It feels like just yesterday that I met the Mehmedi family for their maternity session while sweet Flora was still growing in her mama’s belly. From the very beginning, her mom had been dreaming about this milestone session. Getting to see it come full circle this spring was just the best thing!
We celebrated Flora’s first birthday a little early with the sweetest one-year milestone session at the studio. And while Flora wasn’t totally convinced about the cake smash portion of the session, that is more than okay! In fact, sessions like this are such a good reminder that milestone sessions are all about meeting little ones where they are.
When you really think about it, sessions with cake and balloons can be a lot for a one-year-old. Oftentimes, this is their very first experience with cake. It’s super sweet, sticky, messy, and a completely new texture. Add in balloons (which may also be brand new) and a camera, and it makes perfect sense that little ones may need time to warm up or decide how they feel about it all.
Some babies dive right into the cake without hesitation. Some are cautious and curious. And some want absolutely nothing to do with it. Every reaction is completely normal, and honestly, every stage is sweet in its own way!
My best advice for parents heading into a milestone session like this is simple — let your little one be themselves. There is no perfect reaction or performance expected during these sessions. We’ll take our time, follow their lead, and create space for them to settle in comfortably. After years of photographing babies and families, I’ve learned that flexibility and patience always lead to the best experience and the sweetest images. Whether your baby loves the cake or avoids it entirely, I promise we’ll capture beautiful memories that reflect who they are in this season.
All in all, it was such a joy celebrating baby Flora and documenting this milestone for the Mehmedi family. Watching families grow from maternity sessions to first birthdays will forever be one of my favorite parts of this job!
It is so refreshing to read that you prioritize meeting little ones where they are, especially when it comes to cake smashes. Sometimes that initial hesitation is just a baby processing new textures, and honoring that pace often leads to the most genuine, heartwarming photos of all.