How to Prep & What to Expect for Your Little One’s Big Day!

Getting Ready for Your Cake Smash Session

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✨ Let’s Get Ready to Smash Some Cake!

A Quick Note About Siblings

I’m SO excited to officially start planning your cake smash session! 🎉

I know this guide has a lot of info (maybe sneak off for 5 quiet minutes and pretend it’s a spa day so you can read in peace — no judgment here 😄), but taking a little time to look it over now will help your session go smoothly when the big day arrives.

We’ll be moving quickly, playing hard, and capturing all the sweet, messy moments — and a little preparation now goes a long way toward an amazing experience!


We absolutely love kiddos — but for cake smash sessions, the studio unfortunately doesn’t have a suitable space for siblings to hang out since they’re not part of these photos.

There’s no separate area for play or waiting, and having extra little ones in the studio can make it a bit harder to stay focused — especially since cake smash sessions move quickly and get a little (okay, a lot!) messy.

👉 If you’d like to include siblings in some photos, we’d be so happy to plan a family session instead! That way, everyone can be part of the experience and we’ll have time and space to focus on capturing the whole crew together 🥰

Thanks so much for understanding and helping us keep the session relaxed, safe, and focused on your birthday babe! 💛

What Should Baby Wear?

After we’ve planned the setup and theme, then it’s time to choose your little one’s outfit! I have a small collection of outfits available to use, but you’re welcome to bring your own too — Etsy is a great place to find custom pieces that really pop on camera.

A few outfit tips:
  • Make sure anything your baby wears fits well (no loose shirts or dresses that are too large/frilly around the neck).
  • Graphics or Lettering is NOT a good idea since it will be impossible to read or see the full design. Opt for solid colors or simplistic patterns.
  • For the little gentlemen, try to avoid pinstripe lines, as these distort and will not photograph well.
  • A onesie-style top is perfect for keeping everything tucked and tidy.
  • Don’t forget the little extras! Diaper covers, birthday hats, lacy socks, necklaces, bow ties, or suspenders — these small pieces complete the look beautifully.
  • Once you’ve chosen the outfit, plan for coordinating hair accessories or hats. A little planning here makes a big visual difference!

Please wash, iron, and prep everything so it’s picture-ready! Even brand-new outfits MUST be washed before the session, as dyes in unwashed clothing will stain our studio floor drops (and we definitely want to avoid that!).

Picture Time = Parent Workout

I shoot fast, and we move fast — especially when we’ve got a happy baby in front of the camera!

During the session, you’ll be my secret weapon for helping keep baby in place, draw out smiles, and reset props or positions.

Don’t be surprised if you end up crouching, ducking behind things, and sneaking off-set — it’s basically parent yoga with icing involved 😂 But don’t worry — I’ll show you exactly what to do and when.

Pre-Smash Portraits

We’ll start with clean portraits on a solid backdrop that you will have pre-selected. These usually last 5–10 minutes and capture those sweet, simple expressions before the cake makes its grand entrance.

If your package includes parent portraits with baby, we’ll knock those out first while everyone’s still clean and calm. Expect quick posing, quick laughs, and lots of movement — babies this age have opinions, and we roll with them!

Smash Time!

This is where the real fun begins! The cake comes out, and I let baby lead the way. Some dive right in... others need a little cheering squad (that’s where you come in!).

We’ll keep this portion to around 10–15 minutes depending on baby’s mood. If baby isn’t sure what to do with the cake, I’ll guide you on how to gently encourage them — and yes, sometimes that means YOU get to show them how it’s done. Embrace the mess. It’s part of the magic 🧁

⚠️ Most babies cry at least once — some a little, some a lot. It’s okay! We keep going gently, and some of the sweetest images are in between the chaos.

Splash Time!
(If Included)

  • LOTS of wipes, so many wipes..... all the wipes!
  • Water/sippy cup
  • Tiny snacks (Cheerios, puffs, etc. — great for hiding in the cake!)
  • Favorite toy (we’ll let you know when/if to pull it out)
  • Favorite show or songs queued up on your phone/tablet
  • Clean towel
  • Plastic bags for messy outfits
  • Change of clothes for baby and you
  • Extra pair of socks or shoes
  • Patience, humor, and a snack for yourself too 😉

What to Bring Checklist

If your package includes the splash tub portion, we’ll bring out our tiny tub for a bubbly bath session! We use warm water and organic bubbles to capture those adorable splashy moments.

Before baby hops in, we’ll have you gently wipe them down to remove most of the icing — this helps keep the water clean and makes the splash portion more fun and refreshing for them. This is where bringing EXTRA wipes will be crucial!

This part lasts about 10 minutes and is the perfect way to wind down after all that cake-covered chaos! 🛁✨

Once the cake comes out, please limit movement around the studio.

We ask that only 2 adults (usually mom & dad) stay near the set. It gets messy quickly, and icing + clean floors are not a good combo!

Please stay within the designated area (I’ll show you were to be), and once we’re done, I may ask you to remove your socks before walking around the studio to keep everything neat.

(Pro tip: extra socks for the PARENTS to wear on the ride home are a game changer.)

Studio Etiquette (Especially During Smash & Splash)

Here’s what to expect after the crumbs settle:
  • Your proof gallery will be emailed to you within 5 business days of your session (excluding weekends and holidays).
  • You’ll select your favorite images directly from the gallery by clicking the ♥ icon.
  • Once submitted, I’ll begin editing your final selections. Your final downloadable gallery will be ready within 3 business weeks of your selections (excluding weekends/holidays).

✨ Only the images you select will be fully edited — this includes skin retouching, background clean-up, and removing any distractions. Proof images are not edited.

After the Session

You’re not in this alone — I’m here for you! If you have any last-minute questions or want to double-check anything, just shoot me a message. We’re officially great friends by now, so don’t hesitate to text 🥰

This session is going to be fun, messy, and full of memories you’ll treasure forever. I can’t wait!

Any Questions?

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Studio Address:

813 Chatsworth Dr,
Newport News, VA 23601

(please park in the driveway)

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I CAN’T WAIT TO PHOTOGRAPH your little ones big celebration!

With love and cake crumbs,
 Lynette 🎂✨