Cute Butterflies for a Cakesmash

A cake smash is a fun and messy way to capture cute and memorable moments on your little ones 1st Birthday. Originating from the USA a cake smash is a photo shoot where a baby is given a cake to smash and play with whilst the photographer captures ‘memories that last a lifetime’

Jungle Cake Smash

A cake smash is a fun and messy way to capture cute and memorable moments on your little ones 1st Birthday. Originating from the USA a cake smash is a photo shoot where a baby is given a cake to smash and play with whilst the photographer captures ‘memories that last a lifetime’

Cake or fruit smash that is the question?

Cake smash or fruit smash??

Cake smash - messy but fun too!!

I absolutely love doing cake smashes and think they are a really wonderful way to document a milestone of your little one turning ONE.

“There undoubtedly has been lot of missed celebrations during the Lockdown so what better way to play catch up and celebrate with your little one

”

However fruits smashes are just as exciting and fun for both your little one and for you too.

Fruits smashes just as much juicey fun too!!

They have become very popular due to the popularity in America but UK are definitely bringing some fun for little ones across photography studios in the UK nowadays.

If however a cake smash isn't for you (the mess is just not for you? I get that! ) then perhaps you may prefer an alternative to the traditional cake smash photo session a fruit smash session instead.

You choose the fruit Beside the seaside photography does the rest!!

A fruit session is a fun alternative to the classic American 'cake smash'
It is pretty obvious what is featured in a fruit smash lots of colourful fruit ( rather than a sponge cake with lots of messy icing) however the concept and the design is just the same.

Fruit - The first weaning foods, great for a fruit smash too!!

Your baby can have an absolute blast squelching and touching the deliciously cold and scrumptious fruit ( probably one of the first weaning foods they will begin to taste.)

Whilst I capture all the fun and adorable photographs that will make a colourful addition to a photo album and printed frames on any walls in your home.

What does a session include?

A fruit smash session includes portraits of your baby before the session then I will then capture a variety of cute poses of them playing or sitting against a colourful themed backdrop with accessories balloons and banners to match your theme.

If the photo session has been organised to coincide with your baby's first birthday I can also use large wooden letters spelling out the word 'one' in the photos and numbers to match.
Some children tried to eat the letters however they are indestructible and are very safe to be used for little ones !

Turning ONE - one of the special milestones in little ones life

Older babies are also welcome as I also explain in my separate blog about when is best to book a cake smash session.
Then the entertainment begins when I bring out the fruits ( included in your package) and I will arrange a display of brightly-coloured fresh seasonal fruit.

As with my traditional cake smash portrait sessions your baby will probably love the colours and also the taste of the fruit. So they'll be delighted to have the chance to tuck in and they are welcome to make as much mess as they like!

Fruit baths, delightfully sweet and fun ( Just like you little one!! )

I will take photographs and your child will get cleaned up afterwards using my clawfoot child sized bath with warm water and bubbles then you can dry your baby while keeping them warm in the cosy studio setting with a towel and get them dry after what has been a fruit filled bath and have fun sensory experience for them!

so cake smash or fruit smash photoshoot what would you choose?

Turning O-N-E is definitely a milestone that needs to be celebrated and documented.

Cake smashes have definitely been popular for many years now and their popularity shows no signs of slowing down the reason is clear it's a messy but 100% a fun-filled session that both children and parents love and the photos graphs are a fantastic memento of this special milestone.

As well as being perfect for your walls at home the fruit or (cake smash) photographs can also be used to personalise party invitations, gift cards, photo gifts and calendars. ( see link)

Great photographs for designing your little ones first birthday invites

There are so many ways you would use the photographs I'm confident they will make you smile each time you look at them!
Book a fruit smash photo session with beside the seaside photography today.

If this sounds like something you think your little one would love please get in touch by completing a form to secure a date for your bespoke session.

Cake or fruit that is the question?

I really look forward to having you in my new photography studio in Portsmouth UK very soon,
Sophia x

“Book a fruit smash photo session with beside the seaside photography today. If a fruit smashing sounds like something you think your little one would love please get in touch by completing a form to secure a date for your bespoke session.”

Oh January 2021 what a long month you were !!

Who else feels like January has been the longest month in history ?

Yes it is common place that the first month is always so slow in comparison to the other months of the year but January 2021, oh boy you certainly dragged your heels didn't you !!

The month after Christmas, A long time since pay day , The 3rd Lockdown announced, Blue Monday, homeschooling AGAIN and everyone trying to stick to dry January ( not particularly hard when all pubs are shut I guess ? I stuck to it albeit a tad of red wine in my roast dinner gravy !! )

Well enough doom and gloom I wanted to share something very special with you all it is something I did in the studio just before Christmas by special request of my client.

Mrs C wanted to create a calendar for a present from her son to her husband ( also little Atticus's Daddy )

I was given a list of ideas by my client for each month but bizarrely I had been eagerly researching this special calendar session and we had near enough chosen exactly the same ideas for each month.

Attucus’s Mummy had also added a few personal ideas too.

