WHAT TO EXPECT: CAKE SMASH SESSIONS

WITH SIMPLY COREY PHOTOGRAPHY

cake smash photographer near Atlanta, spaghetti smash for first birthday

WHEN TO HAVE YOUR CAKE SMASH SESSION
Be sure to schedule your session for when your baby is happiest. Do not schedule during your baby’s nap time or when they will be hungry, and do not count on your baby napping in the car on your way to me. Babies do much better when they’re well rested with a full belly and don’t wake up in a strange place expected to smile and perform!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU
Please complete the client questionnaire and client contract that I have emailed you before our session. This helps me to better prepare for our time together!

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?
My home studio is located at 8311 W Carroll Rd Whitesburg, GA 30185, and it’s a white house on a dirt road ACROSS from the 8311 mailbox.

Be on time! Give yourself enough time to get out of the house and avoid traffic. The time will come out of your allotted appointment if you are late.

Please park through the gates at the beginning of the driveway and follow the sidewalk to the front door.

I recommend using Google Maps for directions because other apps have given wrong directions before. My number is 678-896-9502 if you need me.

WHAT TO BRING
• The cake

• Cake smash outfit + extra outfit for non-cake portraits (if your session includes these)

• A change of clothes for baby – and for you! – so you can both leave cake-free

• Puff snacks or Cheerios. We’ll use these on the back of the cake to get baby’s attention if they aren’t interested in the cake

• A bottle of milk or sippy cup with water in case baby gets thirsty

• Baby wipes and extra diapers

• A towel to dry baby off after the splash

WHAT TO WEAR (IF YOUR SESSION INCLUDES FAMILY PHOTOS)

Solid colors are better than patterns since they keep the focus on the subjects.

Newer (not faded or pilly), wrinkle-free clothing photographs best.

Make sure tops, dresses, and bottoms fit comfortably and aren’t too tight to prevent unflattering bulges.

WHAT NOT TO WEAR

Avoid clothing with tiny stripes, checks, or dots. These will leave weird wavy patterns on your final images called moiré.

Cream and ivory are better than white for outdoor portraits.

Avoid identical outfits and go for coordinating, complementary colors and tones instead.

BABY’S OUTFIT
You will provide baby’s outfit unless we have discussed you using one of mine ahead of time. I do have a small collection of outfits for babies and will have anything that matches your set laid out in case you’d like to use it. I still recommend you bring your own so you know you have something you like that fits!

Please send me photos of the outfit if you have one picked out ahead of time. This way I can make sure the set matches.

If you need help, I can send you some links to a few outfit ideas online. Just let me know which one you go with!

Villa Rica cake baby photographer, chocolate chip cookie monster set

HOW TO PREPARE
Parents: plan on changing into or wearing clothes you won’t mind cake on during the cake smash. Not only will this be a workout, but you’ll be putting baby back on the set if they crawl off and then again when they’re done smashing their cake, which means handling a baby that may be covered in cake … which means you will probably get cake on you too!

Practice! Even the best eaters can end up unsure of their cake due to the squishy texture of the frosting, the super sweet taste, or the mess on their hands. To help things go a little smoother, I recommend letting your baby play in whipped cream or give them a cupcake as a practice run a few days before the session.

Be ready! Prepare everything you can the night before to give yourself plenty of time to get ready and arrive at your session on time. And remember to use Google Maps to find me.

Plan on dressing baby when you get to the studio so the outfit doesn’t get messed up!

RESCHEDULING
If you or your baby aren’t feeling well, please reschedule as soon as possible. Everyone attending the session must be symptom-free at least 48 hours before our session.

Simply Corey Photography is also not responsible for any health concerns or illnesses that may arise due to participation in this session.

Re-shoots are not given for how baby was acting or regretful personal choices – i.e. clothes, cake, etc. Fees apply for re-shoots requested by the client.

Atlanta cake smash photographer, under the sea studio set

THE CAKE
You will provide your baby’s cake … or donuts, muffins, cookies, pancakes, watermelon … whatever fits your theme!

The cake is one of the MOST important parts of the whole session because it’s front and center with your baby. Most parents aren’t bakers or cake decorators, so I highly recommend having one made!

