You’ve made it through the first year and your baby is about to turn one. Whether you’ve been coming in since the newborn days or you’ve just booked a first birthday session, here’s a rundown of what to bring, what I already have at the studio, and a few optional extras that are worth knowing about.
Things You’ll Definitely Need
A cake. It can be as fancy or as simple as you like. One thing I’d steer away from is chocolate, as it looks a bit odd in the finished images. Squishier is better. You can read my full cake tips here for everything I’d recommend.
A towel. If you’re doing the tub splash after the smash. Bubble bath is fun too, especially if your baby is into bubble bears and hats. It’s not obligatory though, and worth skipping for babies with sensitive skin.
Wet wipes. Essential. Your baby will be a great deal easier to undress if you can at least de-sticky their hands before the clothes come off.
Things you Might Like
Balloons. These can work really well, but a few things are worth knowing. Helium ones are better than floor ones, otherwise your baby will spend the whole session trying to crawl after them. Number ‘1’ balloons are lovely but tend to be much taller than your baby in the frame, so you often don’t get to see the full thing. They’re also foil, which reflects the studio lights. Plain round balloons in whatever colour suits your theme work best. Tie them short so they sit close to the ground, otherwise you just get string in the shot and the balloons disappear out of frame. Balloon tape from a party shop is worth having if you want a balloon display.
Cake smash outfits. Your baby can wear anything for the smash, or just a nappy if you prefer. Swim nappies or pants over the top do look a bit neater than a nappy on its own. There’s a wide range of outfits available now, including personalised ones, and some really lovely stuff about. If you’re ordering from eBay, check delivery times as items coming from further afield can take longer than expected.
Party hats. Keeping a hat on a one-year-old is a challenge at the best of times, but it’s worth a try. They might be so focused on the cake that they forget it’s there.
Favourite toys. These don’t come into the cake smash itself, but they’re lovely to have for the clean portrait section at the start of the session. It’s always nice to look back and see the things they loved at this age.
Things I Have at the Studio
Bunting. My collection is extensive and always growing, but you’re welcome to bring your own if you have something specific in mind. If you’re using lettered bunting with names or ‘Happy Birthday’, just bear in mind that the full string won’t always be visible in every shot when the image is cropped in close. Not necessarily a problem, just something to think about.
Bubble machine. Battery-powered, so no one needs to puff. Bubbles can go one of two ways: delighted baby surrounded by bubbles, or furious baby being repeatedly popped at. It’s usually obvious within seconds which way it’s going, and we’ll use it if it’s working for us.
Little wooden spoons and trowels. Some babies don’t like the feel of cake on their hands but are perfectly happy to dig in with a tool. You’re welcome to use these if it helps.
Keep it simple or go all out. Either way, the photos will be great.
