A cake smash photoshoot is a fun and memorable way to celebrate your child’s first birthday. As a Dallas cake smash photographer, I get so many questions from clients confused about when they should be scheduling their cake smash photoshoot. To determine this, I ask one very important question…. What are you going to do with the photos?
Many people want to use their cake smash photos on birthday party invites and for display at the party. If that is your case, schedule your session 5 weeks before the scheduled party date. This is what your timeline would look like if you wanted to get your invitations out 2 weeks before the party:
Week 5 – Dahlias and Daisies Photography cake smash sessions take about 1 week to get back to you. I also offer a $150 rush fee for a 2 day turn around. During this time be looking online at party invites so you are ready to roll once you have your images!
Week 4 – Now that you have your images back it’s time to design your party invites! Hopefully you picked this out last weak and you are ready to design the card! Once that is done, most companies will take about one week for you to get them back in the mail.
Week 3 – Get those envelopes addressed!! Stick the stamps!! Drop in the mail!
Week 2 & 1 – Now you can party plan, the hard stuff is done!
Maybe you don’t plan on sending paper invites, or even digital but you want to display the images at the first birthday party? Schedule your cake smash session 2-3 weeks before the party. Depending on how much you enjoy running around last minute will determine if it is 2 or 3!
No Party?
Some people are not planning a party and just want to your Dallas cake smash photo session as close to the baby’s birthday as possible! That’s fine to! As a Dallas Cake Smash photographer, I get to celebrate so many first birthdays with you and the baby! What a fun way to spend the day!
When should I reach out to plan my Dallas cake smash photo session?
Another question I get a lot is how far in advance should I schedule cake smash photoshoots? My answer will always be AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! It feels like since the pandemic many people are now waiting until the very last minute. And that’s fine, but when you do that, you are stuck with the props and themes that I have on hand. I have been a Dallas cake smash photographer for 12 years so that really is a lot, but every now and then someone asks for something that I just don’t have on hand! If you have a theme that is very specific, please book at least 2-3 months in advance!
Last, but not least, what time of day should we shoot! I will always push you to bring baby to me right after a nap! Cake smashes can be overwhelming to the little ones and having them well rested is by far the most important thing! I like to be flexible on time and will often give you a window of time to arrive during corresponding to the end of your baby’s nap instead of an exact time. This way we can make sure baby is well rested and ready to party!
By considering timing, your child’s schedule, and your own personal preferences, you can choose the best time to do a cake smash photoshoot that will capture the joy and celebration of your child’s first birthday.
