A Simple Woodland Cake Smash Setup for Baby Boy’s First Birthday

How is Lucas already a one year old?! This was our fifth session together thanks to our Collective Membership, and Lucas absolutely loved the camera! He was so comfortable in the studio, and he had a blast digging into his cake to celebrate turning one. Seeing babies be super comfortable with me is definitely a huge perk of being a part of the membership! 

For Lucas’ first birthday portraits, his mom and dad wanted to keep the setup super simple. We brought in elements of the woods, including the gorgeous pine tree trunks and greenery. With lots of fairy lights intertwined with the leaves on the floor, the setup became more whimsical and fun for this sweet boy. His outfit was also simple, but Lucas looked absolutely adorable in his overalls! 

My favorite portraits from his cake smash are actually where Lucas is smiling up at his mom and dad. His eyes just light up when he sees them, and I hope they always look back at these portraits and see the love that they reflected right back on to him. It was so precious to see those moments happen in real life and to have saved them forever for Lucas and his parents is beyond special to me! 

Happy first birthday, Lucas! I can’t believe you’re already such a big boy!! 


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A horse racing themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs

Happy birthday, Ivy! This darling little girl was born last year during the famous annual Whitney Race and upon her arrival, Heather immediately knew what her first birthday portrait theme would be: horse racing! I always love a chance to break out this uniquely Saratoga Springs backdrop and setup, and to do so in honor of a Whitney Race baby was even more special to me. Ivy’s mom not only used the theme for her portraits, but planned the entire birthday party around this theme too! SO fun. 

Before our cake smash, I met Ivy, Heather, and Lee in a wildflower field that they’ve grown to love over the last year. It’s a field the family frequents to gather their fresh fruit and veggies, so it holds a lot of meaning to the three of them. Ivy had the cutest little blue and white dress for our portraits in the field. She looked absolutely adorable, and everything just had this soft flowing vibe to it. 

After our time in the field, we headed back to the studio for Ivy’s first birthday portraits. Heather loved my vintage high chair and big ONE letters made of metal, so we made sure to incorporate them in our studio time. Heather chose the sweetest blue linen dress for Ivy to wear during her smash. She actually pulled some of the pastel orange and peach out of the backdrop for her cake, too. Such great attention to detail! It really helped everything for the smash come together. 

Ivy was gentle with her cake but had a blast. I loved seeing her little smile come out as she touched the icing and even got to play in our bath after the smash. She was utterly adorable and I had a great time with her and her parents marking this major milestone! Happy first birthday, Ivy! 

one year old sits in vintage high chair with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in vintage high chair in pastel flower outfit with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in vintage high chair in pastel flower outfit with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in vintage high chair in pastel flower outfit with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in white lace dress crawls on floor in front of gold metal ONE letters filled with greenery and mauve flowers photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in white lace dress sits on floor in front of gold metal ONE letters filled with greenery and mauve flowers photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue linen dress eats peach ombre cake in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue linen dress eats peach ombre cake in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue linen dress eats peach ombre cake in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old laughs sitting in clawfoot tub in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old laughs sitting in clawfoot tub in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of three stands in field of yellow and orange wildflowers during family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of three in blue outfits stand in field of yellow and orange wildflowers during family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue and white striped outfit sits on knit blanket during family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue and white striped outfit holds parents’ hands during family portraits in wildflower field with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in blue gown holds toddler on her hip during family portraits in wildflower field with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
father hugs toddler in blue dress leaning to kiss her cheek during family portraits in wildflower field with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A horse racing themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A horse racing themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Classic neutral cake smash with balloon letters

Happy birthday, Bennett! This classic neutral cake smash was super special to me because Bennett has the same exact birthday as our little girl Adelaide! I have been photographing this family’s milestones ever since they were pregnant with their first baby, and it’s such a joy welcoming them back into the studio and seeing their family grow and change. Bennett was the happiest little birthday boy and his session was a great time for all of us! 

Katie, Bennett’s mom, asked for a setup that was soft, neutral, and classic. We did a neutral “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” setup when her son Carter turned one, and I wanted to use colors that would complement his portraits. With that in mind, we stuck with whites, creams, and gold. I can already imagine the portraits being displayed together in their home! They’re going to be so pretty hanging together on the wall or in an album the boys will flip through together for years to come. 

For Bennett’s session, I picked up these gorgeous gold ONE letters. They’re my newest prop in the studio for our cake smash sessions, and I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a prop since I bought the tiny clawfoot tub six years ago! These handmade letter sculptures shipped all the way from the Ukraine, and I am already dreaming up all the different things we can “fill” them with for our birthday babies! Balloons, florals… the options truly are endless! I think the neutral ivory and peach balloons that we chose for Bennett’s portraits turned out to be the perfect option! 

