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First Birthday/ Cake Smash

The First Birthday & Cake Smash Experience

Your baby’s first birthday is such a special milestone—one filled with tiny details, big emotions, and so many memories worth preserving. From sweet smiles and curious little expressions to messy cake-covered fingers, a First Birthday & Cake Smash session is designed to capture this fleeting stage in a fun, beautiful, and relaxed way.

From the moment you contact Caroline Murray Photography, we’ll work together to create a session that feels uniquely yours and celebrates your little one’s personality.

Planning Your Session

The first step is a conversation about your vision for your baby’s first birthday portraits. Do you envision something classic and timeless, colorful and playful, or soft and simple?

Together, we’ll discuss your ideas, colors, cake, outfits, and overall aesthetic to create a cohesive experience.

Whether you have a specific theme in mind or prefer something simple and beautifully styled, I’ll help bring your vision to life while keeping the focus on your little one.

I first ask you to choose if you want a simple white back ground with colorful balloons and props or if you're looking for a themed shoot. I will send you ideas based on your color choices and ideas, and we'll figure out the theme together.

The Cake & Styling

A little planning goes a long way in creating beautiful, timeless images. I’ll provide guidance on outfits, colors, and styling so everything feels cohesive and photographs beautifully.

We’ll also discuss the cake smash setup, including your preferred colors, decorations, and overall look. Whether you love a minimal, elegant setup or something playful and celebratory, we’ll create a design that fits your vision.

The cake itself is an important part of the day and I will help you figure out exactly what to buy to make your photos the best ever!

Your Session Day

On the day of your session, my goal is for everyone to relax and have fun.

We’ll begin with portraits of your little one before introducing the cake. This allows us to capture those sweet, clean, milestone images before things get wonderfully messy!

Once the cake comes out, we’ll let your baby explore, play, taste, and make a mess. I’ll gently guide the session while following your baby’s cues, capturing genuine smiles, curious expressions, and all the adorable moments in between.

And yes—the cake smash is supposed to get messy!

The Photography Process

After your session, I carefully review and edit each image using Lightroom and Photoshop to create a polished, artistic finish while preserving the natural personality and sweetness of your little one.

I don't want you to have to choose your images. ALL images are included with every package.

Your  final gallery will be delivered within 1–2 weeks.

Optional products such as prints, wall art, albums, and keepsake storage solutions are available at this time, allowing you to preserve these first-year memories in a way you can enjoy for years to come.

Book Your Session

Your baby’s first birthday only happens once. From their very first smiles to their first taste of cake, these little moments become the memories you’ll treasure long after the cake is gone.

Let’s celebrate this incredible milestone with beautiful, joyful photographs that capture exactly who your little one is at one year old.

I look forward to celebrating with you!

A Note About Siblings and Family

Cake smash sessions are all about celebrating your little one!

To keep the environment calm and distraction-free, and to help your baby stay engaged throughout the session, we ask that only the birthday baby and their parent(s)/guardian(s) attend.

While we absolutely love seeing the whole family, siblings and extended family can sometimes make it harder for little ones to stay focused. Our goal is to give your baby our undivided attention and capture those sweet, genuine moments you'll treasure forever.

If you are interested in a family shoot for your baby's first birthday instead, please inquire about a Family Session!