Milestone/cakesmash Session Prep Guide and what to expect

 I’m so excited that your Smash Session is almost here! About a day or two prior to your actual session, I will touch base with you to set up a time around your little one's most current nap schedule! If you’re not sure what that is, please take the next few days to simply monitor it. A well rested baby is a happy baby!

DO THIS THE WEEK OF YOUR SMASH

A trial run works in your favor, so do it! IF your little one isn't a huge mess maker then I suggest a trial run. Buy a cheap plastic table cloth and let your little one sit on the floor, give them a tub of cool whip or pudding/yogurt or get them a jumbo/regular cupcake or mini cake from the grocery store or our exclusive bakery "Sugar Coated Bakery" and let them go to town. I've found allowing them to do this before the smash makes them a little more comfortable sitting on the ground trying to eat cake here with lights and a camera in their face. Below is the rest of the prep the day of, if you have any questions about anything please feel free to ask! I can't wait!

This part is SUPER IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ

Bring something your baby LOVES to eat! That means if they love strawberries or mango, broccoli or cucumbers, donuts or chicken nuggets then bring it with you! Sometimes puffs just won’t do! If baby doesn’t want to eat cake we want them to want to eat something so PLEASE pack food your child likes that is small and easily picked up and placed behind/in/around the cake. Pouches and yogurt won’t work, it needs to be something solid. Think of things they like that are hand held and small that we can hide in or around the cake. Don’t be shocked if they don’t want to eat the cake, it’s completely normal! They are used to eating tiny pieces of food and we put a huge cake in front of them, most babies are totally confused! Some are extremely happy! Help make it easier by bringing small portions of their favorites!

WHAT TO WEAR

As a part of preparation for a successful portrait session, there is a list of things to check. Most importantly, you will need to pick out the best outfit for everyone involved in the session. We of course already discussed a theme and most likely, I have seen the outfit(s) your little one will be in. Please make sure to wash and iron them to make sure they are picture ready. Anything your little one(s) wear in the session MUST BE WELL FITTED. Anything that is too big & loose will not photograph well. I also do not reccommend any use of

onsies or shirts with words on the front, as they tend to look sloppy.

Once your little ones outfit is ready, think about hair & accessories that will go with the outfit. Some of the items that are easily missed are diaper cover, birthday hats, necklaces. Sometimes, those little things can make a huge difference to complete the look. 

PHOTO TIME

When working with children, I do everything I can to move at a fun quick pace. You may be asked to help child(ren) get relaxed or their attention during the session. Even though you may be allowed a hour for shooting, doesn't mean your little one will allow for me to capture them that long. Therefore, I shoot a lot in a little amount of time, moving through outfit changes quickly - especially if we have a happy baby on our hands. (No camera is allowed including smart phones to take pictures during the session.)

• CLEAN PICTURES

These photos are first and will last about 10 mins long. I will begin to capture your little one's expressions while they are calm and clean on a plain background, be prepared to be running around after your little one, constantly sitting them back in the photo shoot area. At this age, they are always on the go, so wear cool clothing... you may break a sweat. Don't be surprised if you little one gets frustrated with being confined to one place, just have some of his favorite things ready to distract him while he is there. (of course, we only bring these out if needed). After this, family will be joining to get few family pictures

• MESSY PICTURES

THIS IS IMPORTANT ~ PLEASE READ!!!!!!!

Please give your child snack and not a full meal if they wake up around the time of the session, we want them to be hungry (but not angry!) when we smash some cake! Please bring all their favorite treats, toys and items just in case they have a melt down! (It happens, they are 1!) Don't wear your best clothes in case you get frosted! ;)

Prepare to work out a little or a lot! If your baby is mobile, you will likely be corralling him/her and placing back in the spot where I will be photographing them. You might sweat but it will be worth it!

Just a little Warning - Sometimes the babies hate the cake, me, and well let’s face it, life. It's tough being one. Sometimes they love it. It's a total crap shoot. How they eat at home in a high chair has nothing to do with how they will eat a whole cake, sitting on the floor in a strange place in front of people being crazy in front of lights. Stage fright is a real thing, so just come in with an open mind and a relaxed demeanor. It could go either way so expectations for how long your little one will last during the entire session should be Now we move to the decorated backdrop, this part feels even faster! Once we bring in the cake, the photo session usually takes about 25 minutes. I let your baby set the pace, as some little ones are eager to dig into the cake & others are more hesitant & need some encouragement. If your little one is shy about digging into the frosting, you might have to get in there & show them how it’s done. Be ready for a mommy, daddy cake smash. WARNING: Most little ones cry during this process. Some a lot, some a a little, some not at all. They get messy, they get tired, they no longer want to be on this backdrop... This is when you break out their favorite treats & songs, so make sure to save the best for last! But just know - we will stick it out & keep shooting. Some of the best photos come in between screams. (lol).

• BUBBLE BATH

Now this is the fun part, bath time is all about fun, splashes, and bubbles. If you'd like a milk bath, let me know if you're bringing breast milk or want me to provide milk. For water, please bring a spare outfit to wear after the smash session and if you use special soap for skin issues/allergies please bring it with you. (Mr. Bubbles Free & Gentle is what I use for the bubble bath).. We'll capture candid moments, ensuring your baby is comfortable.

NECESSARY ITEMS TO BRING

• wipes
• water bottle / sippy cup (they get thirsty)
• snacks (puffs or something they love to eat to stick in the cake)
• favorite toys
• favorite shows ready to go on iPhone or tablet
• clean towel (for clean up)
• lotion
• extra outfit
• plastic bags for messy outfit

Sickness *******PLEASE READ******

IF you child wakes up sick with a snotty running nose, coughing, and/or fever not related to teething or seasonal allergies please call me ASAP to discuss options. I work with newborns and try to keep sickness out of the studio for the safety of my littlest clients. If you come to your session and your child is visibly sick (snotty/running nose, wet/nasty cough, or they are visibly

miserable, etc) you will be asked to leave and your session will be forfeited. You will be charged $99 session fee to reschedule.

PLEASE DO NOT BOOK A SESSION THE DAY AFTER/MORNING OF SHOTS!

If you contact me asap prior to coming in we can reschedule your session without penalty.

AFTER THE SESSION

You will have your gallery proof 1 week after your session via email for you to choose your favorites. Final retouched images will be delovered 2 weeks after receiving your favorite images. If you have any questions - please feel free to text me or email me right away.