Mill Creek Photographer, specializing in newborn photography, baby photography, and maternity photography.

Tips for a successful cake smash session

January 27, 2021

Hi friends! Cake smash sessions are one of my favorite type of sessions, so I figured I would share some things I’ve learned over the last 10 years in the business that will help you with a successful cake smash! Whether you are a photographer, a mom with a little one turning one soon, a client of mine, or anywhere in-between, I’d love to share some of my tips and tricks.

First of all, and most importantly, I let baby lead the show. I take time to read baby’s mood (is baby shy? does the birthday boy seem to have stranger danger? are they walking yet? Are they curious?) and use that information to guide my approach. For babies with “stranger danger”, I will let mom/dad get baby in position, etc until they warm up to me. If they are on the move, I will grab chairs/buckets/etc to slow them down a bit and grab their attention to keep them in the shooting space.

-Not all babies like cake. Be fully prepared for the birthday boy/girl to hate touching, looking at, or being near the cake. I typically start with portraits, then bring out the cake and capture baby’s approach. Some dive right in, some want nothing to do with it, some touch it and immediately regret it. All of these reactions are PERFECT, and all about the baby in that moment. For babies that are all about the cake I just let them go for it. I will reposition baby as needed to make sure I am capturing flattering images, but I will let baby go to town if they are interested in the cake. If baby hates the cake, I’ll have mom or dad take a pinch of cake and pop it in baby’s mouth. Sometimes this little taste will convince baby that cake is amazing, and they go from there. Sometimes not. Some babies hate the feeling of frosting on their fingers, for those little ones, we wipe their little fingers off (so they aren’t upset) and I’ll hand them a little wooden spoon so they can still eat the cake without getting messy. Again, notice, this is all about following baby’s lead. I don’t recommend forcing baby to touch the cake, as this often leads to making the little one upset and unable to reset.

-Before your cake smash session, have baby try cake! The day before your session, give baby a cupcake/piece of cake to try. This will let them practice and try the sweetness of cake in their comfort zone. It’s also a great opportunity to make sure baby doesn’t have any reactions to the ingredients in the cake (and give us time to come up with a plan B if they do have a reaction).

-Choosing a cake: I have my clients bring the cake, for several reasons, including potential allergy issues and to make sure parents get the cake they truly want. It’s also great because my clients can choose what works for their budget, and I give a range of recommendations for local bakers. I have a few recommendations as far as the cake goes: 1. Avoid chocolate and red frosting. Chocolate frosting and chocolate cake can look a bit like baby got into a dirty diaper during smash (especially with those close up images, where the context of the cake smash are removed). Red frosting/filling looks like a massacre. 2. Pastels or no dyes in the frosting is ideal. Deep colors in frosting tends to dye baby’s skin, which will be difficult to wash off for the bath portion of the session. 3. OVERSWEET frostings tend to shock baby. Cakes from the grocery store are often made with super sweet frostings, if possible, ask for a whipped frosting or something less sweet. 4. Avoid fondant, decorations on cake/etc. These things can be choking hazards, so best to leave them off. Buttercream frosting seems to be best! 5. If you refrigerate your cake the night before your session, be sure to take it out of the fridge a few hours before your session. Babies tend to prefer room temp cakes, and the frosting is much easier for them to get into.

-Choosing an outfit: Bring along a few different outfits, make sure they fit (try ’em on the night before!) Babies tend to get lost in clothing that is too big. Some babies HATE trying to crawl in dresses, so make sure you have some options if that’s your little one! I have TONS of outfits for my clients to use, and typically pull 5-6 outfits that coordinate with the cake smash set up in in advance. For the outfit baby will wear during the smash: make sure it’s washable! I love minimal coverage for the cake smash portion, love seeing those baby rolls, tiny toes, etc. I recommend a diaper cover, suspenders (for boys), sweet romper for little girls, etc.

-Go with the flow. Keep the energy high, happy, and keep moving! I try to move at a pretty good clip, so baby doesn’t get frustrated or bored during the session. I have lots of fun distractions/toys to get the birthday boy/girl to smile and look at the camera, so my parents can just sit back and watch the show! Cake smash sessions are high energy, super fun, and so much fun!

-Finish with a bath! ALL my little babies LOVE bath time. I like to finish cake smash sessions with a sweet bath setup after the cake. I typically have mom and dad clean up baby before the bath (this way your bath time images aren’t as obviously birthday related, and can be displayed in the bathroom, etc).

