From those first toothless grins to wobbly first steps, a baby’s first year is the perfect occasion to celebrate the firsts and milestones. Of all the memorable moments, there’s nothing quite as deliciously joyful and vibrant as watching your little one enthusiastically dive into their first birthday cake.
Cake smash photography sessions have become a beloved tradition for families in the Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and surrounding areas. As a passionate Cedar Falls baby photographer specializing in these sugary-sweet portrait experiences, I’m here to guide you through the details that lead to frame-worthy, heartwarming cake smash portraits.
One important philosophy I’ve learned? When it comes to cake smash sessions, less is truly more.
Keeping It Simple and Sweet for Baby
![](https://meghangoering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/134-Cedar-Falls-Smash-Cake-First-Birthday-Photoshoot-Meghan-Goering-Photography-1024x681.jpg)
As any parent knows, a baby’s interests and attention span can shift by the minute. By keeping the environment, setup and overall experience focused and minimalist, it allows your little one to stay engaged and excited.
Minimal Distractions = Maximum Smiles and Giggles
You want those coveted wide-eyed grins and delighted squeals when that first bite of birthday cake hits their lips. By limiting excess props, toys or complicated sets, you can prevent baby from becoming overstimulated or distracted. Their sole fascination is the delectable, smash-worthy cake before them!
A Curated, Cohesive Vision
![](https://meghangoering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/062-Cedar-Falls-Smash-Cake-First-Birthday-Photoshoot-Meghan-Goering-Photography-681x1024.jpg)
When planning out the aesthetics and styling, I recommend selecting one clear creative vision to tie everything together beautifully. We recommend sticking with our neutral white backdrop and neutral wood grey flooring. From there, you can add a bit of “pop” by choosing an outfit with textures or other light colors or by adding subtle decoration to the cake. By simplifying the surroundings, the result is vibrant yet clean 1-year baby portraits that place full emphasis on your adorable baby.
The Secret? Letting Those Natural Expressions Shine
![](https://meghangoering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/115-Cedar-Falls-Smash-Cake-First-Birthday-Photoshoot-Meghan-Goering-Photography-681x1024.jpg)
With my experience working with babies and children, I’ve found the less forced “posing” and fussy setups, the better. By giving babies the freedom to explore and play at their own comfortable pace, I’m able to capture organic, unscripted interactions and expressions that truthfully showcase their budding curiosities and personalities.
My goal is to create vivid, feeling-filled portraits that exude warmth and authenticity – the perfect complement to the sweet, simple joy of a cake smash celebration. By keeping set designs, props and styling minimal, those delicious sticky smiles and sweet baby looks remain the true stars.
The Premier Studio for Cake Smash Magic in Eastern Iowa
![baby girl sitting on her moms lap looking through her first birthday baby album](https://meghangoering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Best-Heirloom-Album-for-Photographers-Meghan-Goering-Photography-7-681x1024.jpg)
When it comes to planning your baby’s coveted cake smash portraits, my bright, neutrally-decorated photography studio in Cedar Falls, Iowa is the perfect setting for memorable first birthday celebration. With packages including you’re a plain cake, cute outfits in soft shades, a relaxed environment, and even clean up assistance – you can feel confident we’ll thoughtfully take care of every last detail.
As an experienced Cedar Falls cake smash photographer and mother myself, I understand the tremendous privilege of preserving these milestones for families in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and all of Cedar Valley. With a carefully curated, minimalist approach, my cake smash sessions promise to create the most natural, heartwarming baby portraits.
![](https://meghangoering.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/054-Cedar-Falls-Smash-Cake-First-Birthday-Photoshoot-Meghan-Goering-Photography-681x1024.jpg)
I can’t wait to get delightfully messy celebrating your little one’s sweet transformation from baby to toddler! Whether you’re just beginning to dream up your ideal cake smash theme or ready to get on my calendar, I’m here to make the entire experience feel as effortless as possible. Reach out today to book a cake smash session for your baby!
Comments