First birthdays

I often wonder what was going on in my life before I reached the age when I could remember things - life must've been super sweet that my memories only start at the age of hmmm 13?:) of course I am kidding about that but nonetheless I cannot remember my first birthday and truly do wish we had a tradition like this very new and wonderful thing I recently discovered: a cake smash!

As any photoshoot, it takes time, planning, and preparation but wether this 'event' goes according to the plan of adults is not really the point, even though that's exactly what the pictures you see represent. Every parent I have ever talked to about a cake smash recalls something that was NOT caught on camera. Not due to the inability of the photographer but simply because it's a sequence of events that create a whole, and only through the stories can you truely begin to appreciate this crazy tradition called.: 'The cake smash'. 

So to those who are unfamiliar with this, a cake smash is a small photo-op featuring (drum roll), a cake!!!! And of course a child who is (usually) turning ONE! :) These pictures are a series of violent and messy attempts to slaughter the cake by the child :) wether with hands, feet, or whole face. Generally the photographs you see feature beautiful children surrounded by props with a cake in front of them - and what starts out as a pretty portrait, usually ends with cake and icing spread on everything from child to floor to props.  

What most don't realize is that the true cake smash isn't about the final picture of a handsome kiddo with his cake - it's the stories that are created during the photosession, when that same kiddo is refusing to even touch the cake, or accidentally sits/trips in it, or doesn't want anything to do with the set up and the photographer. There are true tears and lost of frustration that is expressed trough the session - but in the end - no one would be the wiser - because the pictures show a perfect child in a perfect set up:)  

I had the opportunity to shoot my first cake smash and let me tell you, it was nothing like what I expected:) but in the end I got to capture the true nature of my stud-model, and as usual - THAT is what makes it all worth it! 

Model: Oliver Nau

Cake: Jenna Nau