Simple Sophistication
Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ • Sessions by appointment only
Southern California & Arizona
Orange County ● PHOENIX
Baby’s first year is a blur of excitement and milestones. Now that you’ve reached the end of it, it’s time to party! A cake smash portrait session is the perfect celebration to capture all the joy of the last twelve months, to send out to family and friends or on a birthday announcement, and images you’ll cherish forever.
The point of the cake smash session is just that—the SMASH! The messier, the better! We start with the non-cake smash outfit and do a nice one-year-old portrait. Then we will have an outfit change and dig into the cake smash portion of the session.
We’ll talk with you ahead of time and decide on the theme (you can do a color scheme, a sports or hobby theme, favorite toy, book, simple, etc.) you’d like for your photos. Some sets take longer to prepare (depending on if it is custom) so please book 4-6 weeks prior.
We work with our local bakery to create the perfect (and perfectly yummy!) cake. The naked design is included in our session fee, but you are welcome to upgrade to a custom cake.
Our studio is full of a huge assortment of backdrops and props and is usually the best place to photograph a cake smash. We have sets you can choose from that we have already designed or you can have us come up with a custom set to match your one-year-old’s birthday theme.
Browse our wide variety of cake smash studio sets ready for your Southern California or Arizona cake smash session.
If you'd like a custom set design it is a additional upgrade.
Cake Smashes are the best way to celebrate your baby's first year. Simply pick your set design and reserve your date, Gilmore Studios will take care of the rest.
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*Add additional milestone sessions for $ during the 1st year. Digital files & photo products sold separately.
Photography products, digital files, and wall collections are purchased separately from your session fee. Please see our product guide for photo product collections & pricing.
We suggest scheduling 4-6 weeks in advance so we will have time to gather the props for your theme, the backdrop, and get the custom cake ordered.
No, we work with a local bakery for your session. Each cake included is naked. You are welcome to upgrade to a custom cake for the baker's additional fee. We will even box it up for you to take home afterward if it doesn’t get completely smashed. If your child has allergies - please bring your own cake.
We recommend bringing two outfits for the cake smash that coordinate with your chosen backdrop and theme, plus something clean for the baby to wear home. We can supplement with our huge assortment of hats, headbands, and tutus if needed. We also recommend an outfit change for the parent. Sometimes you can get messy with little hands on you.
All cake smash sessions are done in our studio, typically in the early morning or lunchtime.
Your images will be available online 7-10 business days after your session. You will be able to download the digital images you purchased as well as order prints, albums, canvases and more. If you would like to do an online ordering session with Gilmore Studios, that works great too.
Don’t worry! This is very common at this age. We have a few tricks for these kids and we will still get plenty of great shots, even if they refuse to touch the cake. We do recommend practicing at home incase that is the situation.
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What if the birthday baby can’t have cake?” Here’s what we did.
This little guy had a food allergy - so instead of skipping the fun, we got creative. A vegan cupcake from Sprinkles did the trick: safe, simple, and still smash-worthy.
Tip for photographers: Always ask about allergies in advance - and remember, a smaller dessert can still make a big impact. 🎉
Happy Big ONE, buddy - you crushed it. 💙
#TheBigOne #CakeSmashTips #VeganCakeSmash #GilmoreStudios #MilestoneMoments #1YearOldPhotos
How do you kick a theme for your birthday session? Think about what your little one is naturally drawn to—books, colors, characters, or even snacks. Choosing something they already love makes the session feel more personal and lets their personality shine.
This sweet kiddo loved Toy Story—so we leaned into that for the theme. A few key props, some favorite characters, and a custom backdrop brought it all together perfectly.
Whether it’s blueberries, bears, or Buzz Lightyear—when the theme reflects your child, the photos feel that much more meaningful.
#ToyStoryPortraits #GilmoreStudios #KidsPortraitSession
What kind of cake do you supply for a cake smash session? 🍪💙
We supply a white or naked cake from a local bakery but every now and then our clients upgrade to a custom cake. This Cookie Monster cake was adorable!! A tip when doing cake smashes - skip fondant or hard decorations. A soft, easy-to-smash cake with buttercream frosting works best. Some kids don’t like the texture so practice with whipped cream before and see if they like to get messy.
#CookieMonsterCakeSmash #FirstBirthdayPhotos #CakeSmashTips #GilmoreStudios
How do you style a cake smash with fruit and frosting—without it feeling like a farmer’s market exploded? 🍓🎂
Here’s what I’ve learned: stick to soft neutrals and let the berries do the talking. Their bold colors (and the mess they make!) add all the texture and charm you need. Keep the setup simple so those squishy hands, frosting-covered cheeks, and little berry-stained toes stay front and center.
This birthday girl brought all the joy—curious, expressive, and ready to dive into her berry-sweet celebration.
#BerryFirstBirthday #FreshBerriesCakeSmash #GilmoreStudios #CakeSmashTips
Ever photographed a Dr. Seuss–themed session and felt like the props might take over? 🎩🎂
Here’s what works: simplify the setup. Bold themes like this can get busy fast, so I stick to a clean background, a few playful pieces, and let the one-year-old steal the show (which they always do!).
This little guy lit up the studio—curious, wiggly, and full of personality. And once the frosting hit? Pure joy.
#DrSeussCakeSmash #GilmoreStudios #1YearOldSession
Newport Beach, CA & Gilbert, AZ
Session by appointment only
