You’ve reach your final Baby Club session – what a milestone!
This session often includes first birthday celebrations like a cake smash and tub splash, but how you mark the occasion is totally up to you. Whether you want to keep it simple and focus on your baby’s blossoming personality or go all-out with balloons, bubbles and cake, this page gives you all the details to help you get ready. You’ll also find outfit advice, tips on what to bring, and ideas for personal touches that make your session unique.
Planning Inspiration on my Dedicated Client Pinterest Boards
If you love a bit of visual planning,I’ve created a dedicated Pinterest board to help you plan your newborn session with ease. It’s packed with real session examples, styling ideas, prop suggestions, and answers to common questions—all designed to help you feel prepared and inspired.
You can use the board in whatever way works best for you:
Pin your favourites to your own board to build a personal moodboard.
Invite me to your board if you’d like to collaborate on ideas.
Or simply show me your saved pins when you arrive at the studio so I know what’s caught your eye.
There’s no pressure to have everything figured out ahead of time—but if you enjoy planning, this is a great place to start.
Just Booked…
So here we are at the last session of your Baby Club journey (already!)
Whether you’re planning a cake smash, a tub splash, or a simple portrait session (or a combination of all three!), this page is here to guide you every step of the way. You don’t need to make any decisions just yet – we’ll go through your options nearer the time, and I’ll help you tailor the session to suit your baby’s personality and your preferences. For now, just pop your session date in your diary and know that I’ll be in touch with everything you need to know closer to the big day. Of course if you have questions in the meantime, just get in touch and I’m happy to help.
If you want to take a peek at what’s to come though, just scroll down this page and of course, you’re welcome to Browse my Studio Collections at any time.
Two Weeks Before…
Your photo shoot is nearly here, and this page will walk you through what to expect and how to prepare. You’ll receive your usual options form the day before your session so you can make your selections from my backdrop and prop collection and let me know what you’d like to do in terms of first birthday celebrations, but here’s a little extra info to help you feel ready in advance.
You’re welcome to include family portraits, a cake smash, a tub splash, or just stick to clean, simple birthday portraits – it’s totally up to you and there’s time to do a mix of all of those things. Nothing needs to be decided yet, but this guide will help you think about what you’d like to include.
Cake Smash Tips
Any cake is great as long as it has soft buttercream-style icing rather than hard fondant – homemade, supermarket, or custom-made are all perfect. A six-inch cake is plenty, and it’s best to leave it out of the fridge for a few hours before your shoot so it’s easier for little hands to dive in. You’ll want to bring wipes (I have them at the studio but if you have a brand preference then bring those), a towel (if you’re tub splashing), and maybe even a spare change of clothes for yourself if you are planning on going out anywhere after your visit – toddlers love icing-covered cuddles! If you’re getting a cake professionally made, now’s a good time to lock in your choice of baker!
Balloons
Balloons are a popular addition but keep in mind how they’ll appear in the photos. Giant number 1 balloons tend to tower above your baby, so you only see a shiny column in the shots. Helium balloons should be tied close to the ground to show balloon rather than string. If you’re using air-filled balloons, consider taping them into a small arch or cluster so they stay in one place rather than floating out of frame (or tempting your baby to chase them!).
Tub Splash
Yes, it’s real water in the tub! A towel is essential (although I do have them in the studio if you forget to bring one), and you’re welcome to bring a little bubble bath to help with post-cake cleanup (it won’t be visible in the photos). Most babies go in the tub nude, but a swim nappy or costume is totally fine if you prefer.
Siblings
Siblings are very welcome to join in for clean family photos at the beginning. Once we start the cake smash, it’s usually best to have another adult on hand to keep them entertained – little ones often want to get involved, which can lead to some cake chaos!
Outfit Changes
There’s time for a clean outfit at the start and a change for the smash or splash if you’d like. Bare feet work best for the smash – it’s cute and keeps things simple.
There’s so many outfits on the market now that first birthday photo shoots are so popular but bear in mind that companies like Shein and Temu have some lovely options but they do take a while to arrive so probably best to have them ordered soon (if you haven’t already!).
You can order vest and topper sets directly from me and they’ll be waiting at the studio for you when you arrive from your session. Here’s the link to the order page if you need it…
Cake Smash Outfit and Topper Sets
Got Questions? Just get in touch and I’m happy to help!
