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When Tanya reached out to me in July about planning a cake smash session for her daughter Leah, I was so excited to hear that she had found me through Google!
She was looking for a fun and memorable way to celebrate Leah turning one in September, and she already had the beginnings of a really sweet idea in mind. As a Clifton NJ cake smash photographer I wanted to make sure she had an amazing experience from start to finish.
The theme? Jelly beans.
Jelly Bean was the nickname Tanya and her husband used for their little girl, so it felt like the perfect way to make her first birthday session personal to her. They even created a visual concept with ChatGPT to show me the direction they were envisioning, and I absolutely loved it. It gave me a great starting point for imagining how we could turn their idea into a real cake smash setup here in my Waldwick, NJ studio.
Turning a Sweet Idea Into a Jelly Bean-Themed Cake Smash
One of my favorite things about cake smash photography is that no two sessions look exactly alike. I love taking a family’s ideas, favorite colors, little traditions, or even a nickname like “Jelly Bean” and turning them into something completely unique.
For Leah’s session, I wanted the setup to feel colorful and playful without becoming overwhelming.
I started with a clean white seamless backdrop and built the rest of the set around soft pastel colors. I created a custom jelly bean banner using pastel cardstock, a hole punch, and clear fishing line so the colorful shapes could hang across the backdrop.
To add even more dimension and color, I incorporated a pastel tassel garland and filled clear candy jars with bright, colorful jelly beans. A pink wooden “L” added a personalized detail for Leah, while a marquee light-up number one made sure there was no question what we were celebrating!
White wooden crates helped finish the setup and gave us a few different levels to work with when arranging the decorations.
The finished set was cheerful, colorful, and playful, just what you’d want for celebrating a first birthday.
Before the Smash Cake: Capturing Leah Just as She Is
Before we introduce the cake, I always like to spend some time photographing baby on her own.
These first portraits are an important part of the session because they give us the chance to capture those sweet little details and their personality before the cake smash gets underway. Once frosting enters the picture, things can get wonderfully chaotic very quickly!
Leah wore the cutest purple birthday dress with “ONE” across the front, which fit perfectly with the pastel jelly bean theme. I also incorporated a small chair for a few of her portraits, giving us a little variety in her images.
With a little help from Mom and Dad behind the scenes, Leah gave us plenty of smiles, giggles, and playful expressions. These personality-filled portraits are some of my favorite images from a first birthday session because they capture who your little one is right now, not just the fact that they’re turning one.
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Then Came the Smash Cake and the Mess!
Once we had finished Leah’s portraits, it was finally time for the part everyone had been waiting for: the cake smash!
Mom had chosen the perfect-sized cake with simple white frosting, which looked adorable against the colorful pastel setup.
Leah was a little unsure about the cake at first. And honestly, that’s one of the things I love about photographing first birthday cake smashes. You never quite know what you’re going to get!
Some babies immediately dive both hands into the frosting. Others stare at the cake like they’re trying to figure out what exactly they’re supposed to do with it.
Leah started out cautiously, but after getting a little taste of that sweet frosting, she decided it wasn’t so bad after all. Before long, she was happily digging in and getting frosting everywhere.
And because cake smash sessions rarely go exactly according to plan, the cake eventually ended up on the floor. Leah wasn’t particularly thrilled about that development, but once the cake was back within reach, she was more than happy to continue enjoying her birthday treat.
That’s the beauty of a first birthday cake smash. It’s not about getting a perfectly posed photograph of a baby sitting neatly beside a cake. It’s about capturing the curiosity, expressions, reactions, and wonderfully messy moments that make this milestone so much fun.
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A Splashy Finish to Her Cake Smash Session
After all that frosting, it was definitely time for a bath!
Tub time is included with two of my cake smash packages, and it’s always one of the most popular parts of the session. Babies love having a chance to splash and play in the water after all the excitement of the cake smash.
Leah was no exception. The second she got into the tub, she was ready to have some fun. She splashed, laughed, played with the water, and gave us some of the cutest smiles of the entire session.
I love including these images because they feel like a completely different part of the story. We start with clean portraits, move into the excitement and mess of the cake smash, and then finish with a happy little one enjoying some time in the tub.
And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that tub time also helps get all of that frosting cleaned off! It was the perfect way to wrap up Leah’s first birthday cake smash session.
Looking for a Clifton NJ Baby Photographer or Smash Photographer?
If you’re looking for a Clifton, NJ cake smash photographer, your little one’s first birthday is the perfect time to create photographs that capture more than just the number one.
Whether you have a very specific theme in mind or you’re not quite sure what you want yet, I love working with families to create a cake smash setup that feels personal to their child. Your baby’s favorite colors, a special nickname, a favorite toy, or even a simple idea you’ve seen and loved can become the starting point for a completely customized session.
My studio is located in Waldwick, NJ, making it a convenient option for families in Clifton and throughout Northern New Jersey. If you’re planning a first birthday celebration and want something meaningful, and completely your own, I’d love to help you bring your idea to life.
You can learn more about my cake smash photography sessions or contact me to start planning a custom cake smash session designed just for your family!