Planning for your Maternity Photo Session with June Bug Photography

November 12, 2020

Expecting mamas, this post is for you! I’m going to give you a run down of how your maternity photo session with June Bug Photography will flow, give you some tips and tricks to prepare for your session, and (my favorite part) show off a few of my new maternity gowns.

Scheduling:

I typically recommend scheduling your maternity photo session so you will be somewhere between 25-33 weeks pregnant for your session. Note: this is a pretty big window, mostly because it’s all about your comfort. I want my mamas to be comfortable during their session, and I want you to be able to change into your gowns with ease, etc. I know this gets more difficult as baby grows, and we definitely don’t want baby to be born early (and miss the maternity session all together!) Shooting maternity sessions is SUPER relaxed, but you will be standing (and walking if shooting outdoors), changing, which gets a little harder in those last few weeks.

Planning:

Planning ahead for your maternity photo session should be fun. There isn’t a ton you need to do, but here are a few things to think about.

Hair & Makeup: If you’re interested in having professional hair and makeup done for your session, let me know! I have a few great recommendations for hair and makeup artists. I don’t include this as part of my maternity packages, as many mamas prefer to do their own hair and makeup.
Check out the gowns I have available for clients to use HERE make note of ones you love. Sizes listed on the descriptions are estimates, but most gowns are pretty flexible with sizing.
Check out the different backdrop options I have HERE. Make note of backdrops you love!
Don’t forget to fill out your questionnaire (it’ll be emailed to you prior to your session). This is a great place to let me know any specific ideas you have, the dresses you’d like to wear, the backdrops you want to use, etc.
Make sure you have a bra that fits. Don’t worry if you don’t have a strapless bra, we can tuck and hide straps if needed.

The Session:

What to bring with you: I recommend brining along/wearing seamless underwear that is similar to your skin color. Bring along (or wear) a bra that fits, as well as any outfit(s) that you would like to be photographed in. When you arrive at the studio, we will have a quick chat, get to know each other, and make a plan for the session. I’ll have the gowns you want to try all steamed and ready to wear ahead of time.

During a typical maternity session, my clients have plenty of times for outfit changes if desired. We play dress up, have fun, and shoot a TON. You are welcome to include the rest of the family in your maternity photos, or it’s totally ok to have it just YOU.

After the Shoot:

Following your session with June Bug Photography, you will get to choose your images! YAY! Within 24 hours of your session, you will receive an email link to a “soft proofing gallery”, which is basically an online, watermarked gallery of the images captured during your session. These images will be UNEDITED (don’t worry, your final images will be edited to perfection). You will use the unedited images in the proofing gallery to select the photos you want included in your purchased package. Once you choose your favorite images, I will edit those, order your prints, and ship your USB of high resolution files & prints to your mailbox! Once you receive your digital files, you can post, share, print them to your heart’s content!

Just for fun, here are my newest gowns. Feel free to laugh at my ridiculous fake belly, and awkward posing (trying to pose yourself with a fake belly, using a camera timer is just as silly as it sounds).

And here is a shot of the different backdrop options we have in studio

Fall is in the air, Newborn session with June Bug Photography

October 22, 2020

I adore fall. It is absolutely my favorite season, and living in the PNW, we actually get to experience seasons!

This beautiful little girl is part of my “Baby’s First Year” package, which means I get to see her throughout the year as she grows! I just love being able to meet parents during their maternity session…and then meet baby during the newborn session…and then see them again for a milestone and cake smash session. I feel like I really get to know my Baby’s First Year families, and I look forward to each session!

This sweet muffin was so perfect for her newborn session, and I had so much fun putting together some sweet Fall inspired sessions. Pumpkins, fall leaves, and some gorgeous warm autumn tones…perfection!

Expecting a little one? Book your upcoming newborn session with June Bug Photography! Our studio is in the heart of Mill Creek, and stocked with EVERYTHING we need for a customized newborn session! From wraps, outfits, backdrops, and props…I’ve got you covered! June Bug Photography specializes in maternity photography, newborn photography, baby photography, and cake smash photography. Our studio is located in Mill Creek, and we serve clients from Snohomish, Seattle, Monroe, Everett, Mill Creek, Bothell, Issaquah, and beyond!

Send the kids to Grandmas. Quarantine Style. Life sized cardboard cutouts

April 23, 2020

Those of you who know me well know I always have about 30 weird ideas bouncing around in my head. You may also know that I have a quirky sense of humor, and A LOT OF FOLLOW THROUGH. I have a history of giving epic prank Christmas gifts. Last year, I gifted my parents a 72″ canvas print of my family… because I knew my mom wouldn’t have the heart to throw it away, but also had no appropriate place to hang it. It was a reprint from a misprinted order (aka: free), but don’t tell her that. This GIANT canvas of my family is currently on-top of a shelf above her bathtub. I laugh every time I think about it.

