I’ll be honest, I adore a good cake smash! But I realize that not every family wants to celebrate baby’s first birthday or other milestones that way. Maybe your little one has allergies or food sensitivities. Maybe they get overwhelmed easily and you feel like a smash and splash would be too much for them to handle. Or maybe a cake smash just isn’t your thing.
Don’t worry! There are plenty of other ways to celebrate. Here are just a few birthday and milestone photoshoot ideas for you that don’t involve dessert.
Birthday Celebrations
Balloons
Nothing says “party” like balloons! This is one of my favorite ways to decorate the studio for a birthday session. And since balloons come in all colors, they’ll go with any theme or color scheme.
Fresh Fruits
If you like the idea of a food smash but want a healthier option than cake, fresh fruits can be super fun! Strawberries or watermelon slices are fun and add a bright pop of color whether baby is interested in eating them or not.
Bubbles
Bubbles can be a great way to engage your little one’s interest and get some adorable shots!
Milestones
One-Year Portraits
If you prefer to save the party for home, consider a one-year portrait session rather than a cake smash. I have some beautiful and classic backdrop options, and am more than happy to include parents in some of our portraits as well, so you can have updated family and one-year baby pictures all in one session!
Sitter Sessions
The first birthday isn’t the only important milestone to capture. Sitter sessions are perfect for documenting baby’s growth between birth and one-year. As a first year baby photographer, I love getting all of those in-between moments that other photographers might miss.
Outdoor Session
If you’re just not sure about a studio session, another fun way to celebrate milestones is to head outside. Most kids love exploring the great outdoors, so if you feel like they would be more comfortable at a park or favorite location, let me know and we can arrange an outdoor meeting place for portraits.
Orange County, New York First Year Baby Photographer
If a cake smash just isn’t going to work for you, I hope it won’t stop you from capturing professional photos of your little one. There are so many other wonderful options for freezing those moments in time. If you have a non-cake-smash birthday or milestone photoshoot idea you’d like to try, please be in touch! I love serving families in and around Orange County, New York, and would be delighted to see if we can create a photoshoot that’s perfect for your needs.