Let them make mess! Why cake smashes are becoming so popular

Deb Hunt • May 22, 2023

I've got to admit, it took me a while to understand the cake smash trend!

I was like, why would I give my kid sugary food and let them make a gigantic mess? And then try to take pictures? But a few years ago, a client requested a cake smash, so I gave it a try. Now they’re one of my favourite types of session!



What I found was that 1 year olds are the absolute cutest, and this is a way of capturing them in their element – trying something new, engaging their senses, making a huge mess, and splashing around with water and bubbles.


So many parents want to capture their baby around 1 year old, in the fleeting few months as they transition from baby to toddler. A cake smash makes the whole experience fun for little ones. We usually start with a family portrait, some portraits of baby in their cute wee outfit before it gets messy, then we bring out the cake.



For many babies, it’s their first cake experience! Some embrace it with enthusiasm, and some are definitely skeptical. But pretty much every little one enjoys splashing in the bath in the second half of the session.


And parents love that they don’t have to clean up after!



Top tips for cake smashes:


  • The cake can be totally simple: just a supermarket sponge with a bit of buttercream icing (or canned whipped cream if you’re really short on time!) will do the trick. I have a variety of cake toppers to make it look pretty for the few minutes before it gets smashed. (On the other hand, if you want an epically beautiful cake, check out the 6” cakes at www.ohsugar.co.nz )


  • If your little one has a favourite treat, bring some along in case they aren’t a fan of the cake


  • Don’t forget a clean outfit for travelling home in!



  • Practice splashing with them in the bath at home so they can get really into it at the cake smash (splashing shots are the best!)

Why taking a cute photo of your newborn baby just isn't that easy

June 6, 2020
So cute, but such hard work. If you're like many new mums, you've spent hours feeding, rocking, cuddling, and gazing at your perfectly tiny and precious little one. You know they're adorable. But the photos you take aren't quite doing them justice. Here are a few reasons why this happens to many mums: 1. You're probably a little exhausted I look back on the photos I took of my own babies when they were still new, and I can tell I wasn't feeling great when I took those photos! The sleep deprivation and busy-ness of the newborn stage meant those photos weren't my best work. Give yourself a break, new mamas, you are doing the hard yards! My little boy when he was a couple of months old (he's nearly 8 now!)