The Day Before…
This is when you’ll receive your options form via email and you’ll be able to browse the range of props, backdrops and tub splash accessories and let me know your choices with the simple form at the bottom of the page. That way, everything will be ready for you when you arrive at the studio.
It’s also a great time to double-check that you’ve got everything together that you want to bring along (including clothes for partners and siblings if they’re getting in the photos) and get it all in one place so you can grab and go – I want you to arrive at your session relaxed, not stressed because you couldn’t find your cake smash outfit!
Remember to take the cake out of the fridge in plenty of time for your session – buttercream will set rock hard when it is cold and it will be too hard for little hands to get into.
Above all, don’t stress – everything is designed to be simple and fun. Your little one doesn’t need to be a super-smiler, a crazy cake destroyer or sit still for long periods. The magic happens in the moments, and I’ll take care of capturing them – plus they’re a pro model with experience now!
On the Day…
Starting your Session
At this point, you know the drill but to give you an outline, we’ll start with some clean portraits – family photos, parent and sibling shots, and of course some solo ones of your little one before we bring out the cake or the tub. You’ll have time for an outfit change or two if you want to switch up their look.
Then it’s time for the cake smash if you’re doing it! We’ll set it up, get everything in place, and let your little one lead the way. Some dive in face first, some are more tentative – it’s all part of the fun. Honestly, you don’t need total cake devastation for great cake smash photos – the images you see on Pinterest always show children covered in icing from head to foot and, whilst I have had to clean icing off the walls on some occasions, it’s more often than not a more dignified affair than that. The pictures are great either way.
If you’re including a tub splash, that comes after the cake – a perfect way to clean up and capture some splishy splashy smiles. I’ll have warm water in the tub, a towel to hand (if you forget yours).
Packing Checklist
You might like to bring along some of the following to make sure your session goes without a hitch and you can get exactly the images you want.
- Cake if you’re cake smash (of course!)
- Outfits (for you and anyone else you’re including)
- Muslin or bib – one year olds are famously dribbly and we’ll want to keep them clean for at least part of the shoot
- Wipes if you have a brand preference (I have plenty at the studio otherwise)
- Plastic bag so you have something to wrap icing covered items in
- Towel if you’re tub splashing
Two Weeks After…
Your gallery will normally be ready for you to view about two weeks after your session as usual but this time, there might be something a bit different. If you’ve been selecting the free digital image, then you will have been choosing that after each session and so everything will be exactly the same for you.
However, if you’re going for the frame, this time you’re going to get two sets of gallery links. One will be to the final baby club session and the other will be to the images from all your sessions for the year. You’ll use this to select the images you’d like to go in your frame. There’s an option to upgrade your frame to four apertures and include a newborn image (if we had that session together as well) and there will be instructions on how to request that in your gallery email.
It sounds obvious but all your photos need to be of the same orientation to work in the frame – so all portrait or landscape. If you have a real favourite though that is different from the other two, just ask me as I might be able to switch it up for you.
If you’ve been choosing to take a free digital image from each of your Joey Club sessions, you can still also have the Joey Club frame as well. Simply let me know the images you would like in your frame, and use the link below to transfer the £39.95 and I’ll get your frame ready for you.
You’ve been through the process at least twice before so it should all feel pretty straightforward at this point but of course, as always, I’m always here so you can just give me a shout.
If you ever need to access your gallery directly, you can head to my gallery homepage at and enter your personal password.
Useful Articles…
If you’re the kind of person who likes to read more, then here’s a list of some of my main blog content that might be helpful to you when you’re looking ahead to your birthday photo shoot.
Useful Videos…
If you prefer your content in a video format, then check out my YouTube channel…
Recent Blog Posts
First Birthday Portrait – A Milestone Worth Celebrating
Bright, simple and full of charm—this first birthday portrait marks a special milestone in style.
First Birthday Tub Splash Session – Clean, Simple, and Full of Smiles
This joyful first birthday tub splash session was full of giggles, warm water, and clean, simple fun.
Same Cake, Very Different Reactions
One cake. Two babies. Wildly different approaches—and the kind of moment you just have to capture.
When You Realise the Cake Is Just for You
That magical moment when they realise: this cake is mine. A perfect reaction from this little birthday girl!