Why Choose a Tub Splash for a First Birthday Photoshoot?
After the excitement of a first birthday cake smash, many parents opt for a tub splash as a fun and adorable way to round off the photoshoot. There’s something irresistibly cute about a baby splashing around in a miniature tub, surrounded by bubbles.
It’s not just a chance to capture candid, joyful moments; it’s also an opportunity to clean off all that cake icing in the most photogenic way possible!
My tub splash photoshoots are designed to be safe, comfortable, and irresistibly fun for your little one. The setting is warm, the tub is filled with shallow water (just enough for splashing), and there are plenty of bubbles to keep your baby entertained. It’s an ideal way to create images that are not only beautiful but also completely unique to this fleeting stage of your child’s life.
What to Expect During a Tub Splash Session
The session is relaxed and led entirely by your baby’s comfort and mood. We’ll begin with a simple setup featuring one of my tubs – either a classic white roll top bath, a rustic tin tub or a clear bath (for milk baths) and optional decorative elements like fresh flowers, greenery, or colourful balloons, depending on your preferred style. If your baby has a favourite bath toy, feel free to bring it along—it’s a great way to personalise the shoot and make your little one feel at ease.
Throughout the session, we’ll allow your baby to enjoy the splashing and play freely. We’ll capture a mix of close-ups highlighting their happy expressions and wider shots to showcase the beautiful setup. It’s all about celebrating your baby’s personality and milestone in a creative and memorable way.
Tips to Prepare for Your Tub Splash Photoshoot
- What to Bring: A favourite toy or bubble wand can help your baby feel more comfortable and playful.
- Clothing Suggestions: For boys, simple shorts or swimwear work well, while girls look adorable in swim bloomers or a ruffled diaper cover.
- After the Splash: Bring a towel, spare clothes, and anything your baby might need to dry off and stay cosy after the session.
Why a Tub Splash Photoshoot is a Must-Do
Your baby’s first birthday is such a fleeting and precious moment, and a tub splash photoshoot offers a lighthearted yet stunning way to commemorate it. It’s perfect for creating keepsakes that will bring a smile to your face for years to come.
Ready to create splashing memories? Book your session today, and let’s celebrate your little one’s first big milestone in style!
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning your baby’s first birthday photoshoot can feel like a big task, but it’s easier when you know what to expect. That’s why I’ve put together answers to some of the most common questions I get about first birthday sessions, including how to prepare, what to bring, and how the cake smash and tub splash work. Whether you’re opting for a mini session or a full shoot, this FAQ section is designed to make the process smooth and stress-free, so you can focus on celebrating your little one’s milestone!
Yes, studio flash is completely safe for children’s eyes. The light is bright, but it’s only for a tiny fraction of a second and is much gentler than natural sunlight. Some children notice the brightness more than others, but the flash itself doesn’t cause any harm. If I know your child is particularly sensitive, I’ll simply adjust my lighting to keep them comfortable while still creating beautiful images.
There’s never any sales process or meetings with any of my photography – you simply and view your image gallery online and make any orders that you’d like to directly from there.
My online gallery should be fairly familiar to you if you shop online but in case you need a bit of extra assistance, you can click on the button below to access a help document that walks you through how to access your gallery, choose your favourite images and place an order. Of course, if you are having problems, just get in touch and I’m always happy to help.
Payment is due when you booked your photo shoot but if it is more than two weeks away, you can choose to pay a deposit of £20. The balance is due the week before your booking.
Your choice of size and design of cake obviously totally depends on the style you like. Babies tend not to eat that much cake really although there have been exceptions so it’s not necessary to get anything too big (unless you fancy cake to take home with you and I’m not ever going to discourage that!). 6-8″ is fine.
Of course, when you book a first birthday photo shoot, you are welcome to cake smash, tub splash, do both or do neither. Whatever works for you. I have some first birthday props such as number 1’s that you’re welcome to include.
When you buy a digital file from me, the copyright stays with me as it would with pretty much all other photographers out there. However, that’s just a legal term that I retain as the creator of the image. You’re able to print and share the image as much as you’d like to – the only things that you can’t do is sell the images or claim that you took them. Other than that, they are yours to do as you wish with.
PS – Back them up!
This is question that I get asked a lot and it’s a really tough one to answer as it depends on so many things. If I’m photographing a baby and they’re in a great mood, then you have lots of photos where if they are finding things a bit difficult then you get less. Gun to my head, if I had to offer an average image count, then I’d say that you can expect to find about forty fully edited images in your finished gallery but that can vary wildly so it’s probably not a very useful statistic for you.
Absolutely! Photography gift certificates make a wonderful and thoughtful present – perfect for birthdays, baby showers, new arrivals or just because.
You can choose any session type (newborn, family, maternity, baby club, cake smash, or even seasonal minis) and I’ll create a beautifully designed certificate for you to give.
Gift certificates can be supplied as a printed version, ready to wrap and hand over, or a digital version, perfect for last-minute gifting. Each one comes with full details on how to book, and the recipient is free to choose a date that suits them.
