Cake Smash Photography in Calgary: Everything You Need for Your Baby's First Birthday
The first birthday cake smash session is one of the most joyful, chaotic, and genuinely memorable photography experiences of early parenthood. Here's everything you need to know about how it works in Calgary.
What Is a Cake Smash?
A cake smash session is a styled photography session for babies turning one (though it works from 6–18 months), built around the permission to do the one thing usually forbidden: destroy a cake.
The session typically unfolds in three parts:
- Clean portraits — dressed and styled, before the mess begins
- The cake smash — baby's hands meet cake, chaos and personality follow
- The bubble bath finish — a warm, sudsy rinse that produces its own set of adorable images and provides a clean ending
What You Bring. What I Provide.
You bring: your baby's cake. You choose it, bake it, or order it — so you can ensure it's safe for your baby's diet and allergies. You bring your little one.
I provide: everything else. Custom backdrop and decor designed around your chosen theme. Styled birthday outfit, tutu, or props from my collection. Fresh fruit as an alternative or supplement to the cake. Professional lighting and the full studio setup.
What the Gallery Looks Like
A typical cake smash gallery includes:
- Styled clean portraits at the start (these are the framed-on-the-wall images)
- The full arc of the smash — from tentative first touch to full commitment
- Close-up expression shots (the expressions in these sessions are extraordinary)
- The bubble bath finale
- Family and parent portraits if included in your package
My Cake Smash Packages
| Package | Price + GST | Session | Edited Photos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smash I — Mini | $288 | ~30–45 min | 10 |
| Smash II — Classic | $396 | ~1 hour | 15 |
| Smash III — Premium | $540 | ~1.5 hours | 20 |
| Smash IV — Luxury | $720 | ~2 hours | 30 |
Family portraits are included from Package II. All sessions include a full proofing gallery within 7 days.
Prices subject to change — see availability page for current information.
How to Book
Book 6–8 weeks before the birthday. My calendar fills up, and the closer to the date, the fewer options you'll have. Check availability here or message me on WhatsApp with your baby's birthday.
FAQ
What if my baby doesn't like the cake?
It happens — and we work with it. I have fresh fruit as an alternative, and sometimes the most memorable images are of the baby eyeing the cake with extreme suspicion.
Can I do the cake smash and classic portraits in the same session?
Yes — the session structure includes clean portraits first, then the smash. Your gallery has both.
Book your cake smash session here.
Fernanda Bautzer Photography · 231 Yorkville Road SW, Calgary.