I initially met Atticus and his Mummy one day whilst shopping, when Atticus was just 3 months old.We hit it off instantly and it was so nice to chat to someone over the age of 12 !! ( who else has missed proper adult conversation during this pandemic ?? You know the verbal kind and not just Zoom, WhatsApp and Messenger ??!! )

As anyone who already knows me I am a very friendly and approachable kind of person so it's no surprise we chatted for quite a while, obviously the cute and smiling Atticus being the centre of attention at all times !!

Atticus then became a model at my home based studio for Halloween and it was there I got to know Atticus and his Mummy a little bit more.

Atticus was born at the beginning of lockdown so his arrival into the world hasn't been quite the normal start to parenting for his Mummy but nether the less she has embraced parenthood wholeheartedly and given Atticus as many opportunities and experiences to say the least. And I could tell instantly he is one contented little boy.

Luckily we were able to use a few images from that model session for two Autumnal months October of course celebrating Halloween and November would include lots of leaves and Autumn-like colours.

So on the day of the calendar session we were left with the task of capturing 10 months worth of 'calendar prints'

With most of Atticus's wardrobe in my Portsmouth studio and an array of my appropriate outfits and props both his Mummy and I set to work.

( Mrs C chief wardrobe assistant and me as photographer !! )

We had an A-plan where we would start from December and work our way through each month accordingly.

I really couldn't believe how well it went Atticus seriously ‘rocked’ his session.

In total we were shooting for 2 hours with a few drinks and nappy changes for him along the way ( I was naughty and had an overload of coca cola, the sugar boost was very much needed !! )

The first three months went really well but come April we both think Atticus disliked the wool type texture bunny outfit (courtesy of Adaphotoprops ) plus the studio was really warming up by now !!

We ploughed on and managed to achieve May to September shots after this with continuous changing and shooting.

I had a feeling that September would be an extra special month as both parents are teachers so a Harry Potter themed set was totally on point !!

Wow, Atticus you were truly amazing and certainly did your parents proud ( and me ) that day.

On the day of the gallery reveal back at the London Road, Portsmouth photography studio ( due to officially open once Lockdown is lifted ) both myself and his Mummy loved so many of the images it really was so hard to choose therefore a USB with all images was the best option.

I know the tissues came in very handy at the reveal and Atticus the trooper that he is slept so that Mummy could really decide what images would be best suited for each month. ( He had been to a baby group beforehand too !! )

I so hope Mr C and Atticus's Daddy was overwhelmed and overjoyed with his first ever gift from his son at Christmas and will be just as happy when he looks at the calendar everyday for the rest of 2021 ( which of course can be framed afterwards too )

I was so pleased with how well the session went and wanted to order my own calendar for the studio too.( I also ordered a personal one for home of my own children - thank you for the inspiration Mrs C !! )

I think one thing is for sure during these unprecedented times looking at happy faces definitely gives us hope and certainty that this lockdown won’t last forever.

Now no doubt Atticus's Mummy is already planning his first birthday cake smash session ( any guesses of what theme she will choose !!…..watch this space )

“I think one thing is for sure during these unprecedented times looking at happy faces definitely gives us hope and certainty that this lockdown won’t last forever.

”

Oh 2021 please be kind to us !!

There have after all been some wonderful things to come out of 2020 Atticus was one of them ( his bespoke calendar ) and a new studio for Beside The Seaside Photography.( more details to follow shortly )

If you have a unique project in mind please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss today.

““Capturing the moments and memories that will last forever”

”

— Beside The Seaside Photography

A proper smash for Charlie on his First Birthday 🎂

Charlie’s 1st Cake Smash

Charlie's parents Abigail & Adam bought little Charlie along on his actual 1st birthday. 

I think I was just excited as them to be honest, ( well after all it is a big milestone and probably the most important one through the eyes of a parent).

Those last twelve months of nurturing, bonding and many sleepless nights, not to mention endless nappy changes and baths too.

Turning one is a great milestone in that more than likely the firsts begin or have already started, the first tooth, the first curl, the first foods and the first steps. 

So what better way to celebrate this amazing landmark for any parent than to incorporate a cake smash as close to their baby's 1st birthday. 

After setting up ready for the session I anticipated the arrival of a little boy ready with little hands and little feet and of course ready to have fun with lots of mashed up birthday cake with yummy icing and have his photographs taken ! 

As you can see from the photographs Charlie had an absolute blast!

First getting used to having his photograph taken in ultimately a strange place to him.  

Then getting nice posed images before introducing the cake and ultimately the touching part. 

The best part getting completely messy with the cake, dipping his fingers in, using the wooden spoon and looking at his proud parents watch every little movement he makes. 

Lastly time to get cleaned up and have some splashing fun of course. Complete with bubbles and at a temperature just right, Charlie rinsed away all the traces of his 1st Birthday cake and the smashing great time he had too. 

Charlie's Mummy Abigail said ;

' I'm crying... again... for the 5th time today 😂 thank you so, so much! We really appreciate it and you made us all feel so at ease'.