First Birthday Cake Smash NYC | Newborn to One

A first birthday cake smash NYC session is always a celebration, but this one meant a little more to me. I photographed this boy when he was only days old and this summer he came back to the studio to turn one. In between, I’ve documented his family again and again, which means I’ve had the rare privilege of watching all three of these kids grow up in front of my camera.

That’s the part of this work I never get over. A single session gives you beautiful photos.

One Morning, Three Sessions in One

We built this morning the way I love to build milestone sessions for returning families. We started with family portraits — all five of them, in soft blues and whites on a clean studio backdrop. Then the kids sat for heirloom portraits, the timeless, simply lit portraits that are made for framing and passing down. And then, once everyone was warmed up, we cleared the floor for the main event: the cake smash.

The order matters, by the way. Clean portraits first, cake last. Ask me how I know.

The First Birthday Cake Smash

For the smash itself, we went with a blue balloon garland, a pompom party hat, and a beautifully simple white cake from Padoca Bakery— proof that a cake smash doesn’t need a loud set to feel like a celebration. His outfit, a classic white romper from Feltman Brothers, was exactly the kind of piece these photos are made for: in twenty years, nothing about these images will look dated.

And he delivered. Hands straight into the cake, sisters cheering from the sidelines. The girls got their turn in the frames too — a cake smash with siblings always turns into the birthday boy’s first party, and those are the photos parents come back for.

From Newborn to One

“Planning your baby’s first year of photos? This family is the blueprint I’d point to. Newborn session, milestones along the way, and a first birthday cake smash to close the year. You can see where it all starts on our newborn page

If a session like this one is something you’d want for your own family, I’d love to make it happen. Whether you’re drawn to the comfort of doing this at home or you’d rather come sit in the natural light of our Flatiron studio, both are always an option. Reach out here and let’s talk about what would feel right for you.

Love, Melissa