cake smash prep guide

Thank you so much for booking your cake smash session. I am so excited to work with you!

If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to reach out!

So that I can get a better idea of the overall look/feel you are hoping to achieve, please take a moment to complete the questionnaire

CAKE SMASH QUESTIONNAIRE

studio location

4930 N HOLLAND SYLVANIA RD, SYLVANIA, OH 43560

My studio is located in the Pacesetter Square office building, located next to The V.I. restaurant. I suggest parking & entering through the back entrance of the building. When you come in, go straight ahead through the door that says “OFFICE ENTRANCE”. I will be down the hall on the left.

cake & decor

I love the look of a simple white cake or naked cake, however, you can go as over the top as you want! I do suggest staying away from chocolate cake/icing, as it can look yucky in the photos. You can easily add interest to a simple cake with greenery, florals or a cake topper.

If desired, I have a selection of baby boy & baby girl outfits available, as well as headbands and flower crowns. If you plan to use an outfit from my client closet, the cake frosting must be white or very light colored - no colors can be used with my items from my client closet.

I am happy to provide a cake stand or vintage high chair, as well as simple decor such as non-helium balloons, greenery, florals, etc. Helium balloons or other theme-specific decor are to be provided by the client. If you have a theme in mind, definitely communicate that to me in advance because I may have coordinating items in my prop inventory. We will work together to create a beautiful cake smash setup!

what to expect

When you arrive, I suggest parking & entering through the back of the building. While I am so appreciative of you being on time, please do not come to the door more than 5 minutes before your session time.

We will begin the session with a photo of your little one without their cake. After that, the fun begins! The focus of the session will be documenting them eating their cake. It can be helpful to let your baby try some cake a week or so beforehand (if they haven’t already), so that they can get used to the taste & texture.

I suggest bringing some water so that your little one can take sips as needed.

Once the cake smashing is over, your only job is to get your little one cleaned up! Make sure to bring lots of wipes and a towel to clean them up after all of the smashing is done. I do have a small sink available to wash hands — I will handle cleaning up the the rest of the mess!

You can expect to be at the studio for about 20-30 minutes, give or take. That said, I am very patient and it is not a problem if your little one needs some extra time to get comfortable!

Keep in mind that your session is not a time for multiple family members to come along (grandparents, aunts, friends, etc). I definitely understand everyone is very excited about this milestone, however, I have found that too many people in the room can be very overwhelming…which may cause your little one to become overstimulated and not know where to look for the photos.

You are more than welcome to take behind-the-scenes photos & videos during your session! I love it when you post them & tag @sweetbloomphotography. If you happen to get any good ones of me working, please send them to me!

payment

Payment of your remaining balance is due the day of your session. I accept cash only (no checks please).
Please remember that late payments will result in a delay of receiving your online gallery.

after the session

After your session is over, the real work starts for me! I will begin retouching your images to perfection, including basic touch ups on the skin (scratches, blemishes, etc). I leave stork bites & birthmarks as they are, however, if you would like things of this nature removed, just let me know.

You can expect to receive your online gallery no later than 3 weeks after the day of your session. Unless 3 weeks has already passed, I kindly ask that you please do not contact me about the status of your photos. I promise I am working as quickly as possible to get your gallery to you - I really appreciate your patience!

When posting your images on Facebook & Instagram, it would mean the world to me if you tag or credit Sweet Bloom Photography! Being a small business, that simple gesture makes a huge difference for me and is so, so appreciated. Thank you in advance for doing so!

Make sure you download your images to at least 2 locations (not just take screenshots) and then backup to an online service such as Google Photos (free!) or Amazon Photos (free with Prime)

custom photo products

I offer much more than your standard prints + canvas that you can get from pretty much anywhere. I work with some amazing vendors that create beautiful & unique products that are only available to purchase through a professional photographer. Handmade wood photo blocks, hanging canvas prints, custom wood ornaments, hand crafted photo jewelry, and more!

You can purchase photo products like these directly from your online gallery.