One-year sessions are some of my absolute favorites to photograph because you get to see so much personality packed into one tiny human. By this age, babies definitely have opinions about what they like, what they do not like, what they would like to climb on, and apparently whether or not the bubbles floating through the studio look like a good snack.
Nico’s one-year session was the perfect example.
For his session, Mom chose a themed one-year collection, which meant we were able to create both timeless, simple portraits and a fully styled birthday setup. I really love including both because while the themed portraits are SO much fun, those simple images are usually the ones that can live on your walls forever without screaming, “This was his first birthday theme!”
Starting with Simple One-Year Portraits
When we were planning Nico’s session, Mom mentioned that she was interested in either a light gray or white backdrop for his simple portraits. I ultimately went with white, and I am so glad I did.
It was clean, bright, and kept every bit of the attention on Nico.
I originally pulled out my little studio ladder for him, but Nico very politely decided that was not going to be part of his artistic vision for the day. 😂
And that is totally fine.
One thing I have learned after photographing so many babies and toddlers is that sometimes you have to ditch the plan and follow their lead. Instead, I brought out a natural wooden chair, and he did SO well with it. It gave us another way to add some variety to the gallery without distracting from those simple, classic portraits Mom wanted.
Then, of course, we brought out the confetti.
We used white confetti against the white backdrop, which created such a fun little texture without making the photos feel overly busy. Nico got to play, explore, and just be himself while I photographed all of those tiny expressions that make this age so fun.
And he had plenty of expressions.
This boy was HAPPY.
A Classic Winnie the Pooh First Birthday Theme
After finishing his simple portraits, it was time to move into the themed portion of Nico’s one-year session.
Mom chose classic Winnie the Pooh, and I genuinely do not think there could have been a sweeter theme for him.
We created a backdrop featuring that nostalgic Hundred Acre Wood feel with the beehive, honey, and classic Winnie the Pooh details throughout the setup. Mom dressed Nico in the cutest little overalls, which fit the entire theme perfectly.
And I also have to give a little thank-you to one of my sweet clients, Madison, who donated her Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals to the studio.
They were PERFECT for this setup.
There is something extra special about classic Winnie the Pooh. It feels whimsical without being overly trendy, which is exactly what I love when we are designing themed milestone sessions. You still get all of the birthday fun, but the images have that soft, nostalgic feeling that I think parents are going to love looking back on years from now.
Nico was also completely in his element.
He smiled. He giggled. He played.
Just a few weeks before his birthday session, I had photographed Nico and his family in their home, so getting to see him again so soon was such a treat. He was already comfortable, happy, and ready to show off that one-year-old personality.
The Winnie the Pooh Honey Pot Cake Smash
And then came the cake.
Listen.
Nico understood the assignment.
For his cake smash, I asked the bakery to create a cake inspired by Winnie the Pooh’s classic honey pot. It was designed in that recognizable honey-pot shape with the iconic “HUNNY” detail on the front.
It turned out SO cute.
But apparently it also tasted incredible because once Nico got his hands on it, that cake basically became his entire world.
Some babies delicately poke their cake.
Some take one tiny bite and decide they are finished.
And then there are babies like Nico.
He went for it.
The cake ended up everywhere, including all over him, and getting it away from him when we were finished was definitely a negotiation. 😂
Honestly, those are some of my favorite cake smash sessions.
I want the mess.
I want the frosting-covered fingers.
I want the baby who is completely committed to eating as much cake as humanly possible before the adults eventually intervene.
Because that is exactly what a first birthday cake smash should feel like.
Fun.
Messy.
Happy.
And completely unique to your baby.
Finishing the Session with a Splash Bath
After the cake smash, Mom decided to add the splash bath portion of the session.
Which, after Nico’s enthusiastic cake experience, was probably a pretty good idea.
We put him in the little bathtub, added bubbles, and let him splash around. Mom also brought an adorable little duck hat for him to wear for some of the photos, which made the entire setup even cuter.
The splash bath is always such a fun way to finish a one-year session because babies get to relax, play, and usually forget that I am even photographing them.
Nico splashed.
He played with the bubbles.
And at one point, he apparently decided the bubbles floating through the air needed to be taste-tested.
He had his little tongue sticking out while trying to catch them, and it was absolutely hilarious.
Those silly little moments are exactly why I keep photographing through the in-between parts of a session.
Sometimes the image that ends up making you laugh the hardest is not the perfectly posed portrait.
It is your baby trying to eat a bubble.
When Choosing Just a Few Photos Is Impossible
Nico’s collection originally included a specific number of images, so after his session Mom was able to go through the proofing gallery and choose her favorites.
Except there was one tiny problem.
She had a LOT of favorites.
Once she narrowed down all of the images she wanted to keep, it actually made more sense financially to purchase the entire gallery rather than adding each additional image individually.
So that is exactly what she did.
And I love when this happens because it means Mom gets the entire story of the session.
She gets the simple portraits.
The confetti.
The Winnie the Pooh setup.
The cake-covered smiles.
The splash bath.
The bubbles.
The silly expressions.
All of it.
Because while choosing a few favorites absolutely works for some families, there is also something really special about having the complete gallery from such a huge milestone.
Your Baby Only Turns One Once
The first year changes so incredibly fast.
You go from holding this tiny newborn who barely fits across your chest to suddenly having this giggling, crawling, standing, cake-destroying little person with a personality entirely their own.
And sometimes you do not realize just how much they have changed until you see the photographs side by side.
That is one of the reasons milestone photography matters so much to me.
These sessions are not only about creating cute birthday photos.
They are about documenting who your baby was at one.
The little teeth.
The chunky fingers.
The serious face they make right before laughing.
The way they clap.
The way they crawl.
The way they absolutely refuse to sit on the prop we originally planned to use.
Those tiny details feel ordinary while you are living them, but they will not stay that way forever.
Photographs give you a way to hold onto them.
Planning a One-Year Cake Smash in Northwest Arkansas?
If your baby is getting close to their first birthday, now is the perfect time to start planning their one-year milestone session.
Whether you want something completely simple and timeless, a full birthday theme like Nico’s classic Winnie the Pooh setup, a cake smash, splash bath, or a combination of everything, we can design the session around your baby and your vision.
And please do not worry about whether your baby will sit perfectly, smile on command, or cooperate with every single idea we have planned.
They probably will not.
They are one. 😂
That is part of the fun.
My job is to work with their personality, change things when something is not working, and create images that actually feel like your baby at this exact stage.
Because someday, that one-year-old covered in frosting and trying to eat bubbles is going to be much, much bigger.
And you are going to be really glad you have the photographs.
Ready to start planning your baby’s one-year milestone or cake smash session in Northwest Arkansas? Reach out today to get your session on my calendar and start creating a setup that feels perfectly “them.”
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