I absolutely love when clients recommend me to their friends (it’s such a compliment, don’t you agree?!)… and that’s how Sandra found us! A friend of hers has worked with us a few times previously and gave her our information. Sandra contacted the studio to book a First Birthday session for her daughter, Rowan.
We sent over the studio style guide and our cake tips via email, and Sandra took it from there! Some clients are comfortable styling themselves with no assistance from us. For those of you who would like input or a helping hand, please don’t hesitate to ask! We are here to serve you in any way we can to make your experience with us an incredible one. Your portrait experience shouldn’t be stressful - let us help if you need it!
The day of Rowan’s session, the family arrived at the studio with everyone dressed beautifully. (The dress Sandra is wearing is now a part of our studio wardrobe!) Rowan was a friendly and inquisitive little girl, and very wiggly. I’m an expert with wiggly kids, and will give you guidance on what to do. Remember that I only need 1/800th of a second to create an image! Even if you feel like your child is constantly moving and are wondering how I can possibly be getting anything, rest assured that I am. It’s my job to worry about it - not yours!
We then moved on to solo images of Rowan in her adorable tutu dress. We weren’t sure she would keep her headband on, but she did for a while until she realized that it was on her head! She pulled it off, but we just waited until she was distracted again and put it right back on, and she didn’t take it off again for the remainder of the session.
After we finished with portraits, we changed Rowan into a simple pink camisole that I have on hand in the studio wardrobe. I love simple and classic pieces for cake smashes, and being able to see the chunky baby legs and toes.
Sandra chose to decorate Rowan’s cake with fresh flowers, which looked absolutely gorgeous. The flowers proved to be too tempting, and we had to pull them off after Rowan attempted to eat them. This is usually the case with any cake decor, so be prepared to remove anything that’s on the cake if necessary!
Rowan’s reactions and expressions while exploring her cake were adorable. Every baby is totally different! Some babies make it their mission to decimate the cake down to the base. Other babies taste the frosting and are over it. Others love to play in it and never actually eat it. It doesn’t matter - your images will tell the unique story of how they reacted to their cake. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to encourage babies to touch their cakes, but it’s ultimately up to them. I encourage parents to get involved also since lots of babies love to feed their parents or share with them. Be aware that “sharing” often ends up with mom and dad covered with icing! :)
As a note, some parents choose to skip including a cake in the First Birthday session. That’s totally fine! We customize your session flow to your preferences. Regardless of whether a cake is involved, you’ll still have beautiful images to remember just what your one year old was like at that stage.
Enjoy a few favorite’s from Rowan’s session!
If you're expecting a baby or already a parent and looking for a newborn, maternity, or family photographer, I would love to work with you to create images that you will love for a lifetime. Watch this video to hear about my philosophy and see how I work in the studio so you can determine if I'm the right fit for you. I can't wait to meet you!
Lily Sophia Photography specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, and family photography in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
