Cake Smash Welcome Guide

Congratulations, you made it through the first year! It’s been a year of amazing growth for you, mom, and your little one. Now it’s time
to let loose and celebrate! Cake Smash sessions are so much fun!

I absolutely love everything about motherhood and babies. Rest easy knowing that I’m going to treat your little one like my own. I put my heart and soul into these sessions and I cannot thank you enough for trusting your birthday kid to me. 

See you soon!
Ashleigh 

O U T D O O R S M A S H

Hawaii provides the perfect backdrop for your cake smash. I keep outdoor smashes very simple. From experience, balloons don’t look great as it can get windy, especially at the beach. A blanket, cake stand and a cute topper are really all we need.

M Y  H O M E   S T U D I O

I started my business after my first son was born. Because it was important to me to do something that I love that also allowed
me to maximize time with my boys, I decided to keep my studio in my home. 

My home studio is located in Aiea. The address is included in the email this document came in. 

You are more than welcome to park out front (on the street) during our session.

 

T H E    S E T

I like to keep sets simple so that your birthday baby can be the main focus. 
 

Background paper 

While I tend to stick with my signature white, let me know if you're interested in another color. 

props, banners, balloons, oh my! 

Here are some ideas to get your juices flowing. I recommend at least 6 balloons and a banner of at least 4-5 feet. 

T H E    C A K E

Where to get the cake made? 

Honestly, I've had amazing luck at supermarkets for simple cakes. You are more than welcome to make the cake yourself too! If your child has an allergy, I can share a great vegan bakery.  

What size? 

A round cake (I think 12 inches is the biggest I've done) looks best with two layers. You could also do a smaller cake with 4 layers or even a huge cupcake.  If you tell the baker it's a "smash cake" they will help you pick the perfect size. 

What about the middle?

The most important thing about your cake is that you get a white cake and avoid dark icing! Dark/chocolate cake tends to look, well, you can imagine what chocolate cake smashed everywhere looks like. 

What about the top?

While not necessary,  topper does add a little something to the pictures. You can make a little banner, get a glitter #1 candle or even add some fresh flowers to the top.

Do I have to do cake?

No! I set up powdered donuts on a cake stand for my son's birthday session. I’ve also seen adorable fruit cakes on Pinterest that would be perfect for a tropical smash. We could do watermelon, pie, ice cream, etc. 
 

I have several cake stands you can use. Please let me know if you'd like me to send you pictures of what I have.

What to wear

Girls

I love little girls in tutus, ruffle rompers, dresses, or diaper covers. I have a few items in my client closet you are more than welcome to borrow. Please make sure you have a plan to cover their diaper. A Lei po’o is also an adorable touch.

boys

I love little boys in overalls, jeans, knit shorts, or a diaper cover. I have a few items in my client closet you are welcome to borrow. 

What to bring checklist

portrait outfit
smash outfit
towel(s) & a washcloth
baby wipes
a trash bag for cake clothes
a small, dry snack your baby likes (like Puffs or Cheerios)
a lovie if your child has one   

Cake Smash Welcome Guide

Congratulations, you made it through the first year! It’s been a year of amazing growth for you, mom, and your little one. Now it’s time to let loose and celebrate! Cake Smash sessions are so much fun!

I absolutely love everything about motherhood and babies. Rest easy knowing that I’m going to treat your little one like my own. I put my heart and soul into these sessions and I cannot thank you enough for trusting your birthday kid to me. 

See you soon!
Ashleigh 

L O C A T I O N

There are several options for session location - the beach, a field, your home, or in my studio. There is no right or wrong answer here; however, I recommend picking a location best fit for your child. If you know your child do not like sand, a beach smash might not be the best option.

T H E C A K E

Where to get the cake made? 

Honestly, I've had amazing luck at supermarkets for simple cakes. You are more than welcome to make the cake yourself too! 
I’ve ordered vegan cakes for my son with an egg allergy from Pu'uwai Aloha Bakery.

What size? 

A round cake (8-10 inches) with two layers. You could also do a smaller cake with 4 layers or even a huge cupcake.  If you tell the baker it's a "smash cake" they will help you pick the perfect size. 

What about the middle?