Happy birthday, Bennett! I can’t wait to watch you grow! 

baby boy sits in high chair in grey and white overalls with wooden cake in Saratoga Springs studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in high chair in grey and white overalls with wooden cake in Saratoga Springs studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden ne topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and eating white birthday cake with wooden ne topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden ne topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic neutral cake smash with balloon letters for baby boy photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography.

Classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer

Happy birthday, Jordan! This sweet guy is already ONE, which I can’t believe! He came by the studio recently for his classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash. We used the most gorgeous watercolor illustrations for his backdrop and had a blast photographing the birthday boy. It was a sweet and absolutely adorable session from start to finish!  

When Jordan’s mom suggested this classic Winnie the Pooh theme, I was so excited. I absolutely love this theme! I’m a sucker for anything painted with watercolors, and these Winnie the Pooh designs were the perfect touch to this backdrop and setup. We used some wooden ONE letters - they were a team effort to collect! When this mom walked into the studio, she immediately recognized them and asked me, “Ohhhh, you got the last letter?” She had seen my post on Facebook searching for the letter E, because I already had the O and N, but our stores around here had no E! I had friends, family, and acquaintances across the country checking out their Michaels stores for this letter. One lucky friend found it and shipped it to me from South Carolina! I’m so glad that we found the E to include in Jordan's portraits! 

We’ve documented all Jordan and his big brothers, Jacob and Jonas, since they were newborns. Each boy has had milestone sessions from newborn sessions to cake smashes, and it’s truly been a joy to capture these memories for them. I can’t believe this sweet family is moving to a new state. I’ll miss seeing them in the studio every couple of months, watching them grow, and catching up on life! Clients really do become like family, especially because we’re together a lot throughout the portrait experience. From planning your session, to capturing your portraits, gallery reveal, and artwork delivery - I LOVE getting to know every family who comes into my Saratoga Springs studio. 

Happy birthday again, Jordan! I can’t believe you’re one and our studio sessions are done!

toddler sits in white high chair with wooden cake toy during cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits in white high chair with wooden cake toy during cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with Hunny Pot cake during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with Hunny Pot cake during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white clawfoot tub during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white clawfoot tub during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with yellow Hunny cake with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Throw the Confetti: A fifth birthday cake smash with friends

My son Grayson and his friends all have birthdays within 2.5 weeks of each other. I met these moms when we were pregnant – one at prenatal yoga, another at the hospital birth class, and another was a maternity client of mine. Our babies were all born at the same time, and we have been so lucky to have a built-in support group going through exactly the same stages at the same time as one another.

four five-year olds pose in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography

When the babies turned 1, we did a cake smash with a Saratoga race track theme. It was cute and chaotic, and so much fun! With their fifth birthdays coming up, we knew this was a big milestone that we wanted to celebrate. For many of them, it was their first really big birthday celebration in years because of the pandemic. We got the original four together to do a (cup)cake smash with a confetti theme, and it was such a blast! All of their personalities came through, and it was amazing to us moms as we watched them in this session and reflected on how their personalities today were so similar to the way they each acted during the one year old session.

I chose a confetti theme because it was bright & colorful, and oh-so-classic. Each child’s cupcake had their favorite color confetti sprinkles on top (and yes, I painstakingly sorted the sprinkles by color one at a time the night before the session!). This setup was so much fun to make, and while adapting my regular cake smash set (baby sitting on the floor) to accommodate four grown 5 year olds was a challenge, we pulled it off with a bench covered in white fabric and confetti dots to match the decor. I love how it all turned out, and I’m so happy that we’ll have these memories to look back on years from now and show our little ones these early friendships.

four confetti cupcakes for cake smash with friends in front of rainbow streamers in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography
four confetti cupcakes for cake smash with friends in front of rainbow streamers in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography
fine year old boy in white shirt and jeans sits on studio floor holding confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
fine year old girl in white dress sits on studio floor with confetti beach balls and rainbow streamers behind her for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde girl in white dress blows confetti from hands in studio with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde girl in white holds beach ball in studio with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four five year olds play in studio with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers play with confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers play with confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
fine year old boy in white shirt and jeans dances with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers play with confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
girl with brown hair in white dress throws confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers in white dresses and white shirts with jeans pose with giant silver 5 balloon in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers in white dresses and white shirts with jeans sit eating cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde toddler in white shirt with jeans eats cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers sit together eating cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde girl with purple bow in white dress eats cupcake and licks icing off her nose in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
boy in white shirt laughs holding confetti beach ball in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
boy in white shirt laughs with girls in white dresses holding confetti cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer

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Rainbow inspired cake smash for five best friends to celebrate their 5th birthday in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography

A Party Animal Cake Smash for Rocco

Happy birthday, Rocco!! I can’t believe that Rocco is already a year old. He was my first newborn session for the year. Now 2022 is almost over, and this guy is ONE! Time is flying by, seriously. We planned a fun cake smash in the studio to celebrate his milestone birthday. Leah, his mom, asked if we could plan a theme that matched his party invitations, so we designed a “party animal” theme! 

