Bellevue Cake Smash Photography & First Birthday Sessions
The appointment is short enough for a one-year-old’s attention span, but planned carefully so we can create variety without expecting your baby to follow a script.
“Lana is an incredible photographer who provides a seamless and accommodating experience from scheduling appointments to receiving the final images. We chose Lana for our cake smash session when our child turned one, and she did an amazing job. We were impressed with how well she handles kids, allowing them time to adjust to the new environment.” –Naveen M.
Every one-year-old responds differently to a photo session. Some start exploring as soon as they arrive. Others need time to watch before they join in. Some love the cake. Some never take a bite.
My job is to notice what is working, change what is not, and make good use of the available time before your baby loses interest.
I use white backgrounds, soft studio light, a few intentional props, and baby wardrobe options selected for the studio look. The restrained setup keeps decorations from competing with your child’s face, movement, and personality.
Before the session, I prepare the studio, lighting, wardrobe options, and setup. For cake smash sessions, the cake is provided, and you receive prep guidance on what to bring and how to plan the day.
Simply White 1st Birthday Cake Smash Mini Session
I provide a white studio setup, a few intentional details, a 6-inch naked cake, and baby wardrobe options. You may also bring an outfit of your own.
Once we begin, I follow your baby’s response instead of rushing through a fixed shot list. Your child may eat the cake, inspect it carefully, crawl around it, knock it over, or mostly ignore it. All of those reactions can become part of the gallery.
Knowing when to prompt, wait, change the setup, or move on helps us create more than one usable expression within a short appointment. If one idea is not working, I adjust rather than spending the remaining time forcing it.
You may also add baby portraits without cake or a small set of images with parents and siblings.
What is included: 20-min shooting time • 10 hand-edited images chosen by you from a proof gallery of 40 to 60 images (additional hand-edited images available à la carte) • 6-inch naked cake • Baby wardrobe options • Detailed prep guidance • Quick turnaround • Print release
5 photos of baby without the cake: $200;
5 photos of baby with family: $200;
Premium cake: $100;
Additional hand-edited images: $20/photo;
All images from the proof gallery with color edit: $200
Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini Session
We’ll use simple studio backgrounds, baby wardrobe options, and a few small props. The setup gives us enough variety to mark the birthday without letting decorations take over the photographs.
At one year old, the details worth remembering are often small: the way your baby stands while holding on, the expression that appears just before a smile, the curls that may be gone next year, or the way they still settle into your arms.
I’ll work with what your child can comfortably do that day. We may photograph sitting, standing, crawling, clapping, holding a small prop, or interacting with you when family images are added. The gallery does not depend on your baby staying still or smiling through the entire appointment.
What is included: 20-min shooting time • 10 hand-edited images chosen by you from a proof gallery of 40 to 60 images (additional hand-edited images available à la carte) • Baby wardrobe options • Detailed prep guidance • Quick turnaround • Print release
5 photos of baby with family: $200;
Additional hand-edited images: $20/photo;
All images from the proof gallery with color edit: $200
Highlights from Recent Sessions
Look beyond whether a baby is smiling at the camera. Notice the cautious expressions, concentration, movement, cake reactions, and moments with parents. Those are often the photographs that become more valuable as a child grows.
The restrained backgrounds also make the images easy to use for invitations, birthday displays, albums, framed prints, and family photo walls without the setup overpowering the child.
Simply White 1-Year Cake Smash Sessions
Because every baby responds differently, the gallery may include expressions, movement, cake details, wider views of the setup, and brief reactions that are easy to miss in real time. The goal is not one staged cake-smash photograph. It is a fuller record of how your baby experienced the moment.
Add baby portraits without cake when you want a cleaner portrait set alongside the smash. Add family images when you want a few photos of your baby with parents or siblings.
I provide the 6-inch naked cake and baby wardrobe. If your child has an allergy or specific dietary need, you will bring the cake so you can control the ingredients.
Classic 1-Year Milestone Sessions
Depending on what your child is doing at this age, we may photograph sitting, crawling, standing, walking with support, clapping, playing, or settling into your arms when family images are added.
