Seattle Cake Smash Photography & First Birthday Sessions
I guide the session around the child in front of me, using clear direction when it helps and adjusting the pace when it does not. The goal is to keep your baby’s personality visible while creating a cohesive set of first-birthday photographs.
“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.
These sessions are intentionally simple so your baby stays at the center of the photographs. I use white studio backgrounds, soft studio light, a few intentional props, and baby wardrobe options selected to work together visually.
Before you arrive, I prepare the studio, lighting, wardrobe options, and setup. For Cake Smash sessions, I also arrange the included cake and birthday details. You’ll receive a prep guide and access to my online styling service ahead of time, so you have clear help with the choices that are yours to make.
Once the session begins, I adapt to your child’s pace. We may work with sitting, standing, movement, curiosity, serious expressions, or an enthusiastic cake reaction. I am not trying to make every one-year-old follow the same sequence. I work with what your child gives me while continuing to guide the session.
Simply White 1st Birthday Cake Smash Mini Session
The session includes a 6-inch naked cake, cake stand, number “1” topper, party hat, and baby wardrobe options. You may also bring an outfit of your own.
If you want to expand the session, you can add portraits of your baby without the cake, photographs with family, or a premium cake.
What is included: Up to 20 minutes of shooting time • 10 hand-edited high-resolution digital images selected by you from a proof gallery of 40–60 images • 6-inch naked cake • Baby wardrobe options • Prep guide • Quick turnaround • Print release
5 photos of baby without the cake: $200 (adds 20 minutes)
5 photos of baby with family: $200 (adds 20 minutes)
Premium cake: $100
Additional hand-edited images: $20 each
Full proof gallery with standard color correction: $200
Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini Session
You may also bring an outfit of your own. If you would like to be in some of the photographs, family portraits can be added to the session.
What is included: Up to 20 minutes of shooting time • 10 hand-edited high-resolution digital images selected by you from a proof gallery of 40–60 images • Baby wardrobe options • Prep guide • Quick turnaround • Print release
5 photos of baby with family: $200 adds 20 minutes
Additional hand-edited images: $20 each
Full proof gallery with standard color correction: $200
Highlights from Recent Sessions
As you look through them, notice more than whether a baby is smiling at the camera. The cautious expressions, concentration, movement, curiosity, cake reactions, and moments with parents are all part of what makes this stage worth documenting.
The simple backgrounds keep the focus on your child and give the finished photographs flexibility for invitations, birthday displays, albums, framed prints, and family photo walls.
Simply White 1-Year Cake Smash Sessions
Classic 1-Year Milestone Sessions
Once you book, I’ll guide the preparation and have the studio, styling options, and setup ready before you arrive.
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.
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 party hat used for the standard Cake Smash setup. That is one less set of details for you to source, transport, and coordinate.
Yes. A child participating in a cake smash must already be able to eat solid foods safely. The parent or guardian is responsible for determining readiness, monitoring cake consumption throughout the session, and stopping consumption if there is any choking concern. If your child is not safely eating solids yet, choose the Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini-Session instead.
That is completely okay. Some babies are immediately interested in the cake, some take their time, and some are much more interested in everything happening around them.
I follow your baby’s reaction rather than trying to force one. If you already know you would rather skip the cake altogether, the Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini Session is the better fit.
Yes. The studio, lighting, wardrobe options, and setup are prepared before you arrive, so our session time can stay focused on photographing your baby rather than making setup decisions.
I keep the session moving while adjusting the pace to your child as needed. If you add baby portraits without the cake or family photographs to Cake Smash, or family photographs to Classic, that add-on adds 20 minutes to the appointment.
Serious, cautious, or slow-to-warm-up expressions are not a problem. I give children room to settle in and adjust my approach to what they are comfortable giving me.
I never promise a particular smile or expression. The goal is to photograph your child as they are while continuing to guide the session.
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.
You do not need to arrive with a full wardrobe plan. I provide baby outfit options selected for the studio look, and you may also bring an outfit of your own.
Before the session, you’ll receive a prep guide if you want help deciding what will photograph well.
Yes. For either first-birthday session, you may add five photographs of your baby with family for $200. The add-on adds 20 minutes to the appointment.
If you plan to be photographed, the prep guide and online styling service can also help you coordinate clothing with the simple studio setting.
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 booking deposit reserves your session. The remaining balance is due on the day of the session. I’ll send an invoice reminder the day before, and all major credit cards are accepted.
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.
You may also purchase the full proof gallery with standard color correction for $200. The full-gallery upgrade does not include full hand-retouching of every image.
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 & Recognition