Between Leah and I, we were able to create a gorgeous setup for this little guy. We used lots of fun confetti filled balloons to create a garland backdrop and Leah brought in some stuffed animals she’s planning to use for the birthday party. While everything was colorful and bright - perfect for a one year old - we still managed to keep a pretty clean style, which I absolutely love (and am known for!). This style allows us to really focus on the birthday boy during his portraits!

As with all of my cake smash sessions, we made sure to capture some updated family photos of Rocco and his parents. We also got the most adorable updated photos of him alone in a sweet little plaid shirt. He even had a baseball cap for one photo! I love when we do these milestone photos, because it’s a great time to photograph your baby’s personality and new skills. Once those were done, it was time for cake! Rocco loved digging into the icing and even knocked his cake off the stand at one point. I’m here for it!! We ended their session with a little bath for him, which he loved. He was seriously so happy the whole session and that makes me super excited! 

baby in teal jumper crawls across confetti on floor during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper knocks small white cake with confetti icing off stand during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper smiles in front of confetti balloon garland during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper eats icing during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper eats icing off wooden spoon during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper eats icing and stretches during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal crawls around on floor with confetti after knocking cake over off stand during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in bathtub after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in bathtub surrounded by stuffed animals wearing party hats after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in bathtub surrounded by stuffed animals wearing party hats after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby claps in bathtub surrounded by stuffed animals wearing party hats after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in ONE hat sits in black plaid shirt with jeans during milestone photos in studio with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in green dress holds son on lap sitting on sofa photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in forest green shirt holds son on lap sitting on sofa photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in green dress laughs with one year old son in plaid shirt photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in forest green shirt holds son on lap sitting on sofa photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and dad hug one year old son in plaid shirt photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in plaid shirt claps hands sitting on white floor in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in plaid shirt crawls on white floor in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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a colorful party animal cake smash with stuffed animals in party hats and confetti balloon garland photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A succulent themed cake smash for baby boy

Happy first birthday, Colton! This little guy is a Baby Plan graduate. I’ve had the pleasure of documenting all of his milestones this year… from his newborn portraits, tummy time milestone, sitter milestone, holiday portraits, and even an extended family portrait session. Now, it’s time to celebrate with his very own case smash session. I’ve known this family since Colton’s big sister, Elliana, was little too. It’s been such a joy to watch them both grow.

When we began to plan Colton’s cake smash, we looked to his sister’s cake smash for inspiration. Elliana’s cake smash was also succulent themed. We wanted to change things up and make sure the entire session felt a little more “masculine” for Colton. WIth that in mind, we stuck to natural textures with gold accents. It was just perfect for this little guy!!

As with all my cake smashes, we also took the time for some updated family portraits in the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Spa State Park. I’m so happy I got to see everyone again and I can’t wait until their next family photos!

siblings sit on wooden crate while big sister kisses baby brother during family photos at the Hall of Springs with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom kisses daughter during Hall of Springs family portraits at Saratoga Spa State Park with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four poses at the Hall of Springs during Saratoga Springs NY family session with Nicole Starr Photography in the spring
family of four poses at the Hall of Springs during Saratoga Springs NY family session with Nicole Starr Photography
siblings sit on wooden crate during family photos at the Hall of Springs with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad and son hug during family photos at the Hall of Springs with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
boy in green jumper sits on white chair during succulent themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
boy in green jumper sits on white chair during succulent themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in olive green jumper plays with wooden cake topper during succulent themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in olive green jumper plays with wooden spoon and icing during succulent themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in olive green jumper plays with wooden spoon and icing during succulent themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in olive green jumper and sister play in front of succulent themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
sister plays with wooden spoon while baby brother looks at cake during first birthday cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in green jumper plays with wooden “one” sign on cake during first birthday cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in tub after succulent cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Succulent themed cake smash for baby boy with gold details in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

First birthday portraits with a sage green and beige balloon garland

Happy first birthday to Kodah! We celebrated his first birthday with a stunning cake smash in the studio this spring. Like many babies, his cake smash decor was inspired by his nursery decor - which I absolutely love! There’s just something wonderful about using the colors and themes you already know and love for your baby! His mama sent me her mood board from when she designed his nursery and we used a similar color palette of soft green, beige, and white. With a few greenery accents, the setup was complete!

