Cake Smash Photography in Hampshire: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby's First Birthday Shoot
By Tunde Kugler | Tunde Kugler Photography, Eversley, Hampshire
There is something absolutely magical about a cake smash session. The moment a one-year-old realises they're allowed — actually encouraged — to dig their hands straight into a cake and make as much mess as they like is one of pure, uninhibited joy. And the photographs? They are some of the most colourful, expressive and utterly joyful images I create all year.
As a professional cake smash photographer based in Eversley, Hampshire, I work with families from across the region — Camberley, Bracknell, Fleet, Farnborough, Reading, Ascot, Bagshot, Lightwater, Yateley, Hook and beyond — to celebrate their little one's first birthday in the most fun and memorable way possible.
If you're planning a cake smash session and want to know exactly what to expect, this guide covers everything.
What Is a Cake Smash Session?
A cake smash is a photography session designed specifically for babies around their first birthday. The idea is beautifully simple — your baby is presented with a specially decorated cake, and the camera captures everything that happens next.
Some babies dive straight in with both fists. Some poke cautiously at the icing with one finger. Some look at you with an expression that says "are you absolutely sure about this?" — and then go absolutely wild. Every single reaction is perfect, and every single one makes for wonderful photographs.
The session typically includes:
Styled portrait shots before the cake arrives — clean, beautiful images of your one-year-old in their birthday outfit
The cake smash itself — pure joy, mess and magic captured in full
A bath or splash finish — many families love to add a bubble bath or splash pool sequence at the end, which produces the most adorable clean-up images
Family shots — you and your partner can absolutely join in for some of the session
Why Is a Cake Smash Session Worth It?
The first birthday is one of the biggest milestones of your baby's life — and yours. Twelve months ago you brought home a tiny, sleepy newborn. Now you have a walking, babbling, personality-packed one-year-old who has changed your world completely.
A cake smash session captures that moment in the most joyful way imaginable. The images are vibrant, full of life and completely unique to your child. They look incredible as large wall prints, in albums and shared with family — and they'll make you smile every single time you look at them.
Families from Bracknell, Camberley, Fleet and Reading who've come for cake smash sessions often tell me it was one of the most fun hours they've had as a family. It's a celebration as much as a photoshoot!
Choosing a Theme
One of the most exciting parts of planning a cake smash is choosing the theme. I have a beautiful and ever-growing collection of props, backdrops and decorations in the studio, so you don't need to bring anything — but if you have a vision in mind, I love bringing it to life.
Some of our most popular themes include:
🌸 Floral and botanical — soft blooms, pastel tones, dreamy and feminine 🌈 Rainbow — bright, bold and joyful 🐻 Woodland animals — bears, foxes and natural textures ⭐ Twinkle Twinkle — gold stars, navy blue and a magical feel 🍋 Lemon and citrus — fresh, bright and summery 🎀 Classic pink or blue — timeless and elegant 🦁 Safari and jungle — adventurous and fun ☁️ Cloud and sky — soft whites, blues and dreamy pom poms
Not sure what theme suits your little one? Just get in touch and we can chat through ideas together — I love this part of the planning process!
What Should My Baby Wear?
Before the cake: Choose something beautiful that you'd love to have on display — a gorgeous little dress, a smart shirt and braces, a special birthday outfit. These pre-smash portraits are some of the most treasured.
For the smash: Either keep the same outfit on (if you don't mind it getting messy!) or have a simpler outfit or even just a nappy ready for the cake smash portion. Some parents bring a full change of clothes, others embrace the mess completely — both approaches work brilliantly.
Tip: Bring a change of clothes for yourself too — cake has a way of travelling further than you'd expect! 😄
What to Expect on the Day
Arrival — We'll spend a few minutes settling your little one into the studio and getting them comfortable in the space. I have plenty of toys and distractions to help with this!
Portrait shots — Before the cake arrives, we'll capture some beautiful clean portraits of your birthday boy or girl. These are often the images that end up framed on walls.
The main event — The cake is brought out and the fun begins! I capture everything — the first curious touch, the growing confidence, the full magnificent mess. Some babies take a while to get going and others launch straight in — either way, we get wonderful shots.
The finish — We'll wrap up with some adorable post-smash images, and if you'd like a bath or splash sequence, we can do that too.
After the session — Your beautifully edited images will be ready in a private online gallery within two weeks.
What About the Cake?
I work with a wonderful local baker who creates stunning, professionally decorated smash cakes designed specifically for photography. The cakes are ordered separately and delivered directly to the studio — I'll share the details when you book.
Alternatively, if you'd like to bake or order your own cake, that's absolutely fine too — just let me know the theme and dimensions in advance.
How Far Is the Studio?
My studio is in Eversley, Hampshire — perfectly placed for families across a wide area:
Yateley — approximately 10 minutes
Farnborough — approximately 15 minutes
Camberley — approximately 15 minutes
Fleet — approximately 20 minutes
Hook — approximately 15 minutes
Bagshot — approximately 15 minutes
Lightwater — approximately 15 minutes
Bracknell — approximately 20 minutes
Ascot — approximately 20 minutes
Reading — approximately 30 minutes
Finchampstead — approximately 10 minutes
Crowthorne — approximately 15 minutes
Cake Smash Packages
Basic — £225 2 hour session, 10 digital images on USB, 12x18 canvas
Standard — £275 3 hour session, 20 digital images on USB, 14x20 canvas
Premium — £350 3–4 hour session, 35 digital images on USB, 20x30 canvas
A £75 booking fee secures your date, deducted from your final package cost.
Top tip: Book your cake smash session 6–8 weeks before your baby's first birthday to make sure you get your preferred date — and so your gallery is ready in time to share at the party! 🎉
What Parents Are Saying
"Our daughter absolutely loved every second — she was covered head to toe in cake within about 30 seconds! The photos are hilarious and gorgeous at the same time. Tunde captured her personality perfectly."
"We came from Bracknell and it was such a fun morning. Tunde had everything set up beautifully and our little boy was so at ease with her. The images made us laugh and cry at the same time — in the best possible way."
"The pre-smash portraits alone were worth it — she looked like a little princess. And then the chaos began! Best photos we've ever had."
Ready to Book?
Whether you're in Camberley, Bracknell, Fleet, Farnborough, Reading, Ascot, Bagshot, Lightwater, Yateley or anywhere across Hampshire and Berkshire — I'd love to celebrate your little one's first birthday with you.
Cake smash dates get booked up quickly, especially around popular birthday months, so I'd recommend getting in touch as soon as you have a date in mind.
Book your cake smash session →
Tunde Kugler Photography is based in Eversley, Hampshire and welcomes families from across Camberley, Bracknell, Fleet, Farnborough, Reading, Ascot, Bagshot, Lightwater, Yateley, Hook, Finchampstead, Crowthorne and the surrounding areas.
