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5 common cake smash fears, smashed : )

Oct 13 2026 | By: Blanck Canvas Photography

Baby girl in a pink tutu beside a smashed cake, with a One birthday banner in the background for clarkston MI photoshoot

It’s 11:04 p.m. The baby is finally asleep, and you’ve fallen down a cake smash, Pinterest-filled rabbit hole.

Pastel balloon arch. A tiny crown. Frosting-covered baby toes.

First round of thoughts: I should just do this myself. It’s a cake. It’s a baby. How hard can it be?

Then round two shows up: What if my baby doesn’t smash the cake? What if she cries the whole time?

I’ve done cake smash sessions for almost ten years, and I’ve heard it all. Let’s break it down:

Fear #1: “What if she doesn’t smash the cake?”

Some babies dive in face-first. Some poke it once, inspect their finger, and call it a day.

ALLLL of it makes a great photo.

The curious poke. The suspicious frown. The tentative lick, followed by shock and surprise. There’s no right (or wrong) way to smash a cake. My approach is to sit back and watch the story unfold. Every child has cute moments to share, regardless of their sweet tooth.

one year old girl reaching for a pink frosted cake on a white stand during cake smash clarkston mi photo session
Baby girl in pink sitting beside a first birthday cake and giant white ONE letters with floral garland backdrop during clarkston mi photo session

Fear #2: “If he cries, the whole session is ruined”

Babies cry. It’s totally normal at this age.

A meltdown doesn’t end a session. It’s a brief pause.

A snack, a snuggle, a minute to reset, and we keep going. I’m not in a rush, and your baby doesn’t need to be either.

Bonus: crying often looks like a smiling in photos 😊

Smiling baby boy in a blue plaid shirt sitting on a wooden floor against a gray background during first birthday photo session in clarkston mi
Toddler boy sitting on a gray floor reaching toward a blue frosted monster birthday cake on a white stand for milestone cake smash photoshoot in clarkston mi
Young blond boy in blue plaid shirt and suspenders covering his mouth with his hand and blue frosting during cake smash birthday photo session in clarkston mi

Fear #3: “I can do this myself... right?”

You can. Truly. Some moms pull it off and love the results.

But here's a couple things that make home smashes tricky:

  • Timing. You’re juggling naptime, the cake, a camera, and a very opinionated baby all at once.
  • You’re behind the camera. Which means you’re not in a single photo.
  • The cleanup. Frosting in the carpet, the high chair, the dog. Allll of it.

If you want to give it a try, here are a few DIY tips:

  • Shoot after a nap
  • Find light. Set up in front of a big window
  • Cover the floor with a sheet or tarp you can wash or throw away
  • Buy a small cake
  • Have a bath ready

And if you’d rather be in the moment instead of managing it? That’s what I’m here for.

Little boy legs and toes covered in bright blue frosting with birthday cake in background during clarkston mi cake smash photo session

Fear #4: “It’ll be all frosting and no ‘real’ photos”

I get this one a lot. You want the messy photos, but you also want a sweet 1-year-old portrait of your baby with a clean face to put on the wall.

My cake smash sessions have time built in for “clean” portraits and family pictures, too. I want you to have a gallery of beautiful portraits and messy, frosting-in-the-eyebrows ones.

Plus, YOU get to be in the pictures. First birthdays are also a milestone for you.

Toddler holding balloons shaped like the number 1 with green, yellow, and white balloons on a light background for clarkston mi birthday photoshoot
Baby boy sitting on the floor next to a cake on a wooden stand clasping frosting covered fingers during clarkston mi birthday photoshoot

Fear #5: “It needs to be a big, elaborate setup”

Nope. A cake, a baby, and good light is all we need.

Some families love the elaborate, and I’m all for it. Bring the decorations and let’s do it! But you don’t have to. You don’t need a balloon arch. You don’t need a themed backdrop. Simple works. Let your baby be the star.

Tip: Many families use (or re-use) decorations they’ve planned for their family celebration. High chair banners fit perfectly in the background. Borrow one of my cake stands and we’re ready to roll!

Baby girl sitting next to a birthday cake with wall wreaths and large white letters spelling ONE during clarkston mi cake smash photography session

The Best Time To Plan 

Most families book when baby is 9 or 10 months old. But if you’re already thinking about it with a squishy 6-month-old in your arms, you’re not early. You’re simply a mom who sees how fast this year is going. When you’re ready to talk photo plans for your soon-to-be cake smasher, let’s chat!

LET'S GET SMASHIN'
baby girl sitting in a wizard-themed room with vintage decor, books, and a cake for harry potter themed cake smash photography session in clarkston mi

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