Simple Sophistication

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ • Sessions by appointment only

1st birthday cake smash – Orange County Photographer

06.02.17

1st birthday cake smash – Rainbow party theme

We are in love with this 1st birthday cake smash session! This was our 3rd session with June- and she just continues to get cuter each time! (you can check out June’s 6 month session here) Mom wanted a colorful rainbow theme so we went a little crazy with it. We loved the background so much, that we took a photo of it and made it into a backdrop. 🙂 The adorable rainbow themed cake was created by the one and only, French’s Cupcake Bakery in Costa Mesa. The round confetti on the floor gave it even more color!

1st Birthday Cake Smash Themes

Coming up with these 1st birthday cake smash themes is so much fun! Hours go into researching, designing, purchasing props, and finally assembling these photography sets. We love this part of the job and are always up for the challenge! As artists, it’s so rewarding to watch it all come together the day of the session. Be sure to explore some of our favorite cake smash sessions on the Gilmore Studios Pinterest board or the Cake Smash gallery on our website.

About the photographer

Gilmore Studios office and gallery in Orange County, Costa Mesa, CA

Gilmore Studios is a husband and wife team maternity, newborn, children and family photography studio in Orange County, CA. Contact us for more info about booking your studio or on location session in the Southern California area. Brian and Jennifer Gilmore specialize in studio & natural light photography in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Huntington Beach, and surrounding areas in OC and Los Angeles, CA. Call 949-698-3968 or email us to book your summer and fall 2017 photography sessions. Cake smash sessions are $250 and by reservation only.

All cake smash sets are custom built to the client’s theme or color scheme and include a cake.

by GilmoreTags: 1 year old, 1 year old girl, 1st birthday, 1st birthday cake smash, baby birthday cake, baby's first birthday cake, balloon background, cake smash, cake smash photo studio, cake smash theme, colorful balloon birthday, Costa Mesa cake smash photographer, first birthday, Newport Beach cake smash photographer, orange county cake smash photo, rainbow birthday cake

Meet the Gilmores:

Gilmore Studios serves Orange County, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. We specialize in wedding photography, family portraits, newborn and branding photography. Our studio has been in business since 2002.

Fun Facts:

PLace we call home:

Newport Beach & Queen Creek

Number of kids:

3 boys

Years in business:

Since 2002

As seen in:

Cake Smash

Featured On the blog

Simple Sophistication

We are on Instagram

AI can’t replace this.

It can’t replace a baby laughing so hard he makes the whole room laugh.

It can’t replace a daughter kissing her mom after taking those last few steps down the aisle.

It can’t replace a blind father holding his daughter during a dance he will remember for the rest of his life.

It can’t replace a mom hugging her boys without realizing one day she would be looking back at that photo wondering where the years went.

It can’t replace the tear rolling down a military groom’s face when he finally sees his bride walking toward him.

It can’t replace a groom quietly wiping his bride’s tears during the ceremony because that is just who he is with her.

It can’t replace a big sister looking up at her dad while he holds the baby she is already completely in love with.

It can’t replace the way two people laugh together in a way that only makes sense between them.

It can’t replace a whole family running on the beach because they cannot help it.

It can’t replace a bride holding onto her dad after getting dressed, before the day has even started.

It can’t replace bridesmaids seeing their best friend in her dress and completely falling apart in the best way.

It can’t replace kids watching their parents kiss on the beach and thinking it is the most embarrassing thing they have ever seen.

It can’t replace a groom holding back everything he has while his bride says her vows.

It can’t replace a father kissing his daughter’s forehead before giving her hand to someone else.

AI can create images.
It can’t create history.

These are the moments people come back looking for years later. After a loss. After a milestone. After time has made them understand what they were actually looking at.

24 years behind the lens. These emotions were not planned.
Every single one was real.

What moment in your life do you wish someone had captured? Tell me in the comments.

20 3

Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18116817832827507

AI can’t replace this.

It can’t replace a baby laughing so hard he makes the whole room laugh.

It can’t replace a daughter kissing her mom after taking those last few steps down the aisle.

It can’t replace a blind father holding his daughter during a dance he will remember for the rest of his life.

It can’t replace a mom hugging her boys without realizing one day she would be looking back at that photo wondering where the years went.

It can’t replace the tear rolling down a military groom’s face when he finally sees his bride walking toward him.

It can’t replace a groom quietly wiping his bride’s tears during the ceremony because that is just who he is with her.

It can’t replace a big sister looking up at her dad while he holds the baby she is already completely in love with.

It can’t replace the way two people laugh together in a way that only makes sense between them.

