it comes out. Especially if they haven’t been exposed to much sugar so far in their life. That’s why I give them a big wooden spoon to have a bash about with as well. More often than not, in between shots mum and dad are smashing the cake up (and having a sneaky taste).
Some kids will cry when they see the cake or feel the texture of the icing between their fingers and toes. Then there are rock stars like Master James.
He loved the cake so much that he went straight in, head first for a bite!
What outfit should I bring?
Some parents bring a party outfit for the ‘formals’ and then change their little one into a onesie or outfit they don’t mind getting cake all over.
I love a costume change. Like Master Mathew who had a cool outfit for his formals with his brother and the pugs, he changed into a custom onesie for the smash.
Little girls like Miss Mia and Miss Thea often rock a tutu. Little boys often go for onesies or dungarees.
Some little ones totally boss their cake smash in just their nappy! Anything goes!
What about the Splash Part?
The best outfit for a splash in the tin tub and washing off all that cake goo is their birthday suit (see what I did there!). I make sure their modesty is covered. If you aren’t comfortable with that, a swim nappy or swimsuit will also look super cute. What I discovered, a few years ago, doesn’t work is a normal nappy. It just absorbs a ton of water. Not a good look at all.
Generally, the kids like the splash part. I add rubber ducks and a bubble machine and encourage the kids to splash and make as much mess as possible.
Getting the parents to add bubble beards and hair can make for fun images as well.
Some little ones will try to stand up in the tub. I have customised the bottom of the tub with some bath anti-slip stickers but I always have a parent standing just off-camera as well.
Some little ones just totally chillax in the tub as Miss Mia did!
Or really get into the bubbles like Master James.
It’s been a fabulous start to the year with all these Smash and Splash sessions. They are always so much fun to shoot. Watch this space for a new alternative to the tin tub coming this year and I have also upgraded my bubble machine to a bubble gun for maximum bubbles! Absolutely Smashing 🙂
