There’s nothing quite like celebrating your baby’s first year with a cake smash session, especially when it’s as charming and nostalgic as this Winnie the Pooh themed cake smash! Complete with a custom honey pot cake, floral accents, and the timeless magic of childhood, this session was the perfect way to mark such a special milestone. This sweet theme was requested by Mom because of her love of Winnie the Pooh!

As a first birthday photographer in Rockville, MD, I love helping families plan cake smash sessions that are not only fun but beautifully styled and thoughtfully organized. The celebration was full of laughter, sticky fingers, and the kind of joyful memories that make turning one truly unforgettable.

What to Expect at a Cake Smash Session:

At Danielle Sara Photography, every cake smash session is carefully structured to keep things smooth and stress free for both baby and parents. Sessions are designed in three simple parts:

1. Timeless Traditional Portraits

We always begin with clean, classic portraits of your baby. This gives us the opportunity to capture those sweet one-year-old expressions, tiny details, and timeless images before the cake fun begins. These images make for beautiful keepsakes and are often the ones families choose to frame or use for birthday thank you cards.

2. The Cake Smash

Next comes the fun! For this session, we brought the Hundred Acre Wood to life with a custom honey pot shaped cake inspired by Winnie the Pooh. The cake was perfectly sized for little hands and just the right amount of messy. Our little birthday star dove right in smearing, tasting, and exploring every inch of frosting. Watching babies experience cake for the first time is always such a joy! We provide a customized smashable cake to match your desired theme to take the stress off of bringing your own.

3. Splash & Bath Time

After the cake smash, we end with a bath session in our studio. Not only does it help clean up sticky fingers and frosting covered toes, but it’s also another chance to capture natural, joyful expressions in a warm filled tub. Babies usually love this part, and it makes for some of the cutest photos in the gallery!

What to Expect After Your Session with Danielle Sara Photography

At Danielle Sara Photography, your experience doesn’t end when the session wraps, it's just the beginning of creating lasting memories through beautiful artwork for your home.

1. Image Curation & Editing

After your session, Danielle will carefully select the best images that capture genuine emotion, connection, and detail. Each chosen image is hand-edited with a natural, clean style that reflects the soft, timeless look Danielle Sara Photography is known for.

2. Gallery Reveal & Ordering Appointment

Within 2–3 weeks, you’ll return for your in-studio or virtual gallery reveal and ordering appointment. This is where you’ll view your fully edited images for the first time and choose how you'd like to enjoy them whether through heirloom albums, fine art prints, custom wall galleries, or high resolution digital files.

Danielle will walk you through the entire process and help you make selections that fit your family’s style and home.

3. Custom Artwork Design

Danielle offers a full service, guided experience, including custom design of albums and wall art. Whether you're creating a gallery wall or a legacy album to pass down through generations, Danielle handles all the details ensuring every piece is thoughtfully designed and ready to enjoy. Digital images are always available as well!

4. Delivery + pcik up of Your Artwork

Your finished artwork will be delivered to you or shipped directly to you. Everything is professionally produced with the highest quality materials and comes ready to display, gift, or treasure for years to come.

A Stress-Free Full-Service Photography Experience From Start To Finish:

From planning and styling to viewing and printing, Danielle is with you every step of the way. Her mission is to create not just beautiful photographs but a meaningful, effortless experience that leaves you with artwork your family will cherish forever.

If you’d like to schedule a first birthday cake smash session or want to inquire about more information, fill out the contact form or email me at danielle@daniellesaraphotography.com!