The most important thing about your cake is that you get a white cake and avoid dark icing! Dark/chocolate cake tends to look, well, you can imagine what chocolate cake smashed everywhere looks like. 

What about the top?

While not necessary,  topper does add a little something to the pictures. You can make a little banner, get a glitter #1 candle or even add some fresh flowers to the top.

Do I have to do cake?

No! I set up powdered donuts on a cake stand for my son's birthday session. We could do watermelon, pie, ice cream, shave ice, etc. 

I have several cake stands. Please let me know if you'd like to use one.

What to wear

Girls

I love little girls in rompers, “nice” dresses or tulle dresses. Don’t forget a diaper cover or bloomers!

Boys

I love little boys in overalls, jeans, knit shorts, or a diaper cover.

Don’t forget you can do a portrait outfit and a smash outfit!

What to bring checklist

portrait outfit
smash outfit
cake
towel(s) & a washcloth
baby wipes
a trash bag for cake clothes
a small, dry snack your baby likes if we need to fake a smash (like Puffs or Cheerios)
a lovie if your child has one   

Americana Popsicle Session | Charleston Family Photographer

Want to know something really funny and SO #momlife? I wrote this blog post June 2016 and never published it. My baby is all grown and the field is full of houses, but there is no better time than the present to hit publish! Goodness gracious, y'all! 

---

This session was a combination of two ideas. Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned a field? This field is actually just a few cleared lots in the back of our neighborhood. Every day when I drove past it I just knew it was perfect for pictures. For weeks, I tried to take Landon out there but something always seemed to come up - a thunderstorm, a melt down... 

At the same time, I had also wanted to take pictures of Landon eating ice cream or a popsicle. I mean, is there anything cuter (or more terrifying) than watching a toddler eat a treat? The only thing I couldn't figure out was how do I keep a popsicle cold in the crazy South Carolina heat? 

BINGO! I'll take Landon out to the field! 

And I kid you not. TWO days later they poured foundations, so my field is no more. 

Pure Portraits | West Ashley Child Photographer

Floral Newborn Session | West Ashley Newborn Photographer

She missed Christmas, but came just in time for the Charleston snow. 

How to: Tree Light Pictures

1. Wait for night (this was hard for me. You can tell in the picture with both boys that I didn't wait for it to get super dark.)

2. All of the lights off except the tree. I used a lamp across the room to cheat a little and give me a little light. 

3. Camera in manual mode with the following settings as a guideline: 
Aperture all the way open (mine was f 1.8)
Shutter speed slowish (mine was 1/250)
ISO super high (mine was at 5000)
>>> NO FLASH! <<<

Shameless plug - I teach a basics of photography class that will teach you what all of these thing mean :) 

4. Snap way! Who cares if they're technically perfect - have fun with your kiddos. The picture of Landon above... he was calling our tree a gum-nut. I'm not even sure what that means but he thought it was hilarious and made for a cute picture. 

Full disclosure, I did edit my final pictures just for personal preference. 

Before (SOOC)

After 

You can also do these types of pictures during the day for a different, but still fun, look. 

Newborn Session Preview | West Ashley Newborn Photographer

She's a tiny little piece of perfection. 

Newborn Session Preview

In-home newborn session | James Island Newborn Photographer

I adore the ease of in-home newborn sessions. This little man was a breeze to photograph too. He spent the first part of his session awake, checking everything out. After a quick feed, he snoozed the rest of the time I was there. 

BUT... 

This dog, Blue, was not about to be upstaged by this new little human living in his home. 

October 2017

Another month has come and gone. I'm not even really sure what we did this month besides buy an excessive number of Halloween costumes, eat way too much candy and not get enough sleep. 

Yes, each boy had two costumes. We weren't going to let Landon be a Stormtrooper, so he picked Mickey. In a moment of weakness, Trip took Landon back to Target to grab a (way too big) Stormtrooper costume. He was Mickey and the Roadster Racer for our neighborhood Fall Fest and a Stormtrooper on Halloween night. 

Rhett is in a weird phase for costumes. He's still pretty little so he needed an infant size costume. However, most infant costumes are the sleep sacks - and he's too old for that. Landon and I picked out a Narwhal costume which was really cute... however with that tail, there was no way to transport him while trick-or-treating. So, I sewed some ears on a hat and he was the mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.