Cake Smash Photos

By Lisa Poseley Photography, serving Minneapolis and the Twin Cities Metro

Baby celebrating first birthday with colorful cake, balloons, and ice cream cart.
Smiling toddler sitting next to large white letters spelling "ONE" on a brown background.
Woman holding a toddler, both wearing black outfits, with gray and white balloons in the background.
Baby sitting next to a birthday cake with balloons in the background; "Happy Birthday" and a number one topper on the cake.
Family with child and rainbow cake sitting against a brown background.
Baby girl celebrating first birthday with a pink cake and white balloons.
A child sitting on the floor next to a rainbow-colored cake on a stand, with a balloon and star-decorated background.
A baby in a white dress with lace details and a floral headband, surrounded by clusters of colorful balloons including purple, green, pink, and blue, against a white background.
Toddler standing next to a large black balloon shaped like the number one, holding smaller black balloons, on a gray backdrop.
Baby in a light pink onesie sitting on a brown background with a wooden block.
Baby sitting on white rocking chair wearing red shirt and dark shorts, with a large white balloon nearby.
Baby dressed in a white shirt and black bow tie, holding a red rose, standing barefoot in a light-colored room.
A smiling woman in a black dress, a man in a purple shirt, and a baby in a light outfit posing together in front of a brown background.
Smiling baby in a wicker basket on a brown background.

Baby’s First Birthday Photos and Cake Smash

We turn your baby’s first birthday into a fun and memorable celebration with our cake smash photography sessions.

What to Expect

Our birthday photo sessions are designed to feel like mini parties in the studio! Children generally do very well during these sessions, especially at one year. We recommend planning the birthday session at least four weeks before the big day, allowing time for image selection and retouching, which typically takes 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the number of images and products ordered.

Customizing Your Photo Session

We believe in creating a personalized experience for each of our clients. Please book at least two weeks in advance for a custom backdrop option. We will consult with you on style and theme and present design options for the photoshoot. If you prefer, we can do a custom balloon garland for a more classic cake smash session.

During the pre-session consultation, we’ll collaborate to design your baby’s birthday photo session. Due to allergy concerns, the family provides the cake, and we partner with the fantastic Girl Friday for balloon garlands.

We also offer a selection of adorable outfits for your child to wear during the session (except for the cake smash portion). We’re happy to consult on style and wardrobe via email, phone, or text—whatever works best for you. Our studio has a dressing room, private parking, and a comfortable seating area for parents to relax and enjoy the session. Plus, there’s a wonderful coffee shop right across the street!

Included in Every Cake Smash Session

Every first birthday cake smash session with Lisa Poseley Photography includes the following:

  • Detailed Session Prep Guide: Arrive at your session fully prepared, knowing exactly what to expect with our comprehensive prep guide.

  • Pre-Session Consultation: During the consultation, we’ll discuss style, colors, and all the details to ensure your session is tailored to your preferences.

  • Private Online Gallery: After the session, you’ll have access to a private online gallery to view and purchase your favorite images. The gallery is accessible long-term.

  • Virtual Ordering Appointment: Lisa is available for a virtual ordering appointment to help you plan and select the perfect artwork from your session.

Pricing

Sessions begin at $1,490. Every session is tailored to your vision, styling preferences, and artwork goals. I’d love to hear more about what you’re looking for—please use the link below to schedule your complimentary consultation.

We occasionally offer seasonal specials and petite sessions; feel free to reach out for current availability.

What to Expect

Every session is unique, but my goal is always the same: to make your experience smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free from beginning to end. You'll receive clear communication, thoughtful guidance, and timely responses throughout. All details—including pricing—are shared upfront, so you can book with confidence.

  • We’ll start with a quick phone or Zoom call so I can learn more about your goals and vision for the session. I’ll walk you through how everything works, answer any questions, and go over pricing and artwork options. There's no pressure—just a relaxed conversation to see if we're a good fit.

  • Once you're ready to move forward, you’ll pay a retainer to secure your session date. I’ll guide you through the next steps and make sure everything is clearly laid out, so you can feel confident and excited for what’s ahead.

  • You’ll receive a session prep guide that covers everything—from what to wear and what to bring, to what to expect on the day of your session. You’ll also receive a detailed product and pricing guide so you can begin planning (and dreaming!) about how you’ll display your beautiful images.

  • Whether in my Minneapolis photo studio or on location, your session is designed to be relaxed and stress-free. I’ll guide you every step of the way so you never have to wonder what to do. We'll create a variety of images—from classic portraits to more natural moments—so you have a rich gallery to choose from.

  • After your session, you’ll receive a link to schedule your Zoom gallery review, which will take place 7–14 days after your session.

    During the gallery review, I’ll walk you through your images and help you select your favorite ones. We’ll also review product and package options for your final purchase and show mockups of albums, wall art, and other keepsakes.

  • Once you purchase your selections, I’ll deliver your images through a private online gallery. From there, you’ll be able to download your files and enjoy long-term access.

    Any products you’ve selected will be created and ordered at this time—delivery timelines vary depending on the item.

Client Testimonials

  • infant baby boy professional photo blue backdrop white pillow

    "Lisa is hands down a miracle worker when it comes to working with newborns and children! She welcomed us into her studio, made us feel so incredibly comfortable and immediately like family. She truly wants to capture your personal style and special moments perfectly! Lisa's quality of work speaks for itself and her product far exceeds expectations. Our newborn and 1 year old sessions were perfect! We shopped and shopped for a new born photographer and she was the perfect fit for our family. Will be using her talent over and over in the future!"

    Kendra Jo

  • baby boy on tummy blue backdrop white pillow professional newborn photo

    “Lisa was the perfect photographer to choose for newborn photos of our son. As first time parents, she made us feel at ease immediately. We could tell right away she was a mother herself and found ourselves soaking up all the advice we could while watching her take beautiful photos we will cherish for a lifetime. The photos are absolutely gorgeous, and the experience was better than we could have hoped for. We will definitely be going to her for future photos of our family."

    Ben S.

  • Smiling baby in a beige outfit sitting against a brown background, holding a wooden block.

    "My family had an awesome experience during our one year old photo session with Lisa. She demonstrated patience, professionalism, kindness and the utmost care for us. When my daughter was crying almost through out her photoshoot and my 3 year old was running all over the place, I was ompletely overwhelmed and worried that we may have much time to take more photos. She offered to have us come over the next to complete it and to me, that was impressive and yes all the pictures came out so beautifully. I would 1000 percent recommend her and you will definately have a great experience. Thank you Lisa!!!"

    Ofonime

  • Pregnant woman wearing a crown and white lace gown against dark background

    "I had an amazing experience with Lisa from my maternity to new born sessions. She is very flexible and understanding and patient. The quality of her work speaks for it self because this is her passion. I highly recommend her to help you create lasting memories"

    Daisy