During our session, we photographed a few family and milestone portraits without the cake first. I love starting sessions this way because I get to immediately capture how you are as a family - and your little one has time to warm up to me before we try the cake! Kodah looked so cute in his little white button up and his parents looked so proud of him!!

They had even more to be proud of during our session. Kodah had a huge milestone - he fed himself for the first time during our portraits! His mom and dad were so surprised and happy, and it was such a fun way to celebrate him taking his first bite and bringing food to his mouth all by himself. Apparently cake was the magic food he was waiting for all this time! ;o)

Happy birthday again, Kodah!

baby boy sits in curved chair in front of sage green and beige balloon arch for first birthday portraits with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in khaki pants by naked cake for first birthday cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby eats icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby chews on end of wooden spoon during  cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby licks fingers during  cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby claps hands sitting by cake for cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits by cake for cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash for first birthday with sage and beige balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash for first birthday with sage and beige balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash for first birthday with sage and beige balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents sit with son on sofa in Saratoga Springs studio for family photos with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family and cake smash photographer
mom and son sit on sofa during family portraits in studio with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
mom kisses one year old son sitting on sofa during family portraits in studio with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
dad and one year old son sit together on sofa for milestone photos in studio with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
one year old laughs sitting on couch in studio during milestone photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old laughs sitting on couch in studio during milestone photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold one year old in studio during milestone portraits for first birthday with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold one year old’s hand in studio during milestone portraits for first birthday with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on studio floor by white curtain in Saratoga Springs with NY milestone photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby crawls on studio floor in white button up shirt during first birthday photos with NY milestone photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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first birthday cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Winter ONEderland Cake Smash with Blue & Silver with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer

Happy first birthday, Leo! I recently welcomed Leo and his wonderful parents to the studio for his first birthday cake smash. Since he’s a winter baby, we went with the ever popular theme of a Winter ONEderland. This is honestly one of my favorite themes for babies born in the colder months, and I’m always looking for ways to make it unique. For Leo’s session, we decided to use blue and silver as the main palette. And you may even recognize some of the snowflakes from our holiday sessions! They were the perfect final touch to Leo’s setup.

You never know how babies will be during their cake smashes. Some of them absolutely love the cake and others don’t. But, Leo absolutely LOVED it. He went for the cake and totally smashed it. He was definitely one of the most enthusiastic smashers I’ve ever had in the. Not to mention, one of the happiest babies! His little smiles made me giggle. Just wait until you see them!

If your baby is turning one this year, let’s talk about their cake smash portraits! I love helping families decide on the perfect theme for their little one, and making it all their own! In the meantime, enjoy scrolling through Leo’s winter cake smash portraits!


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A Winter ONEderland Cake Smash with Blue & Silver with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Your Cake Smash: What to Expect

Celebrating your baby’s first birthday is such an exciting milestone! Not only is your baby ONE, but there’s so much you’ve achieved as a parent, too. It’s honestly one of the reasons I love photographing cake smash portraits so much. These babies are adorable and have some incredible new skills to show off. Plus, they’re just a lot of fun! But, cake smashes are a pretty unique type of session… and since it’s meant to be fun (and not stressful!), I want to make sure you know what to expect when you come into the studio.

Let’s celebrate together.

Today, I want to share a peek into what cake smash sessions are like, how you can prepare yourself and your almost one-year-old, and really enjoy this special time!

Choose a photographer that has plenty of experience with babies & toddlers.

Let’s start with the very first & most important thing. If you haven’t chosen a photographer yet, be sure to keep this in mind because all I want is for your little one to be comfortable and safe during their session, and for you to feel at ease the entire time.

A photographer who has plenty of experience photographing babies will be able to draw out the best smiles and expressions from your little one during your session. They know how to engage the baby and get them interested in their cake, the very best angles to capture your perfect little baby, and all of the must-have shots that will come together for a cake smash session that is more than just a smattering of portraits but that truly tells a story.

Choose a photographer who’s style and creativity you adore!

Cake smashes are one of the most creative types of sessions that baby photographers can do! Most photographers create their backdrops and props by hand, pulling together decor and other elements to bring your vision to life. Study a photographer’s portfolio to see which style you adore, and have specific requests for your cake smash setup. If you’re not sure of a theme or decor style, your photographer should be able to talk you through it to help you discover the perfect theme for your baby’s first birthday portraits.

When you arrive at the studio


When families come to my studio I have them take their shoes off at the door to keep the floors clean for the babies and toddlers that we have in our space. I let parents settle in on the studio sofa and I show them where the snacks and drinks are, and if big brother or sister is there we spend a little time in the toy corner to help them get acclimated to the new space.



Parents can change baby into their outfit for family portraits (this is usually a different outfit than we use for the cake smash). Sometimes baby will need a little more time to acclimate, and we don’t rush things! There is plenty of time for cuddles, a snack, songs, and playing before we begin your portraits.