If you’d like to order one, just click on the button below. It’s a lovely way to give someone the gift of memories that last a lifetime.
I love dogs and they’re welcome at my studio. When you’re combining a dog and baby portrait, the only advice I have for you is to wait until your baby is able to sit up unsupported as otherwise it’s very difficult to pose them together. Probably don’t bring them if you are having a cake smash as that’s probably just a disaster waiting to happen – even the best trained dog is probably going to be unable to resist all that cake!
I keep your images for 18 months following your session date and after this point, they are permanently deleted so if you are purchasing digital copies, I can’t stress enough to back them up safely.
When they go online following your session, they will be on there for a month for you to order from (although I can extend that if you need a bit more time to choose – you just need to ask!)
My studio (located in Crawley Down, just a short drive from East Grinstead, West Sussex) is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
I welcome bookings within those hours, and if you have special scheduling needs or want an evening or Sunday option, feel free to ask – I’ll always do my best to accommodate when possible.
I present all of your images in colour and then I’ll add in black and white copies of some that I think particularly suit it. Of course, if you’d rather have an image in black and white then just ask and I’m happy to switch it over for you.
You would think that babies would automatically be keen to dive into the delicious treat in front of them and have a good old play but quite a lot of babies don’t like to get their hands dirty. The good news is that you don’t need total cake devastation to have great cake smash photos and there are a few tricks that we can use to get them interacting with the cake. Firstly, patience – they just need some time to get used to the idea. I also have miniature wooden spoons at the studio which are great to encourage interaction without having to get messy hands. We can also hide some familiar treats at the back of the cake as that can help to get them diving in – or at least looking like they are!
It’s understandable that you don’t want your little one to have too much sugar if they’ve not had it before. They actually don’t usually eat a great deal of the cake during a cake smash (sometimes they do but usually not) as it’s more about exploring the textures of it. However, you can make cake with a sugar free alternative and I have had some clients use fresh cream flavoured with fruit like blueberries and strawberries as an alternative to icing and that’s definitely been very popular.
Bubbles are the ideal accessory with a tub splash photo shoot and I have a bubble machine that’s capable of producing loads of them at the time and saving us having to puff ourselves out doing it.
I have a range of backdrops you can use for your child at a photo shoot and you can make a choice on what you would like when you arrive at the studio. However, if you’d like to take a look in advance…
Each of your images is edited to make sure everything looks at its very best – that’s why you have to wait a little while after your session before you see them.
Yes, twins are welcome to share a cake smash and tub splash photo shoot and the price doesn’t change of course. I’ve done sessions where the twins have had a cake each but to be honest, it works better if they share otherwise they constantly want what the other one has!
You need to bring along your cake, an outfit to smash in and bubble bath and a towel if you are adding in the tub splash portion of the session. There’s an article on my blog with much more information about other things you might like to think about here – What to Bring to your Cake Smash Session
You’re welcome to bring along your own props and accessories to personalise your session and create your perfect set of photos to remember the occasion by.
My range of props and accessories is growing all the time, but I have a large pink and blue number one that is perfect for the clean part of the shoot. I have a range of tub splash accessories to choose from, and a good selection of bunting that you are welcome to borrow. If you have specific ideas, it’s always worth getting in touch to find out what I have and how we can create your perfect set of pictures.
I have a choice of two miniature baths for your tub splash – a vintage styled tin tub and a more modern miniature claw foot bath. You can see both if you take a quick flip through the cake smash category on my blog.
It’s completely up to you although obviously it’s likely to get covered in icing and so I don’t recommend anything that you aren’t prepared to say goodbye to if the stains won’t come out (that’s particularly the case where the icing is a dark colour). Some people prefer their little ones to be full dressed (although I do recommend bare feet), some wear just trousers or a pettiskirt, or some smash in just a nappy although a nappy cover can look a bit nicer. There are lots of specially designed cake smash outfits available now that they have become so popular so auction sites, Facebook marketplace and Etsy can have some beautiful things. Unfortunately, I don’t let you borrow my outfits from the studio for the actual cake smash as they would quickly get ruined so just bring along something that you love.
I have a clear perspex stand, a wooden stand and a log slice style stand that are perfect for round cakes of 8-10 inches.
You’re welcome to bring along your own if you prefer but a cake stand isn’t a necessity. The thing to know is that if you use a cake stand, the cake is a lot more likely to end up getting tipped on the floor (with the exception of the log slice as that’s already there) which can be cute but it depends on what you are after in terms of photos.
Cake stands can also be a bit help if your child isn’t a fan of getting messy as they let them sit close to the cake without touching it and I’ve found that can encourage exploration in some cases.
They’re not an essential part of a cake smash photo shoot though so if you don’t fancy using one that’s fine, just bring your cake along on a board (if it doesn’t already come with one) or a flat plat so it’s easy to move around and transport to and from your session.
