CAKE SMASH
PHOTOGRAPHY
FAQ’S

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY SESSION?

A lot of mess and some really cute images! I love to celebrate birthdays, especially that milestone 1st birthday, so these sessions are all about having some nice photos taken first before the cake smashing madness begins, ending with a bubble-filled splash in the tub! Add in a totally unique setup just for your child and you will receive a gallery full of images to treasure.

Please see the full Cake Smash session information here for details and photos from my sessions.

when should i book my session?

If you want your images to display at their birthday celebrations, share on social media on the day or for invitations I recommend booking 4-6 weeks before their birthday to allow enough time for editing and ordering. If you want the images to display at home and to be a true reflection of them as close to their birthday as possible I'd recommend booking in on the most convenient date just before or after their birthday. Pop a reminder in your calendar when they are around 8-9 months old to get in touch with me to book your session!

when will my session take place?

These sessions are held during the week, working around childcare and any groups or classes and of course any plans you may already have for their birthday celebrations! I shoot Tuesday - Friday and during school holidays.

do we need to bring anything?

Before your session we will have discussed a custom theme for your child's session so there may be elements of this you need to bring with you on the day but this will be discussed on an individual basis as will change from session to session. You may prefer to bring a towel from home for after their splash too!

how long does a session last?

Sessions last between 1 and 2 hours, with a lovely outfit for their portrait session followed by either an outfit of your choice or one of my themed outfits if appropriate. We begin the session with a mini-portrait session, followed by the cake smash and ending with the clean up in the tub with some bubbles.

will i get to choose the theme?

This is one of the best bits! We will work together to create a custom theme for your child so the images are really personal to you and unique for your child. There is so much we can do and it is all about personal preference on the style you would like for the session. If you don’t feel you are particularly creative I will guide you to choose a theme that will be amazing!

DO YOU PROVIDE THE CAKE FOR SMASHING?

I include a yummy custom made cake from Mason’s Bakes in every session. This is a lovely large cake, made specifically for smashing and whatever your child doesn’t eat you get to take home - win win!

can i provide my own cake?

You are more than welcome to provide your own cake if you wanted something more elaborate for your session, or have someone that wants to make your cake as a gift. If you are interested in us providing something more elaborate (such as a two-tiered cake), we can work with you on creating something completely unique for the session (for an additional fee).

what if my child has allergies?

If your child is allergic to anything that could be found in a cake or a certain type of bubble mixture please let me know ahead of the session so we can address this individually.

how much do you provide for the setup?

I can provide air-filled balloons and themed pieces to create an engaging setup which can all be discussed with you when we plan your bespoke setup. If you are planning a themed birthday party it's always great to get the most for your money and use some decorations for your cake smash session too! I do encourage families to have a think about what they may have at home to enhance the set and make it more personal to your child.

what should my child wear?

For the mini portrait session I recommend a smart/casual outfit that suits the theme of your session as the portraits will be taken within your set. I think bare feet look great with most outfits and choosing something that complements the set is perfect! For the smash, a vest is usually the outfit of choice and I recommend BHW Designs for these as we can match to a custom cake topper too! I also have a few simple options for both available in The Cabin too that you are welcome to use!

i have twins, can they both be included at the same session?

If you have twins, triplets or more then we will definitely do their sessions together, but please let me know when booking as we may need to increase the session fee to accommodate the additional cake(s) and decorations if required.

Can my child's older siblings be included in the session?

We can squeeze in a few family photos at the beginning of the session if desired, however I recommend the rest of the session is all about the birthday girl or boy. The focus should all be on them celebrating this milestone and it can be quite overwhelming for baby, parents and siblings if they stay for the duration of the session so I do recommend they are taken for a walk or collected by a family member after their photos.

can i take my own photos?

You are welcome to take a couple of behind the scenes photos of me photographing your baby during your session to remember this exciting time in your child's life, however these shouldn't be close ups of just the baby in a set up as these are the images you have paid me to take and a phone photo will not do them justice! It can also be distracting for baby to have more than one camera in the mix and could cause them to be upset which we don’t want!

Please do not take any photos of any other elements within The Cabin as seeing this for the first time is all part of the experience of booking a session with Mama Bear Photography so we like to keep some details a nice surprise for future clients.

The camera on my phone is really good, why should i hire a professional?

As someone who takes thousands of photos on my phone I know they are invaluable in capturing those fleeting or funny things your children do every single day, but they cannot replace quality, beautifully crafted imagery that is meant for the walls and albums and this is what professional photography will give you. I will do everything in my power to coax natural smiles and laughs out of your child so the photos don't look forced or awkward, whilst showing them a really good time too so they remember the day fondly and want to keep coming back. Plus, who wants this much mess in their own home?!

Do you edit the images?

During your session, I will likely take around 200-400 photos. This consists of numerous angles of each pose and often very similar images, re-takes due to blinks, focusing on different areas and so on. Using my creative discretion, I only delicately edit the very best images including removing unsightly blemishes, colour correcting, detail enhancing and creative development to create the final portrait.

how many images will i get?

Images are not included in the session fee and are available to purchase separately. For a cake smash session, you will have a minimum of 40 images to choose from when ordering.

DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE AN IMAGE PACKAGE BEFORE I BOOK?

You don't need to choose any package when you book your session. When you receive your online gallery you choose your images and your preferred collection as well as any additional prints. products or wall art.

do you share images on social media?

I love to share a sneak peek from your session if time permits. I may also use any images from your final gallery on my social media pages as well as my website or blog as a promotional tool and most parents love to see their child being featured in this way. If you would prefer your child's images not to be used in this way that's fine too, please just let me know before your session.

How long does it take before we can see the photos?

Within 1 week of your session you will receive an email link to an online, password-protected gallery full of beautiful images from your session. These will have a basic edit on them for viewing purposes to allow you to choose your favourites and let me know those you’d like to order. At this point, you can also choose artwork or display pieces and once your invoice is paid your chosen digitals go into my editing schedule to be delivered back. to you 3-4 weeks later. Prints, artwork and albums will be delivered after this according to their different time scales.

If we order wall art or prints, how long will my order take?

This all depends on the specific products ordered and individual timescales however I would generally say between 4 - 6 weeks after you receive your digital files and your order will be fulfilled. All can be discussed further individually and I will keep you updated along the way too.

how do we receive our order?

The price of my products includes delivery, this could be in the post for smaller orders or we may hand deliver larger orders to prevent any damage to the pieces and you are also welcome to collect your order by appointment. All will be discussed with you individually upon ordering.