First up come family portraits!


We start with family portraits to ease the baby into the new situation, and being in mom and dad’s arms helps make that a smooth transition! We capture a mix of family portraits, sibling portraits, and individual portraits of the baby. In the cooler months we do these in the studio in our white room setup and on the loveseat. In the warmer months we often meet at a nearby park for the family portraits before heading back to the studio for the cake smash.

Then it’s time for the cake smash!


After the family portraits we change the baby’s outfit. I usually capture a few portraits of baby on our setup without the cake before we bring out the cake. Parents are on baby duty to bring a moving baby back to the setup when they crawl off the backdrop, and we coax the baby to get comfortable with their cake. Sometimes a parents will sit right by their side if the baby prefers to be close to them, and often a parent will show them how to take a bite of the frosting or put a little on their lips to show them that it is food. Some babies need a little more help to dig into their cake, and we hide puffs or yogurt drops in the frosting to get them to dig in. I also have a wooden spoon that we pull out, and babies LOVE playing with the spoon. This always gets the biggest smiles!

Finish up with a bathtub splash!


The baby will let us know when they’re done with the cake, and we take off their outfit and get them ready for the bathtub. I fill the studio’s tiny clawfoot tub with warm water and bubbles, and then the baby gets in! This is an adorable opportunity for happy baby portraits, and I always love the smiles that we capture at the end of the session!



After we have captured a variety of portraits of your little one, we are all done! You have time to change and dress your baby, and if you need to give them a snack again before getting in the car you can absolutely do that, too!

After the session


If you’re comfortable with a sneak peek on social media, I usually share that 4-5 days after your session.

Then we will get together about 2 weeks later for your ordering appointment! We’ll choose your favorite family and baby portraits to hang on your walls, and select your favorite images for an album or a collection box. This is always my favorite part when families fall in love with the images we created of their birthday baby!

Once I send everything to print you’ll get it back in 2-6 weeks — certain products take closer to the 4-6 week mark, but others are always ready much, much sooner. When everything is ready I will either come drop it off or put it in the mail to you, or you can come pick it up at the studio. Then you’ll start enjoying your images right away at home!

Any questions? I’d be happy to chat with you about your little one’s portrait session. Click on the button below and let’s connect!


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Tiffany & Co Cake Smash for Baby's First Birthday

I cannot believe Giuliana is already one! She’s a Baby Plan graduate so she’s no stranger to the studio! I’ve loved watching her grow up. We started her portraits before she was even born with her mom’s maternity session then once she arrived, we captured her newborn portraits and milestones, too. And most recently, she came into the studio for her Tiffany & Co cake smash!

This session was so much fun to design. I love the colors of Tiffany & Co… I mean, who doesn’t?! Giuliana’s mom brought in boxes and ribbons from her own collection of Tiffany gifts, so it was perfect. Not only did everything look amazing but it was so personalized because this are her mom’s! How special is that? I actually learned how to tie a Tiffany bow using the ribbon and it was so fun! I’ll definitely be using those bows moving forward because they’re actually knotless bows and so easy to untie!

Giuliana definitely brought her fun personality to her portraits. I loved watching her explore and get a taste of that teal icing. She kept making me think of her newborn portraits when she was posing with her hands under her chin. We used a similar pose when she was a baby. What a fun little throwback! Enjoy a peek into this sweet Tiffany & Co cake smash for Giuliana’s first birthday!


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A Beach Theme First Birthday Cake Smash

I cannot believe Oliver is already a year old! He came into the studio for his newborn portraits just yesterday, I swear! :o) Now, he’s a year old and came back to the studio for a beach inspired cake smash. His family recently moved to the beach and he absolutely LOVES it there - so it was definitely a perfect theme for this little guy. His parents brought a beautiful cake from Kelly’s Kitchen to bring this setup to life and it was just stunning!

Despite the delicious looking cake, Oliver wasn’t quite sure about it all when he actually got to the studio. Even though he wasn’t too fond of the cake, we managed to capture some great expressions! I’m all about capturing your little ones as they are - happy, sad, or in between - when it comes to their smashes. Even if your baby isn’t too sure about their cake or the icing, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve for their time in the studio!

Worried your little one won’t be interested in their cake? Try one of these tips:

  • Hide snacks in the frosting that they love! They’ll dig for them, trust me.

  • Let them play with wooden spoons - they can eat from them or just bang them around!

  • Play their favorite songs on Alexa!

  • Take a break and grab a snack or their favorite toy.

  • Have the parents hang near the edge of the backdrop so they’re nearby.

  • Lots of breaks for hugs and kisses!

  • Toys and rattles on hand for distractions can be a great option!