Being quarantined and/or isolating is no joke. I miss seeing my friends SO MUCH, and I miss my family even more. Since Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Safe” order, my kids and I have not seen my parents (or my in-laws). Our parents are among the most vulnerable to COVID19, so despite being just an hour apart, we have had to keep our distance for the last month. It’s killing us. It has been so hard. We’ve done Zoom meetings, facetime, phone calls, postcards, and letter, all of which bring some joy to our days.

In comes my newest idea: Send the kids to grandmas! Quarantine style! Send a LIFE SIZED cardboard cutout to your loved ones! Choose any image that June Bug Photography has taken of you and/or your family, and I’ll do the rest! Your life sized, free standing cardboard cutout will be delivered to whoever you choose in about one week. Imagine the joy you will spread by sending yourself, through the mail.

Just think of all the fun ideas:

Makes a great Mother’s Day gift!
Perfect for the grandparents!
Send to your BFF!
Send one to yourself, and shoot your own “front porch session”
Send one to yourself and do a before/during quarantine side by side.
Pop one in front of your zoom business meeting, and take a nap!
Hide one in the hall closet, and wait.
Place it in the window and rig it with ropes to convince would-be-burglars that you are home…

Order yours before April 30th!! Order using this link (you’ll be prompted to choose a date/time from the calendar. This is just a work around to make ordering super easy, ignore the actual dates/times. Fill out the information requested and you’ll get the ordering process started)

Stand ups can be printed “life sized” up to 7 feet tall, or keep it small. Your choice! You choose the maximum height of your standup. Pricing for stand ups are as follows:
Up to 3 feet tall: $75 SHIPPED (plus tax)
Up to 4 feet tall: $95 SHIPPED (plus tax)
Up to 5 feet tall: $125 SHIPPED (plus tax)
Up to 6 feet tall: $145 SHIPPED (plus tax)
Up to 7 feet tall: $165 SHIPPED (plus tax)

I’ve been trying to think of ways to keep my small business afloat during this time where I am deemed “non-essential” (I get it, I really do!) I have spent nearly 10 years building this business that I love so much, and I have had a very hard time being unable to work and earn income, all while business expenses keep rolling in. I’m at the point of digging into personal savings just to keep the business from going under. Promises of assistance have been made, and despite being one of the first to apply for any grant, loan, etc that I have found, I have yet to have any sort of relief (I have literally spent over 24 hours trying to get my unemployment issues sorted out, to no avail). I’m on my own here, and that’s ok! I’m creative. I can figure this out, right? If you are able to support a small business (whether it’s mine or someone else’s), PLEASE please do so!

Here’s my family, in our quarantine uniforms (aka pajamas we’ve worn for a week) standing next to our family photos from last fall. Look how much my kiddos have grown!! Order your own cardboard stand-up HERE

Here are a few cell phone shots of my “porch project” setup with a tripod:

Rainbows and Unicorns, Cake Smash

March 12, 2020

I had so much fun celebrating this little one’s first birthday in studio!

Those of you who follow this page know that cake smashes are one of my all time favorites to photograph. Yeah, they’re messy, crazy, and unpredictable…but they’re also filled with so much laughter and JOY. I just love celebrating this HUGE milestone with the family, and seeing baby’s reaction to cake, mess, bubble bath, and more.

I was lucky enough to get to see this sweetheart every few months, as she is part of my Baby’s First Year Package. I met mama when she was pregnant, then photographed baby as a newborn, then again for milestone sessions, and finally we got to celebrate her birthday! I’ve added some of my favorites from throughout the year to show how much she’s grown. I just adore looking back and seeing how much each of these little one change in such a short time.

For cake smash session, I have parents bring along the cake. I started having parents bring the cake after a lot of consideration, and realizing that it just didn’t make sense to add another middle man to the mix (me, in this case) when it came to ordering first foods for baby. I worry a bit about food allergies, and finally decided that it was safest to have parents communicate with their baker directly to avoid any mistakes or miscommunications. I have a list of fantastic local bakers to recommend for my mamas, including Cakes and Poppery. Beyond the cake, all parents need to bring is baby! I have fun props, outfits, backdrops, cake plates, and the cutest little bathtubs for a splash and cleanup after the smash. The best part of having your cake smash in studio with June Bug Photography is that I clean up all the mess! I am prepared with tons of towels, wipes, etc and you can get away without getting frosting on you (unless you want it on you, I won’t judge!)