It can’t replace a whole family running on the beach because they cannot help it.

It can’t replace a bride holding onto her dad after getting dressed, before the day has even started.

It can’t replace bridesmaids seeing their best friend in her dress and completely falling apart in the best way.

It can’t replace kids watching their parents kiss on the beach and thinking it is the most embarrassing thing they have ever seen.

It can’t replace a groom holding back everything he has while his bride says her vows.

It can’t replace a father kissing his daughter’s forehead before giving her hand to someone else.

AI can create images.
It can’t create history.

These are the moments people come back looking for years later. After a loss. After a milestone. After time has made them understand what they were actually looking at.

24 years behind the lens. These emotions were not planned.
Every single one was real.

What moment in your life do you wish someone had captured? Tell me in the comments.

Photos might seem like a big investment today.

But one day you’ll be looking at a portrait of your child and realize you would give anything to go back to that exact stage for just five minutes.

The missing teeth.
The freckles.
The mischievous smile.
The way they looked before life started changing so quickly.

That’s why I love Personality Portraits.

They’re not about matching outfits, perfect locations, or milestones.

They’re about preserving who your child is right now.

Because one day these portraits won’t just be photos on a wall.

They’ll be reminders of a childhood that went by way too fast. 🤍

And that’s when they become priceless.

Comment PERSONALITY to get the full details on our Personality Portrait Sessions

13 2

Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 18445319176185120

Photos might seem like a big investment today.

But one day you’ll be looking at a portrait of your child and realize you would give anything to go back to that exact stage for just five minutes.

The missing teeth.
The freckles.
The mischievous smile.
The way they looked before life started changing so quickly.

That’s why I love Personality Portraits.

They’re not about matching outfits, perfect locations, or milestones.

They’re about preserving who your child is right now.

Because one day these portraits won’t just be photos on a wall.

They’ll be reminders of a childhood that went by way too fast. 🤍

And that’s when they become priceless.

Comment PERSONALITY to get the full details on our Personality Portrait Sessions

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2026 at Carden Hall! You guys are going to do amazing things! 💕

125 4

Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17885894652562955

Congratulations to the graduating class of 2026 at Carden Hall! You guys are going to do amazing things! 💕

My camera roll is full… maybe I should delete some photos.” 👀

…oh wait nevermind.

Because somehow every wedding gives me another set of moments I physically cannot delete.

The veil fixes.
The nervous smiles before the ceremony.
The way couples look at each other when they think nobody’s paying attention. 🤍

And honestly?
Those little in-between moments usually end up meaning the most later.

That’s why I overshoot every single wedding ✨

Brides… are you more excited for the posed photos or the candid moments?

2 0

Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17862650043633783

My camera roll is full… maybe I should delete some photos.” 👀

…oh wait nevermind.

Because somehow every wedding gives me another set of moments I physically cannot delete.

The veil fixes.
The nervous smiles before the ceremony.
The way couples look at each other when they think nobody’s paying attention. 🤍

And honestly?
Those little in-between moments usually end up meaning the most later.

That’s why I overshoot every single wedding ✨

Brides… are you more excited for the posed photos or the candid moments?

The timeline works for the couple. Not the other way around.

He was nervous before the first look. Not because anything was wrong. Because something that mattered enormously was about to happen.

So we took a minute. Sat in his room. Took a breath. Let him gather himself.

This is where 24 years and a psychology degree actually show up. Not in the posing. In knowing when to slow everything down so the couple can feel what is happening to them.

We walked down. She turned around.

The rest of the day was the smoothest wedding I can remember.

This is what I want for every couple I photograph. Not just beautiful images. A day that actually felt like theirs.

Newport Beach and Orange County wedding photography. DM me and let’s talk about your wedding.

#NewportBeachWeddingPhotographer #OrangeCountyWedding #WeddingPhotography

14 5

Open post by gilmorestudios with ID 17868075219543170

The timeline works for the couple. Not the other way around.

He was nervous before the first look. Not because anything was wrong. Because something that mattered enormously was about to happen.

So we took a minute. Sat in his room. Took a breath. Let him gather himself.

This is where 24 years and a psychology degree actually show up. Not in the posing. In knowing when to slow everything down so the couple can feel what is happening to them.

We walked down. She turned around.

The rest of the day was the smoothest wedding I can remember.

This is what I want for every couple I photograph. Not just beautiful images. A day that actually felt like theirs.

Newport Beach and Orange County wedding photography. DM me and let’s talk about your wedding.

#NewportBeachWeddingPhotographer #OrangeCountyWedding #WeddingPhotography

Follow on Instagram

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

Session by appointment only