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Where the Wild Things Are Cake Smash

Well this was definitely a fun session! We planned a “Where the Wild Things Are” cake smash to go along with the theme of Jacob’s first birthday party. His mama found the most adorable romper at Zara and it went perfectly with the greenery in the decor. The little golden crown with fur (just like Max wears in the book!) was the perfect finishing touch for the birthday boy’s outfit. Find more tips for choosing a cake smash outfit here!

toddler reaches for cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old licks icing off hand during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

The last time I had this theme request was probably 5 years ago, so it was fun to pull together a brand new backdrop and create something beautiful for this sweet boy’s birthday celebration!

Wondering how to choose a theme for your baby’s cake smash? Check out these tips!

baby reaches for wooden spoon during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler dances around cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in gold crown holds wooden spoon during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with white cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Jacob LOVED this cake, and he especially enjoyed it when his big brother Jonas joined in. I have been photographing this family’s milestones since big brother was a newborn, and it’s always so amazing to see how much they grow and change over the years. Look at how sweet he is feeding his little brother here!

big brother helps toddler with icing during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
brother and toddler play in cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in green jumper and gold crown smiles during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in bathtub after Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler laughs in bubble bath during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold two toddlers during family photos in Saratoga Springs with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

We began the session with family portraits in Congress Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. Summertime colors were in full bloom and it was absolutely gorgeous!

parents pose with two sons in navy shirts and khaki pants during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds two sons on lap during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds son on hip during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

The happiest baby you ever did see!

toddler crawls around during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
brothers hug during family photos in Saratoga Springs with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on curb during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four holds hands walking through Saratoga Springs park with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Mickey Mouse Cake Smash with Gray and Cream Accents

This sweet family reached out to plan Baby #2’s cake smash, and they wanted a Mickey Mouse theme to coordinate with his nursery bedding. The mom sent me a photo of his bedding set, which is a cream and gray Mickey theme by Lambs & Ivy. So we skipped the classic red and yellow and went with soft neutrals, which as anyone that has seen my works knows, neutrals are much more my style!

Since I had photographed this birthday boy’s big brother’s cake smash two years ago, we wanted to setups to complement each other so I incorporated the balloons and marquee letters in both, and a similar style with the character cutouts, too!

Click to see big brother’s Snoopy cake smash here!

toddler tips ivory cake during Mickey Mouse cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old bites cake during Mickey Mouse cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

This little man wasn’t afraid to get messy and he dug right into his cake! Head first! He loved it and we had so much fun watching how happy he was. By the end, he was completely covered in buttercream frosting and he couldn’t stop smiling!

toddler plays with icing during Mickey Mouse cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old smiles with icing around his face during Mickey Mouse cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler dances during first birthday Mickey Mouse cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in bathtub with grey Mickey Mouse during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in bathtub after Mickey Mouse cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four poses together in local Saratoga Springs park photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

All of our birthday sessions also include family portraits! This is such a fun way to celebrate your whole family’s year together, and a great opportunity to capture beautiful portraits of each of you with the baby. In the warm weather, we do these family portraits outdoors before heading back to the studio for the cake smash. I love the happy expressions we captured on the boys in these ones!

dad and one year old smile together in park photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds two sons during family photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and son sit in grass during family photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family plays together during first birthday family photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
brothers sit together in grass during family photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in striped shirt laughs during photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on step during family photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Mickey Mouse cake smash with grey and cream accents photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Fiesta First Birthday Cake Smash

I always love when families choose a meaningful theme for their baby’s cake smash session. Sometimes it’s a favorite book or song, a favorite toy or a nursery theme, or something that reflects the family’s background. Anaís’s mama chose a colorful fiesta theme for her daughter’s first birthday cake smash to honor her Mexican heritage, and I absolutely loved pulling it all together for the birthday girl.

Psssst…. wondering how to choose a theme for your baby’s cake smash? Check out this blog post!

colorful cake for fiesta inspired cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
baby in colorful dress eats birthday cake during fiesta first birthday cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

This adorable birthday girl LOVED her cake and she had us laughing the whole time she was digging in. From great big bites to putting her feet in the cake, and having a major interest in the confetti instead of the cake, Anaís was such a joy and I really loved photographing her first birthday portraits.

baby sticks foot in cake after colorful fiesta cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler holds up icing from colorful birthday cake during fiesta cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in colorful outfit smashes cake during fiesta cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Her beautiful outfit was handmade to match the theme, tying together the traditional Mexican styles of a serape skirt and an embroidered tunic, and it was so perfect on this sweet girl! Plus, I love how the papel picado banner coordinated beautifully with the garlands on the cake. Too adorable!

baby looks at green icing during cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby crawls on confuting during cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in bathtub after cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub with rubber duck after cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and baby pose in traditional Mexican dresses with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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a fiesta cake smash with colorful banners and cake photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Pink and Gold Cake Smash with Balloon Garland and Confetti

Another cake smash, another balloon garland!