SIZE: The best smash cakes are 6-8″ round cakes with 2-3 layers or a large cupcake.

COLORS: Be sure to order a cake that coordinates with your set! If you are picking up a cake from the grocery store on the way to your session (it happens), choose an ALL WHITE frosted or “naked” cake. Do not choose decorated cakes with random balloons, etc. because these will look out of place.

FROSTING: White and light frostings are best. Red, brown, and black frostings are NOT ideal because of the way they look when smeared all over baby’s face, plus red and black tend to stain.

Whipped icing is the best because it’s lighter and not as sweet. Buttercream is a close second. NO fondant. It is hard for baby to dig into and can be a choking hazard because it will NOT melt in baby’s mouth.

CAKE FLAVORS: White and yellow cake are preferred. Again, because it looks best in photos when smeared all over baby’s face!

NOT TOO COLD: Make sure the cake is not cold at the time of our session! Hard, cold cakes are more difficult to “smash” and baby will not like the feeling!

•WARNING! Wooden Toothpicks/Dowels INSIDE the Cake: Some bakeries use large wooden “toothpicks” INSIDE cakes to hold layers together. PLEASE make sure to ask your bakery if they use these and if it’s possible to not have them at all. We do NOT want your baby to go face-first into the cake and get poked!

TOPPERS & STANDS: You’re welcome to bring a topper, but they will ultimately be taken off when baby starts grabbing it because of the pointy end. A cake stand is optional. I have one you’re welcome to use, but please know that baby is more apt to tip the cake over if it’s on a stand. I also recommend asking your baker to put your cake on a cardboard round that will coordinate with your set. White is always good.

Villa Rica cake smash photographer, boho sunflower set

THE SET
I provide the backdrop and props for your cake smash! You don’t need to bring anything unless there’s something special or sentimental you’d like to include – but be sure to let me know of that something beforehand so I can work it into the set!

You are also welcome to send me inspiration photos so we can do a similar set, but it won’t be an exact copy.

DURING YOUR SESSION 

• You will be in charge of keeping baby on the set so I can be ready to take pictures at all times. Warning: this can be a workout. Wear comfy clothes!

• Please do not permit your baby to touch or play with the props in the set, the lighting, or any other studio gear.

• When trying to get your baby to smile, please get DOWN on my level and be as close to me as possible. Otherwise, your baby will be looking up and off to the side in all of their photos.

• You may take a few behind-the-scenes photos during your session if you do not get in my way, but NO photos of just baby on the set.

• If you have a splash after your smash, please do not let baby stand up in the tub.

Newnan cake smash photographer, splash tub after cake smash

AFTER YOUR SESSION
The remaining balance for your session (+ tax) is required on the day of your session. Editing your images does not start until your balance is paid in full.

I typically show a sneak peek within the first couple of business days after your session! These are posted on my Facebook and Instagram accounts, and I will email you to let you know it has been posted so you don’t miss it! And, of course, I would love for you to “love” the photo and click on the share option to show your family and friends!

YOUR ORDERING GALLERY
You will choose the number of images that come with your session from a private online gallery on the client website, approximately 2 weeks after our session.

Session galleries are available for 5 consecutive days, and when I email to let you know it’s ready, you’ll need to let me know when you’d like to start. I will email you the log-in information and other instructions on the day you choose.

Orders are due within the 5-day viewing period. A gallery extension will need to be purchased for $25 per additional day once your gallery expires.

You are more than welcome to share your gallery information with family and friends.

Tyrone cake smash photographer, princess studio session

YOUR ORDER
You must complete the checkout process to submit your order, even if you have only selected the images that come with your session.

Payment for additional images or products is due in full before orders are fulfilled and delivered.

All additional orders are subject to 7% sales tax.

Ordered digital images will be delivered electronically with a personal print release and a lab recommendation. I will send you a separate email with a download link within 3 business days after your order has been submitted.

Your download link will be available for one week, and there is a $25 service fee to reupload your images once your link has expired.

Your session’s images will be archived and guaranteed for 90 days from your order date. Please back up any purchased digital images for safekeeping.

Due to the custom nature of products offered, all sales are final.

Please let me know if you have any questions!