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

Cake Smash Boho Doors – Newport Coast Photographer

A baby’s first birthday is such a milestone — not just for them, but for the whole family. And what better way to celebrate than with a cake smash photography session that’s as stylish as it is fun? Our Boho Doors theme blends rustic charm with warm, neutral tones, creating a timeless backdrop that feels just as beautiful now as it will when you look back decades from now.

At Gilmore Studios, we love creating one-of-a-kind setups that match your family’s style. For this session, we featured distressed wooden boho-style doors, greenery, soft neutrals, and a perfectly coordinated cake. The result? A relaxed, earthy vibe that photographs beautifully and lets your little one shine.

Boho style first birthday photography Newport Coast rustic cake smash session, Neutral tones boho cake smash portrait Newport Coast photographer

Why Boho Cake Smash Sessions Are Special

This isn’t just about messy cake photos (although those are always a favorite!). A boho cake smash session:

  • Celebrates your baby’s first big milestone in a stylish, timeless way
  • Creates a beautiful keepsake for albums, wall art, and family gifts
  • Captures personality-filled portraits you’ll cherish forever
  • Works for both boys and girls — boho neutrals are versatile and gender-friendly

A year from now, your little one will look completely different. These portraits freeze the sweet, curious, playful stage of turning one — so you can revisit it anytime.

Rustic boho cake smash photography Newport Coast milestone portrait ideas, Newport Coast boho first birthday photographer rustic cake smash photos

What to Wear for a Boho Cake Smash

The Boho Doors backdrop is neutral, warm, and textured — so your baby’s outfit can be soft and subtle or feature warm earth tones. Here are some ideas:

👗 For Girls: Linen rompers, cream lace dresses, or soft floral prints. Add a flower crown or bow for a delicate touch.

👕 For Boys: Cotton suspender sets, white or beige button-ups, or knitted rompers in browns or tans.

🚫 Avoid neon or bold primary colors — they’ll distract from the boho palette.

Need more inspiration? Check out this What to Wear for Cake Smash Sessions guide on Pinterest.

Neutral boho milestone portrait photography Newport Coast cake smash session, Rustic first birthday boho cake smash photographer Newport Coast

Where to Eat After Your Newport Coast Cake Smash Session

After all that cake-smashing fun, you might want to head out for a family meal. Some great local options near Newport Coast include:

Why These Sessions Matter

Life moves fast, and the first year is a whirlwind. Your little one will never be this tiny, curious, and giggly again. A cake smash photography session not only documents their big milestone but also creates heirloom images that will always bring you back to this season of life.

At Gilmore Studios, we’ve been photographing milestone sessions for over 20 years. We know how to keep your baby happy and engaged, capture every sweet expression, and deliver a gallery that feels authentic to your family.

Rustic boho milestone cake smash photography Newport Coast first birthday, Boho doors cake smash portrait session Newport Coast milestone photographer

Book Your Boho Cake Smash Session in Newport Coast

Ready to celebrate your baby’s first birthday in style? Let’s create a Boho Doors setup that feels perfectly you.

📸 Book your session at Gilmore Studios

👩‍🏫 Photographers: Want to learn how to create stunning cake smash setups for your own clients? Visit Photographers Roadmap for courses, templates, and business tips.

First birthday rustic boho cake smash photography Newport Coast portraits, Newport Coast boho first birthday photography rustic milestone photographer

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

Read more
Simple Sophistication

We are on Instagram
Pick something you love and make that your career. Honestly, that’s kind of what happened.

I never imagined that setting up backdrops, planning themes, making silly noises to get a baby to smile, and celebrating first birthdays would become my job.

But here we are. 🥹

And after all these years, I still get excited watching a theme come together and seeing a little one’s personality shine once they step into the studio.

Because cake smash sessions aren’t really about the cake.

They’re about celebrating a milestone that only happens once.

And getting to be a small part of that never gets old. 🎂

What’s something you could talk about or do all day and never get tired of?
Pelican Hill Resort + a gorgeous sunset + incredible food = an evening I didn’t want to end. 🧡 Had the best time covering this event for ABOG (Dallas, TX). The boho vibes were unmatched and decor was beyond. This is what happens when a great group of people gathers in a beautiful place.
This is just me being sarcastic - but some might be a little true. 😂

Top 5 Horror Movies for a Photographer

• can you send the RAW files
• wind. just. wind
• wearing neon orange at sunset
• the tide is too high
• making videos while being a photographer
The question that starts almost every cake smash conversation:

What themes can we do?
Honestly — almost anything.

But here is what I actually recommend.

Choose something they are into right now. Whatever phase they are in at this exact age. The dinosaurs. The rubber ducks. The princesses. The trucks. The thing they carry everywhere and sleep with and talk about constantly.

Because here is what nobody tells you about cake smash sessions: in ten years that photo is going to show you exactly who your child was at this age. Not just what they looked like. Who they were.
That is worth capturing.

We have a full theme library on our website — but if you do not see something that fits your child we will build it custom. No two sessions have to look the same because no two kids are the same.
For this session we planned everything together from the start. Rubber ducky theme. Portraits first. Then family photos. Then cake.
And before we ever talked about the set — we talked about what she wanted to do with the photos.
She chose an album.

Because digitals are beautiful. But an album is something her daughter will open when she is grown and understand immediately.
What theme are you thinking for your little one? Drop it in the comments — I want to see what phase you are in right now.
Newport Beach and Gilbert AZ. Link in bio. #cakesmash  #cakesmashphotographer #cakesmashphotography 

DM me BIRTHDAY and let’s start planning yours.
Photography started as something I loved.

I never picked up a camera thinking it would become a business, support my family, introduce me to thousands of incredible people, or still be part of my life 20+ years later.

But somewhere along the way, a hobby became a career.

Then a business.

Then a huge part of my life. 🤍

I’ve photographed weddings, newborns, seniors, families, birthdays, and milestones for people I’ve known for decades.

And honestly?

The greatest part isn’t the photos.

It’s the people.

The families who come back year after year.
The babies who become seniors.
The clients who become friends.

That’s what keeps me showing up every day.

Do you have a hobby you secretly wish could become your full-time job? 

Comment LEARN if you’d like to see how I turned photography into a 20+ year business.

Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ

Session by appointment only

Secret Link