THE MESSIER THE BETTER. This may seem counter-intuitive to some parents, but a kid smiling with a perfectly untouched cake is just plain boring. Yes, we may take a shot or two of this if it occurs, but what we’re really looking for are the sprinkles everywhere, the frosting all over baby legs and faces & the enthusiasm of a one year old who has just discovered sugar. Dipping hands in water and then in a bowl of sprinkles can create excitement in an unenthused child & helps add mess where there wasn’t any. And smearing icing across the face always works as well.

CHILD NOT SMILING, NO PROBLEM. Oftentimes, your one year old will be so enthralled with his cake mess that he won’t look at you or smile at the camera. No worries! This is very normal. Trust that the photos are still going to be adorable, and that your child’s curiosity will surpass your expectations. If the child is really occupied with the cake, this is the perfect opportunity to get some close up shots of little frosting covered hands & feet.

SHOW SKIN! Chubby baby legs and feet are really the secret to this photo session. Bring a plain onesie & a diaper cover– At Big Apple Portraits, it’s all about the accessories. Birthday hats, necklaces, cake stands all make the shot special. We will take some photos with the onesie & some without. Some of our favorite outfit choices include a cute tutu that matches the cake or any props you decided to bring.

BOOK YOUR CAKE SMASH EARLY. This means book early in every sense.  Make sure the cake smash is scheduled before your child’s birthday.  We usually recommend at least 3 weeks before their birthday.  We want to make sure that if you want to use any of the fun images for the party you will have them in advance.  You should also schedule for early in the day.  Our experience has shown that one year olds do not do well after about 3pm.

MAKE A CLEANUP PLAN. This will get messier than you think. Consider bringing a friend along to help clean up the cake mess while you give your little one a bath. If the cake does not get put away, you might just have to start the bathing process all over again! You should also bring a change of clothes for yourself, just in case.  Of course, at Big Apple Portraits, we clean up the scene for you & set up all the shots. Our no sitting fee policy means that even if your child is having a bad day, you don’t waste a cent– just come back another time!