This cake has become one of the most popular choices for first birthday sessions, and it’s easy to see why.

a little girl in a pink romper with a rainbow cake

White sprinkle exterior, rainbow layers inside and a cake stand that sets it off nicely. It looks good before anyone touches it and even better once someone has.

The key detail: I always make sure to cut into the cake before the session starts, so the rainbow inside actually shows in the photos. Left to their own devices, babies don’t always smash through enough cake to reveal what’s inside and that’s the whole point of this one. A bit of preparation means the colours are visible from the start.

These two tackled it in completely different ways. She went at it carefully, with great concentration, stealing glances at the camera between bites. He committed fully, got cake on his face within about thirty seconds, and looked extremely pleased with himself throughout.

Same cake. Entirely different energy. Both brilliant.

a little boy holding a spoon at his cake smash photo shoot

First Birthday Photo Shoots in East Grinstead

Celebrate your baby’s first birthday with a relaxed session tailored to you. A First Birthday Shoot can include simple portraits, a cake smash, a fun tub splash, and family or sibling photos, with three digital images included for £95. It’s a lovely way to mark the milestone and capture your baby’s personality at one.