I always recommend having baby try a bite or two of a cake or cupcake before your session with me. This gives baby a chance to experience the shockingly sweet frosting, the sticky texture, etc. Some little ones LOVE cake, some hate it. But no matter their reaction to the cake, it is always fun! I have yet to have a little one that doesn’t love the bathtime after.

Mommy and Me, Mother’s Day Minis

February 29, 2020

Mommy and Me Mini Sessions are coming soon! Mother’s Day is coming up, and there is no better way to celebrate MAMA than getting photos of her with her babies!

As a mama, I know that I struggle to get myself in front of the camera. I’m typically the one taking the photos, and rarely have a chance to be in them. I have to continually remind myself that if I don’t make an effort to be IN THE PHOTO, I will absolutely regret it down the road! These mini sessions are all about mom’s CONNECTION with her sweet babies. We will have hugs, snuggles, tickles, and all things sweet. The setup will be super simple, so mama and kiddos will be the star of the show, and instead of heavily posed photos, I will prompt you guys to have fun, and connect with each other.

DADS! This is the PERFECT Mother’s Day gift. You’re welcome! Set those alarms for 9am and check your inbox for the booking link on March 17th!

The Details:

10 minute sessions (come photo ready!)

$89, plus tax. Includes ONE high resolution digital file.

Option to purchase additional images directly from the online gallery.

Images will be delivered in time for Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day Minis will be held on Saturday, April 18th.

Mom & Kiddos only this time! (looking to include the whole family, shoot me an email and we can book you a family session!)

Booking link will be emailed to my VIP email list at 9am on March 17th, make sure you’re on it! Add your email HERE.

COVID19 Update: At June Bug Photography we are taking the current situation with Coronavirus seriously! We have been sanitizing the studio before and after each session, as well as supplying hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, etc during sessions. As always, if anyone in your family is unwell (fever, cough, etc) within 72 hours of your session date PLEASE let me know and we will reschedule your session for when you are recovered.

I have hired an assistant for Mother’s Day Mini Sessions who will be responsible for sanitizing all “touch points” in studio between each mini session. This will include door knobs, our couch and tables, sink handles, and the bench that will be used for mini sessions. Rest assured we are making careful and serious effort to keep you and your family healthy! That being said, if I end up with any symptoms of illness before scheduled Mother’s Day Mini sessions, I will reach out to families to reschedule.

In recognition of the need to be flexible with how quickly things can change with our current COVID19 situation, I will not be collecting payment for Mommy & Me Minis until AFTER they occur. I don’t want any clients coming in sick, and this will help ease the feeling that you’ll take a financial hit if you aren’t able to make it to your session. If you end up feeling unwell, or need to cancel your appointment for any reason, just shoot me an email!

Mileston Sessions: Beautiful images at all ages

February 24, 2020

I always do a happy dance when my clients choose to be a part of my “Baby’s First Year” package, simply because it means I get to be a part of all of the HUGE milestones that baby reaches during their first year. I simply adore milestone sessions, and I have so much fun documenting these unique moments in time. I often have parents ask when is the “best time” to come back for a milestone session, and frankly…there isn’t an easy answer! I have had some clients choose to come in every month, come come in once between baby’s newborn session and their cake smash, and some come in every few months. All are great options, and all will capture beautiful images of your baby as they are in that moment.

Here are some typical milestones by age, as well as some adorable images of babies at different milestones. Keep in mind that there is a HUGE range of when baby will reach each milestone, and I like to encourage parents to focus more on what they’d like to capture vs baby’s actual age. For example, I you’d like to capture baby sitting in cute props, etc, wait until baby can sit confidently unassisted. This can happen anytime between 4-9 months! The milestones and images below might help you choose what works best for your goals, if one of these milestones speaks to you…that might be the age range to focus on.

3 Month Common Milestones:
Baby smiles
Baby tracks/eye contact
Tummy Time
3 month milestone photos are typically shot overhead, with baby laying down. Baby typically loves the camera, likes to smile, wiggle, and look right at the camera.