Some people prefer to get a cake professionally made, some people bring their own or some buy one from a supermarket. Whichever you choose, I don’t recommend chocolate cake as it can look a bit like poo in the finished images. Buttercream or fresh cream icing is ideal for the maximum squish factor – royal icing can be a bit tough for little fingers to get into. Any kind of decorations are great from personalised cake toppers, tons of colourful sprinkles or fresh fruit – whatever suits your style.
Yes absolutely! You can celebrate the milestone of your baby’s first birthday with both a cake smash and a tub splash (it’s all included in the £95 session fee) or you can choose to do just one – it’s entirely up to you.
A tub splash photo shoot is the perfect companion to a cake smash session although it works just as well on its own if your baby enjoys bathtime. You choose one of my two miniature bath tubs, we fill it up with warm bubbly water and let your little one splash and play. If you’ve had a cake smash just beforehand, it’s a great way of them getting clean as well as creating some fun photos.
A cake smash photo shoot pretty much does exactly what the name would suggest. You put a birthday cake in front of a one year old and let them just explore, play and occasionally eat until their heart’s content. The resulting images are bright, colourful and fun and the perfect way to celebrate and commemorate the important milestone of reaching the end of your baby’s first year.
Of course. I’m happy to includes parents and siblings in images at the start of the session before the cake comes out. After that, they can relax and watch the fun unfold.
Each of your images is professionally edited and so there will be a bit of a delay before you can see your images while I get everything ready for you. This can vary according to a number of factors but generally, it’s about a two week wait before your images are uploaded to your private online gallery. I’ll be able to advise you better on exact waiting times at your session.
I’ll always do my best to accommodate last minute session requests but the studio can get busy, especially if you need a Saturday appointment. You can book your session up to three months in advance and so I recommend booking early to make sure you get a session date and time that suits you. If you’d like your photos to be ready for the big day itself, then book in a a couple of weeks before so I have time to get everything ready for you to see and order.
I don’t provide the cake as it would be too complicated to meet everyone’s design needs, not to mention the problems arising from allergies but of course, there are lots of cake makers out there that you can use. Alternatively, there are some supermarket bought cakes that can be great – you just need to look and see if the icing is soft enough to make it smashable or you can make your own – I recommend fresh cream or butter cream icing as having the best squish factor.
My studio is based in Crawley Down, West Sussex, conveniently positioned between Crawley and East Grinstead and just a short drive from nearby villages like Copthorne and Turners Hill.
Most newborn, baby club, and family sessions take place in-studio, where I’ve set up a calm, warm, and safe environment for babies and families. I’ve designed the space for comfort, safety, soft light, and a full wardrobe of props and wraps.
You can find out more about it including the address and directions at My Studio Page.
We book the studio for an hour for a cake smash / tub splash session but generally speaking, sessions take about 45 minutes if you are starting with a clean shoot and doing both the cake smash and tub splash sessions. We move through things reasonably fast as your baby’s attention span is understandably pretty short lived at this age.
A cake smash and tub splash session (you can do both in a single session if you want to) includes your three favourite digital images and costs £95. You simply select your favourite images form your private online gallery – there’s no sales or viewing session to attend – you can order more if you’d like to directly from this gallery.
There’s no minimum spend or nasty pricing surprises with any of my photography. You’ll already know the price of your photo shoot and what’s included and if you’d like to order more, you simply do so from your online gallery.
I believe in complete transparency when it comes to pricing so you won’t get any nasty surprises. You’ll already know what your session fee includes in terms of images, and you can simply order more from your online gallery if you’d like to – there’s no sales or viewing session to attend.
Here are the prices for additional digital images and prints.
About two weeks after your session, I’ll have your images edited and uploaded to your private online gallery. There’s no sales or viewing session to attend. I’ll email you a link and a password and that will take you straight to your finished images.
Any digital images that you purchase will be sized at 10×8″ at 300ppi in JPEG format as standard. This is perfect for printing up to this size or slightly larger (you have more flexibility on size when it comes to canvases as they are printed at a lower resolution).
If you know you want to print significantly larger than this, you can upgrade your digital images to be larger file sizes and they will be sent to you on USB drive – just check your gallery pricing for the options here.
One little note though – always back up your USBs – they’re aren’t the most reliable technology for long term storage.
I kindly ask that you don’t take photos or videos during your session. Your booking includes my time, skill and copyright, and recording in the studio can interrupt the flow of your shoot. If anyone is seen filming or photographing, the session will need to be stopped and will end without refund – and that’s not a situation any of us want to be in. Please relax, enjoy the experience, and let me take care of creating the images for you.
First Birthday Photo Shoots in East Grinstead
Celebrate your baby’s first birthday with a session designed to suit you! Choose the Mini First Birthday Shoot for a simple and sweet session featuring your little one in one outfit against a single backdrop, complete your favourite image for just £45. For an all-inclusive experience, opt for the Full First Birthday Shoot, where we’ll capture your baby’s cake smash, a fun tub splash, and even family or sibling moments, all with three digital images included for £95. Let’s make their first birthday unforgettable—book your session today!
