{"id":72891,"date":"2021-08-16T10:00:49","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T14:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=72891"},"modified":"2022-02-23T17:56:54","modified_gmt":"2022-02-23T22:56:54","slug":"cake-smash-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/cake-smash-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Cake Smash Photos | 12 Tips For Adorable Photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newborn and family photographers, or people with children over one year old, probably already know about cake smashes. If you\u2019ve never heard of it, however, the name tells most of the story. As part of an ever growing trend, one-year-old children everywhere are smashing specially-made cakes to punctuate their first birthday. Of course, such a momentous occasion should be captured in photos, and that\u2019s where you come in. But what does it take to successfully photograph a cake smash experience? And is it worth it for your business? If you already photograph newborns and\/or families, or you\u2019re looking for a fun way to add revenue to your photography business, you should definitely consider offering cake smash photography as part of your services. Below, we\u2019re going to share 12 tips for capturing adorable cake smash photos to help you give your clients a \u201csmashing\u201d experience.<\/p>\n

12 Tips for Cake Smash Photos<\/h2>\n

Make Time for Cake Smash Photos<\/h2>\n

Given the nature of the goal, trying to capture cake smash photos with unpredictable children, be sure to set realistic expectations for how long it may take. Children have earned a reputation for setting the pace of any session they\u2019re involved in, and some take longer than others to \u201ccome around.\u201d Others, still, occasionally decide not to play along at all. The bottom line, pad the session with extra time to make sure you get what you need. As a safe starting point, expect the cake smash experience to run for at least two hours. You won\u2019t shoot the entire time, but you (or the baby) will need it. Trust me. And let\u2019s not forget, cleaning up after the session will be required.<\/p>\n

\"Clean<\/p>\n

Bonus:<\/strong> Regarding the clean up, keep wipes, paper towels, towels in general, extra clothes, and trash bags on hand to make quick work of cleaning up.<\/p>\n

Choose the Cake with Care<\/h2>\n

You may wonder whether you or the parents should choose or purchase the cake. Some photographers include the cake as part of the cake smash service, but for safety reasons, I recommend that parents order the actual cake. The baby may have allergies (wheat, egg, etc.), and it\u2019s best to let the parents sort that out. You can, however, give the parents suggestions regarding the design of the cake.<\/p>\n

\"cake<\/p>\n

For instance, consider the cake smasher, a one-year-old baby. The cake should be soft and easy for them to tear apart and eat. As for the exterior of the cake, keep the design somewhat simple so that it does not distract too much from the baby and the action taking place. Feel free to add a topper to mark the occasion, such as a “One” to denote the baby’s first birthday. When deciding on a color, consider the baby\u2019s outfit and overall theme of the cake smash experience, which we\u2019ll discuss in more detail below. You can refer to this article on complementary colors<\/a> for more information on how colors impact photos. Finally, let the parents know that professionally-made cakes often photograph better than homemade cakes. I\u2019m just saying.<\/p>\n

Dial In Your Camera Settings<\/h2>\n

As I mentioned above, children (especially one-year-olds) can prove highly unpredictable. The last thing you want to do while photographing a cake smash is fumble around with your camera settings only to miss frame-worthy moments. To help, here\u2019s a basic starting point for dialing in your exposure so that you can focus on shooting:<\/p>\n