Yana Skakun
Family
A relaxed session marking your baby turning one, pairing styled portraits with a joyful cake smash.
Quick Answer
A first birthday photoshoot is a portrait session celebrating your baby turning one, often combining clean, styled portraits with a playful cake smash. It captures your little one's personality at a real milestone moment and pairs beautifully with family photos so everyone is included. It's best booked around 11 to 14 months, when babies are confident sitting up and full of character.
A first birthday photoshoot is a portrait session that celebrates your baby reaching one year old. It typically combines clean, styled portraits with a playful cake smash, capturing your little one's personality at a real milestone. Many families pair it with relaxed family photos so everyone is in the frame, and the session is usually booked around 11 to 14 months of age.
Most first birthday sessions move through two gentle stages. We start with clean, styled portraits while your baby is fresh and happy, capturing those genuine smiles, first wobbly steps and curious expressions. Then comes the cake smash, the part everyone remembers, where your one-year-old is set loose on a cake to grab, squish and taste it with no rules at all. I work patiently and let your child lead the pace, so the images feel honest rather than posed. There is no pressure to perform, and the messiest, most chaotic moments often make the best photographs.
The sweet spot is generally between 11 and 14 months. By this age most babies can sit up confidently, are curious about the world and show plenty of personality, but they are usually not yet fast-moving toddlers. Booking a few weeks before or after the actual birthday is completely normal and often easier than the busy birthday week itself. If your baby is teething, poorly or going through a clingy phase, it is always fine to reschedule, because a happy, well-rested child makes for far better images.
A cake smash is the moment we give your one-year-old their very own cake and simply let them explore it. Some babies dive straight in with both hands, others poke it cautiously, and a few decide they would rather not touch it at all, which is also completely fine and often hilarious. The point is not a tidy result but the authentic reaction, the icing on the nose, the delighted or baffled face, the sticky fingers. I photograph documentary style, so I am there to catch what genuinely unfolds rather than direct a performance.
Simple usually wins. For the portrait part, soft, solid colours or gentle textures photograph beautifully and keep the focus on your baby's face. For the cake smash, many parents choose an outfit they do not mind getting messy, or a sweet bloomer set, or even just a nappy for an easy clean-up afterwards. If you have a theme or favourite colours in mind, we can plan around them, but understated and timeless tends to age far better than heavily themed setups. A spare outfit and plenty of wipes are always worth bringing along.
First birthday sessions work wonderfully both indoors and outdoors. Based in Cambridge and travelling across the whole UK, I can photograph in your own home, where your baby feels most comfortable and the surroundings are familiar, or in a natural outdoor setting with soft light. Home sessions are especially lovely because they capture your real environment, your baby's favourite corner, the morning light through the window. For cake smashes, a space that is easy to clean, such as a kitchen, garden or a wipeable mat, keeps everyone relaxed about the mess.
Sessions are kept relaxed and unhurried, typically running around one to one and a half hours, with breaks for feeds, nappy changes and cuddles whenever your baby needs them. Working at your child's pace matters far more than rushing through a shot list. Afterwards you receive a gallery of carefully edited, natural-looking images that you can keep, print and share. Specific package details and pricing vary, so the pricing page is the best place to see current options, or simply get in touch for a tailored quote.
No. A cake smash is usually part of the first birthday session rather than a separate booking. We can include styled portraits, family photos and the cake smash within the same sitting, though exact options vary by package, so it is worth checking the current details or asking when you enquire.
That is completely normal and absolutely fine. Some babies are unsure about the cake, the lights or being the centre of attention, and those genuine reactions often make wonderful, honest photographs. I work patiently, follow your child's mood and never force a moment, so there is no need to worry about getting a 'perfect' performance.
It does not need to be. Booking a few weeks before or after the birthday is very common and often less stressful than the busy birthday week. The most important thing is that your baby is well-rested, fed and in good spirits on the day of the shoot.
Yes, and many families love to. A first birthday session pairs naturally with relaxed family portraits, so parents, siblings and sometimes grandparents can be included alongside the milestone and cake smash images. Just let me know in advance so we can plan the time accordingly.
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