I absolutely love how festive balloon garlands are for birthday portraits, and the variety that can be created with them is amazing. I recently learned about double stuffing balloons, which is when you put one balloon inside of another to create an entirely new hue. I did that for this session and I loved the soft pink, gold, and peach hues for this garland.

baby plays with cake during pink and gold cake smash with confetti and balloon garland photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl eats icing from cake during cake smash with pink balloons photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Brooke’s white & gold cake from Coccadotts was perfect for this session, and it tied in with the gold confetti beautifully. This was a fresh take on a classic cake smash theme - pink and gold!

Her romper was chosen from the studio’s Baby Wardrobe, and it was the perfect fit for this little birthday girl! This particular romper was handmade in Australia, and Brooked happened to be the very first baby to wear it!

baby girl plays with cake topper during pink and gold cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old plays with cake during pink and gold cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old eats cake during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents snuggle with one year old daughter on white couch in Saratoga Springs studio photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
father holds daughter on white couch during family portraits with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

All of our cake smash sessions also include family portraits, and we started off Brooke’s birthday session with cuddly family portraits in the studio. I love capturing classic baby portraits on our white couch. They are simple and sweet, and really let each baby’s personality shine. And of course, the wooden birthday cake prop captured the birthday girl’s attention, too!

one year old sits on couch with blocks during milestone portraits by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old plays with wooden cake in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays on chunky blanket with wooden cake toy set photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents snuggle with daughter in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

We couldn’t resist a few portraits in our springy egg chair, which was all decked out for May’s Celebrating Motherhood sessions. I love the variety it lends to their gallery!

dad sits with one year old in chair covered with floral garland photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in chair with flower garland around the outside photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old plays in chair covered with flowers during milestone portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds baby girl in lap during milestone portraits by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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pink and gold cake smash with balloon garland and confetti photographed by Nicole Starr Photography

Celebrating Grayson's Third Birthday with a Mail Truck Cake Smash

Our son Grayson turned 3, and we celebrated with a cake smash in our Saratoga Springs portrait studio!

Grayson had been begging me for a cake smash for months, naturally forgetting about the two he already enjoyed for his first birthday and second birthday! He loves hearing stories about other babies smashing their cakes and he gets such a kick out of seeing their pictures on my computer and in print when I am packaging orders up for my clients. He kept telling me that he wanted to do a cake smash, so I told him that he had to help me get it ready.

We chose a mail truck theme because this little guy is obsessed with vehicles. While school buses continue to be his #1 love, mail trucks are a close second. Since he was a baby he has been able to recognize the stop-and-go engine of the mail truck from many blocks away and tell us that it’s coming. He loves watching the mail get delivered and going to check the mailbox. Naturally, this was the perfect cake smash theme for our curious three year old!

Grayson loves helping me set up for other people’s sessions, and he always asks to come down into the studio to get things ready when he knows a baby is coming in for their session. He loves helping me make balloon garlands for cake smashes, so Grayson helped me make the balloon garland and all of the other decor for his session! Because of food allergies, we aren’t able to give him cake from the local bakeries and we make all of our own baked goods for him to enjoy, so my little baker even helped bake & frost his cake, too! It all came together for a perfectly adorable mail truck cake smash, and he was one happy little birthday boy!

Saratoga Springs child and family photographer  |  Nicole Starr Photography  |  A mail truck cake smash to celebrate a third birthday.

Check out Grayson’s earlier birthday portraits here!

We always try to go for a unique theme that represents his interests and is meaningful to him and to our family’s story. Three years in and I would say we’re doing pretty well with the one-of-a-kind ideas!

Saratoga Springs child and family photographer  |  Nicole Starr Photography  |  A mail truck cake smash to celebrate a third birthday.

A Cake Smash with a Metallic Balloon Garland

Teagan’s mama chose her cake smash theme before her baby girl was even born. She saw a birthday session of mine with an amethyst balloon garland and knew that if she had a little girl one day, she wanted something just like that for her birthday portraits. So when it came time to plan the cake smash, we knew exactly what we wanted to do!