Baby wardrobe options are provided, and you may also bring an outfit that has personal meaning or matches how you plan to use the finished images.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose the Cake Smash Mini-Session when the cake moment is an important part of how you picture the first birthday.
Choose the Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini-Session when you want a gallery centered on your baby without frosting or mess.
The choice comes down to what you want included in the photographs.
Before your appointment, I prepare the studio, lighting, wardrobe options, and setup. For cake smash sessions, the standard cake is also provided.
During the session, I watch your baby’s mood, adjust when something is not working, and keep the appointment moving before their attention runs out.
Afterward, you receive a proof gallery so you can choose the expressions and details you want hand-edited.
The Cake Smash Mini-Session includes a 6-inch naked cake.
A premium cake is available for an additional $100. I’ll follow up about the available cake choices before placing the order.
If your child has a food allergy or specific dietary need, you will need to bring your own 6-inch naked cake. A $30 cake credit will be applied to your invoice.
Yes. I provide the cake stand, number “1” topper, and the simple details used to complete the setup. That is one less item for you to source, transport, and coordinate.
Yes. A child participating in a cake smash must already be able to eat solid foods safely.
A parent or guardian is responsible for monitoring cake consumption throughout the session and stopping it if there is any choking concern.
The session does not fail when a baby is unsure about the cake.
Some babies begin eating immediately. Others touch the frosting with one finger, crawl away, make a serious face, or lose interest after a few minutes. I’ll photograph those reactions and adjust the pace rather than forcing a specific response.
You can also add baby portraits without cake or choose the Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini-Session when the cake is not important to the gallery you want.
The appointment is short because that timing often suits a one-year-old’s attention span.
The studio, light, wardrobe, and setup are ready before your child begins. I work quickly, watch for brief expressions, and change direction when something is not working.
Baby portraits without cake and family-image add-ons increase the appointment time.
A one-year-old does not need to be outgoing or cheerful throughout the session.
Serious expressions, cautious observation, movement, and time to adjust are all normal. I’ll use simple prompts, change the setup when needed, and photograph the child who is actually in front of me rather than expecting every baby to respond the same way.
No particular smile, expression, or pose can be guaranteed, but the session is planned around the reality that one-year-olds are unpredictable.
Yes. I provide a curated collection of baby outfits selected to photograph well with the studio backgrounds and styling.
You may also bring your own outfit. The studio wardrobe reduces the number of planning decisions, while bringing something personal gives you control when you already have a specific look in mind.
Soft colors, light neutrals, texture, and classic pieces usually photograph better in this studio than large graphics or very busy patterns.
The outfit should also allow your baby to sit, crawl, or stand comfortably. When you use the studio wardrobe, I’ll help select an option that works with the setup.
Yes. You can add 5 photos of the baby with family for $200. The add-on gives us time for parent-and-baby, sibling, or full-family images without taking time away from the baby-focused portion.
The light-filled studio is located in Kirkland’s Market neighborhood:
720 Market St, Ste E
Kirkland, WA 98033
There is usually free street parking in front of and around the studio.
Most families schedule shortly before or after the first birthday.
Book early if you need finished photographs for an invitation, party display, or printed gift. Your timeline needs to include the session, proof delivery, your selection period, final editing, and printing.
Studio appointments are scheduled between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the best natural light.
A $100 deposit is required to reserve the session. The remaining balance is due on the day of the session.
Payments are made by credit card. The proof gallery is released after payment has been received in full.
After the session, you’ll receive a proof gallery to review the full range of expressions and moments from the appointment. You’ll choose the images that matter most to you, and those selections will receive the final hand-editing.
Yes. Additional hand-edited images are $20 each.
You may also purchase all images from the proof gallery with standard color correction for $200.
Your proof gallery is delivered within 4 days after the session.
You then have 7 days to submit your selections. Final hand-edited photographs are delivered within 7 days of receiving those selections.
What Clients Say About the Experience
Awards & Recognitions