6 Month Common Milestones:
Sitting unassisted
Smiling regularly
Rolling over

9 Month Milestones:
Smiles
Sitting unassisted
Crawling/all fours
Standing (assisted)

12 Months/First Birthday Milestones:
Birthday! Cake!
Standing
Walking (some)
Crawling
Sitting
Smiling
MOVING

2 Year Milestones:
Running
Walking
Sense of humor
2 year milestone sessions can be very high energy! 2 year olds have minds of their own, and sometimes want to run the show (that’s ok!) Some 2 year olds like to run, some like to pose, some try to avoid the camera, and all are totally normal! This is a super fun age to document, and I often refer to it as the “wild card”. You never quite know what to expect! When MY son was 2 years old (he’s 8 now, and loves the camera)…he would scream and run away whenever he saw a camera. I was so nervous when we had our family photos done by a photographer friend because I was sure they wouldn’t be able to get any good images of my little man. Turns out, those images are some of my favorites of my little man. They are such a great representation of his little personality in that moment in time!

All of this to say: ANYTIME is a great time for a milestone session!

9 Month Milestone, Sweet baby boy Mini Session

February 14, 2020

I adore milestone sessions, especially when it is a returning client! I met mom and dad during their maternity session, and met this little man for the first time at his newborn session. Milestone Mini Sessions are such a fun way to document the HUGE milestones reached during baby’s first year! This little man is 9 months old, and sitting up like a champ!

Some of my favorite milestones to capture include: baby smiling (which often happens around 3 months), tummy time, baby sitting unassisted, crawling, cruising, standing, walking! I am still in awe every time over how much baby grows and changes throughout the first year, and I just love being able to capture gorgeous images of these milestones!

Milestone mini sessions typically last about 20 minutes, which is the perfect amount of time for little ones with short attention spans! Check out these adorable smiles! This was the first time using my new hand painted canvas backdrop from Artery Backdrops, and I am definitely excited about using them all. the. time!

June Bug Photography specialized in maternity photography, newborn photography, baby photography, cake smash photography and family photography. Located in the heart of Mill Creek, WA, we have the most gorgeous studio. In studio, clients have access to gorgeous backdrops, props, outfits, and more!

Boho Cake Smash

November 22, 2019

If you’re a regular here, you know how obsessed I am with cake smashes.
Celebrating the HUGE milestone of baby’s first birthday brings me so much joy. Over the years, I have seen so many different personalities, so many different cake eating techniques, and I have loved every minute of it.

Some babies are timid, and not interested in the cake. Some babies (can I even call them that after their first birthday? Toddlers? Ugh, they grow so fast!) HATE the feeling of frosting on their tiny fingers. Some babies gag at the taste of so much sugar. But this little one? Legit picked the cake up and tried to take it home with her.

Mama brought along these giant balloons, and they were so strong they nearly pulled my backdrop off the floor. Also, they ended up on my ceiling twice. Don’t worry though, I’m scrappy and got them off the 19′ ceilings. I’m practically Macgyver. They pull together this peachy, boho look so beautifully it was totally worth the struggle.

Whether the birthday girl (or boy) loves the cake, hates the cake, or is totally indifferent to the cake..they all LOVE the bubble bath afterward. Universally. I’ve done hundreds of cake smashes, and bath time is by far the favorite. A cake smash wouldn’t be complete without a splash after, and I have a collection of adorable tubs, basins, etc for the bath afterwards (my favorite is this adorable claw foot tub).

Winter Minis: Hygge Style.

September 19, 2019

This year’s winter minis are all about cozy, snuggly simplicity!

Hygge (/ˈhjuːɡə/ HYOO-gə or /ˈhuːɡə/ HOO-gə) is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness and comfortable conviviality with feelings of wellness and contentment.

So, basically my favorite things! Cozy, comfortable, and LOVE! Our set will be super simple, with a neutral couch, lots of textured neutral blankets, and some greenery. Come dressed in your cozy winter wear, and be ready to snuggle! We will be all about hugs, snuggles, cozy socks and LOVE.

The Details:

Winter minis will be held on November 8th and November 9th.

I will be sending out a link to book winter mini sessions at 8am on October 7th. Mini sessions tend to book VERY quickly, so I recommend setting an alarm to check your inbox! Booking details will be emailed to my VIP Newsletter subscribers first! Click HERE to add your email to my VIP Newsletter!

Minis will be 10 minutes, and will be booked back to back (so definitely show up on time, dressed and ready to shoot!) The entire family is welcome, including furbabies…just know that adding pets can introduce extra chaos, so be ready for the madness!

Price will be $89, and will include ONE digital file from your proofing gallery. You will have the option to purchase additional digital files at $55/each after viewing your online gallery, OR you can purchase the entire gallery (typically around 10-15 images) for $250. Clients who pre-purchase the entire gallery upon booking will save $89!

What to wear: I recommend having the family wear neutral colors, cozy socks, and clothing with lots of texture (think cable knit, chunky scarves, etc).

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