She found this gorgeous dress with metallic hearts on it, and I coordinated the colors to match. I was thrilled to find heart confetti in the exact same colors and the exact same size as the hearts on her dress! It almost looks like the hearts spill off of Teagan’s dress and onto the floor, doesn’t it?!

toddler in heart dress poses in front of metallic balloon garland photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl plays with cake during cake smash with balloon garland hanging behind her photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
cake smash with metallic balloon garland photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
girl in pink dress eats cake in front of metallic balloon garland photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Teagan loved her cake and she dug right into it! I secretly love it when babies knock the cake stand over because we get such fun photos with them playing with the cake and squishing it into the floor. Plus the “oops, was I supposed to do that?” look they give when they realize it fell down is precious!

cake smash with metallic balloon garland photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays on wooden spoon during cake smash with metallic balloon garland photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl plays in tub after cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby’s milestone portraits before cake smash photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays on bed during milestone photos photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Every cake smash session includes family portraits, and in the winter we do those in the white & cream studio. I love these classic family portraits that will match the ones we did a few years ago for big brother’s first birthday!

big brother poses with little sister photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler laughs during family photos photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
siblings play on bed photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four poses together before cake smash for one year old photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents play with kids during family session photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds one year old daughter during family photos  photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and toddler pose together before cake smash photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom plays with one year old daughter photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Cake smash with metallic balloon garland  photographed by New York family and baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Fall Family Portraits with an Outdoor Cake Smash

Some families love the idea of choosing a cake smash theme for their little one’s first birthday, and others want something classic and theme-free. That is why more and more families are opting for outdoor cake smashes when the weather is nice to showcase their little one in nature without any props. That is exactly what Ravi’s family wanted for his first birthday portraits, so we combined his fall family photos with a cake smash at the park, and it was perfect!

parents pose with son during fall family portraits in New York photographed by Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents pose with toddler during fall family photos by Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Just look at the gorgeous and colorful leaves lining this path in Saratoga Spa State Park! It was perfect with the golden sunlight streaming in through the leaves, and I loved this spot for their portrait session!

father kisses son’s cheek during NY family photos with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and son pose together during NY family photos with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits on leaves during New York outdoor cake smash with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old smiles during cake smash with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old poses in front of pumpkins during outdoor smash with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
fall family portraits in pumpkin patch with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family with toddler poses in pumpkin patch in New York with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits in white high chair with cake with gold topper for birthday cake smash photographed by Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

For the most simple and classic cake smash look, nothing beats a white high chair and a simple cake! A fancy cake topper completes the look, and the focus really stays on the birthday boy!

baby sits in white highchair for outdoor cake smash with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy smiles during outdoor cake smash in New York with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy eats cake with gold “one” topper for birthday cake smash photographed by Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

This little guy really got into it, and he had a frosting beard in no time!

outdoor cake smash in the fall with Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler smashes cake during outdoor cake smash photographed by Loudonville and Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Outdoor fall cake smash for baby boy photographed by New York baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Succulent Theme Cake Smash for Baby Elliana

I love it when parents request a unique theme for their baby’s cake smash session. When Elliana’s mom asked for a succulent theme and sent me some floral hoop inspiration, I was all over that! I went to the craft store the very next day to find succulents and gold metal hoops, and I got to work creating gorgeous floral & succulent decor for our Baby Planner.

Succulent theme cake smash with flower hoops photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Doesn’t she look adorable in this little dress with the Peter Pan collar? It was perfect for portraits, and the colors were so soft & beautiful.

Her mama brought a baby-sized bouquet from The Posie Peddler in Saratoga Springs, and it was the cutest little thing. I had never seen such a small bouquet before, and the succulents and lavender (from mama’s baby shower) were the perfect finishing touch.

succulent theme cake smash with baby girl in pink dress photographed by Loudonville NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
pastel pink succulent inspired cake smash for one year old photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
boho inspired cake smash with floral hoops and succulents photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
cake smash with pastel pink floral hoops and succulents in New York photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Some of our cake smash babies are walking by the time of their session, and I always love capturing them standing with their cake! It’s a great way to show their size, and also their new (often wobbly!) skills on their chunky little baby feet!

boho cake smash with succulents and wooden floral hoops photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with wooden spoon and succulent inspired cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
boho inspired cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
cake smash with succulents and wooden floral hoops on the wall photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler girl in bath plays after cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
tub time after succulent inspired cake smash photographed by Albany NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Elliana loved the tub and she did some major splashing in the studio! Like most babies, she’s happiest in the water and the bathtub brought out all of her very best smiles!

toddler girl sits in tub after cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

All of our cake smash sessions start with family portraits. In the warmer months we head outdoors for these before the cake. I loved the colors that this family chose for their portraits, and especially the softness of mom’s tulle skirt. Don’t they all look amazing???

family portraits in Saratoga Springs before cake smash photographed by Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
classic milestone portraits of one year old before cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold one year old baby girl before cake smash photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

So proud of her newfound walking skills!

parents hold hands of little girl during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds little girl up during milestone portraits photographed by family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
traditional milestone portraits of one year old photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A succulent theme cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography