What to Expect at Your Cake Smash Session

You picked a date, paid the deposit, and now you are counting down to your baby's cake smash session. Wonderful. But what actually happens when you walk through the door? Here is a step-by-step look at how every mini session unfolds at our Edgewater studio so you can show up relaxed and ready to enjoy every frosting-covered moment.

Before the Session

About a week before your date, we will reach out to confirm your session time and ask a couple of quick questions: What color scheme are you thinking? Do you have an outfit picked out? Any allergies we should know about for the cake?

Send us a photo of the outfit your baby will wear and we will color-coordinate the entire setup to match — banner, balloons, backdrop, and the cake itself. This is one of the biggest advantages of a studio session: every visual detail is planned in advance so the final images look cohesive and polished.

Arrival — The First 5 Minutes

Our studio is at 6241 N Clark St in Edgewater, a five-minute walk from the Granville Red Line stop with street parking on Clark and the surrounding blocks. When you arrive, we will have the set already built and the lights dialed in. The door will be open and the studio is climate-controlled, so you will not be wrestling a stroller through a cold hallway in January or sweating through August.

Take a minute to settle in. Change the baby into their outfit (we have a changing area). Use the restroom. Breathe. Mini sessions are 30 minutes and that clock does not start until we pick up the camera.

We always start with clean portraits before the cake comes out.

Phase One: Clean Portraits (10-12 Minutes)

Before any cake appears, we photograph the birthday child in their outfit against the styled set. These are the clean, composed portraits — sitting up, close-ups of their face, the little details like tiny shoes or a flower crown. Many parents tell us these end up being their favorite images from the entire session because babies at this age change so fast. These portraits freeze exactly who they are at one year old.

We work quickly and playfully. Squeaky toys above the lens, gentle sounds, peek-a-boo — whatever it takes to get genuine smiles and wide eyes. If your baby is shy or needs a warmup minute, that is completely normal and we have seen it all since 2009.

Phase Two: The Cake Smash (15-18 Minutes)

This is the main event. We bring out the custom smash cake — a small, beautifully decorated cake from a local Chicago baker, included in every session price — and place it in front of your baby. Then we step back and let them discover it.

Some babies dive in with both fists. Some poke at the frosting with one cautious finger. Some stare at it like it personally offended them. Every reaction is perfect and every reaction makes incredible photos.

We shoot continuously through the entire smash, capturing the first touch, the first taste, the moment they realize frosting is actually delicious, and the glorious mess that follows. We will also capture a few wider shots of the full scene — the decorated set, the cake carnage, your baby covered head to toe.

The styled setup is color-coordinated to match your baby's outfit and your chosen theme.

Wrapping Up — The Last Few Minutes

Once the smash is done, we will hand you a warm washcloth for the baby (and possibly yourself) and you are free to change them back into clean clothes. We handle all the cleanup — the cake, the set, the frosting on the floor. You do not need to worry about any of it. Just grab your diaper bag and go celebrate the birthday.

After the Session: Gallery Delivery

Within two to three weeks, you will receive an email with a link to your private online gallery. Mini sessions include 20-30 fully edited digital images at full resolution. You can download them all, share them directly from the gallery, and print them anywhere you like. There are no print minimums and no hidden fees.

The images are professionally color-corrected, retouched, and exported at full resolution. They are yours to keep, print, post, and treasure forever.

Tips for the Best Session

• Schedule around nap time. A well-rested baby is a happy baby. If your child usually naps at 1 PM, do not book a 1 PM session.
• Bring a spare outfit. Babies and frosting are unpredictable. A backup outfit means less stress.
• Do not stress about perfect smiles. Candid reactions — even confused or grumpy faces — make for the most memorable, authentic images.
• Arrive a few minutes early. Rushing creates stress. Give yourself a buffer.
• Trust the process. We have photographed hundreds of cake smash sessions. We know how to work with babies of every temperament.