Are you looking for an alternative to a Cake Smash Photo Session to celebrate your baby's first birthday? Perhaps you are trying to avoid sugar, your baby has allergies, or you just want to do something a little different. Well, look no further! The Proof Photography customizes each celebration session, so we can create something unique for you!
Such was the case when Nancy contacted me to discuss her son Matteo's birthday photo shoot. She and her husband Omar had just hosted Matteo's Cocomelon-themed Birthday Party complete with cake, ice cream, and the works! All of their immediate family members were in attendance, and they had all taken plenty of pictures with their cell phones. Unfortunately when Nancy started going through the cell phone photos, she realized that she wasn't going to find what she really wanted - a high quality, professional photo that would be worthy to hang on the wall in their home.
Heirloom-Quality Wall Art
I bet we can all relate! We all have plenty of pictures on our cell phones, and they are great for reliving everyday moments, but even the best cell phone pic is not intended to be printed large and displayed in our home for generations to come. And let's face it, your baby probably doesn't have a cell phone, so how are they supposed to enjoy their images if they only exist in the cloud?
For Nancy and Omar, Matteo is their first baby, and this would be their first heirloom piece of artwork featuring him. Many of my Cake Smash & Splash photo sessions come from my Baby Plan clients, who receive several milestone sessions during baby's first year. But Nancy didn't discover me until Matteo was already a year old and she was searching online for a baby photographer. And I am so glad she found me when she did!
Collaborating on a Session Theme
As we discussed possible themes for the first birthday session, I suggested that we could keep the Cocomelon theme and go with a Watermelon Smash, instead of a cake smash. Nancy loved that idea because it would be completely different from the photos taken at the birthday party. Once we decided on the watermelon theme, everything else came together quickly. I showed her a couple of different color palettes, from pastel pink and mint green, to coral and spring green, all the way to true red and kelly green, which is the one that she ultimately decided upon.
I love personalizing each Baby's Cake Smash photo session and a great way to do that is by incorporating their birthday party theme, décor, and outfit. Matteo's wore his birthday outfit which was a white onesie appliqued with a red number "1", polka dot suspenders, and a bow tie. We finished the look with red diaper cover complete with Cocomelon applique.
I built the set with balloons in red, white, and two shades of green, a red tassel garland, and green stage curtains. I also had the watermelon cut and ready for the session before Nancy, Omar, and Matteo arrived.
Family + Individual Portraits
Before introducing the watermelon, we took a family portrait as well as some individual portraits of Matteo. First birthday photo sessions in my studio can be just about the baby, but I always suggest adding on family pictures at the same time. It's a celebration that the whole family takes part in, and I know that one day the birthday baby will enjoy seeing what his parents looked like when he was just one year old! These are my favorite "Mommy and Me", "Daddy and Me", and "Family of Three" photos!
After the family portraits, which typically come first, I like to take some photos of baby alone before they get all messy. I like to show off their personalities as well as their current abilities so that families will always remember this age and stage.
Most one year old babies can sit without assistance and pull up onto furniture, maybe even stand or walk with little or no assistance! Each baby is unique, so I just give them time and space to be themselves, and photograph them for posterity.
Watermelon Smash!
At this stage of the photo session, Matteo wasn't quite sure what to make of all this. But when he saw that watermelon, he knew exactly what to do! Like most babies, a little glance towards Mom to make sure it is okay to dig in...
And then those watermelon smiles appeared!
Matteo seemed to really enjoy the watermelon and had fun squishing his hands in it as well. After a short time, we took the onesie off and put the diaper cover back on in reverse to give him a completely different look with no shirt. I love this look for baby boys especially!
We let Matteo keep eating until he started to lose interest. He also loved the balloons and wanted to play with them, but I don't allow babies to get too close to the set for safety reasons, so we decided it was time to clean up.
Watermelon Splash!
Nancy had opted for the Smash + Splash session which allows babies some time in my vintage washtub. I filled the tub with warm water and added a cup of milk to make an opaque solution. For Matteo, I think bath time was the most fun of all. He loved splashing and made a big milky mess while making so many sweet and silly faces.
In fact, one of the images of Matteo in the bath is the one that Nancy and Omar chose for their wall art. Over Zoom, we had looked at the walls in their home, and found the perfect spot in their living room. I noted that their current decor was sleek and contemporary, and suggested a high gloss metal print, which they agreed would be just right. Once we did some measurements, we selected the appropriate size for their space, a 30x30 inch metal print. I love helping my clients select their finished artwork, and I offer many different sizes and finishes to make sure you get exactly what you want and need for your home.
The session was coming to an end, so I decided it was time for one last, parting shot. Happily I will be seeing this little family again soon - baby sister is already on the way! And you can bet that this time, Nancy knows exactly who to call for her maternity, newborn, and baby milestone photos!
Jill Nissen specializes in creating beautiful heirloom artwork celebrating all the special moments in a family's life, from maternity and newborn, milestones and birthdays, all the way up to high school seniors and beyond. Jill is the proud owner of The Proof Photography est. 2018 and offers clients both in-studio and on-location portraiture in Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana. Jill is a member of the PPA (Professional Photographers of America) and her work has been featured in numerous online and print publications. Contact Jill for more information and a free consultation!
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