Is your baby turning ONE soon?
Cake Smash Photography in Perth
Your beautiful baby is about to turn ONE. A whole year of firsts, gone faster than anyone warned you, and here you are with a tiny human who has opinions, a personality, and possibly a favourite word. Every single chapter of your baby’s story is so incredibly precious, but turning ONE is MOST DEFINITELY a milestone worth celebrating.
But let’s be real, after a year of sleepless nights, baby tantrums, and everyday life with a baby, just thinking about a party is a challenge. And making this milestone memorable . . . can sometimes feel too hard.
Let us do the hard work for you and create the ultimate First Birthday memories with our Cake Smash & Splash experience.
First, a relaxed family shoot, so you walk away with beautiful portraits of your one-year-old and everyone who loves them. Then it’s time for the main event, the cake smash, a gorgeous professional cake ready for your little one to dive into, eye with suspicion, or wear from head to toe. And to finish, the splash, a warm bubbly tub that turns the clean-up into its own joyful set of photos.
We’ll organise the cake, the set, the outfits and the baby wrangling! All you need to do is enjoy!
OMG!! Your beautiful baby is turning ONE!!
What is the Lilypad CAKE SMASH & SPLASH Experience?
We’ll take care of all the details so you can relax, enjoy and celebrate your baby’s first birthday!!
1. Lets chat
Before anything is booked, we’ll have a quick chat about your baby, your family, and the look you’re after. Colours, theme, the whole feel of it. This is also where we sort the cake and the practical bits, so the day itself is easy.
2. The Shoot
The fun part, and the messy one. The whole family is welcome, and we mean the whole family. Older siblings, both parents, grandparents, the dog. We’ll keep it light and moving, follow your baby’s lead, and catch the giggles, the mess, and the occasional cake-related betrayal face.
3. Viewing & Design
We make this easy too. You’ll view your images straight after your session or a week later, and we’ll help you choose what you love.
Done for you, your way
You’re deep in first-birthday-party planning and everyday life with a one-year-old. The last thing you need is another project. So we make this one easy.
We have themes, colours and styles to choose from, plus a curated range of on-trend outfits, props and decorations: flowers, bunting, foliage, balloons, the lot. Go for a single colour, or mix a few that suit your style. Once you’re booked, we’ll show you a gorgeous range of cakes, backdrops and sets, right through to the splash tub styled to match for the big finish. You pick what you love and we make it look incredible.
No Pinterest spiral required. Though if you’ve already got a vision, even better.
The cake, or the family session? Have both.
Not sure whether you want the full cake smash or beautiful family sessions. You can have both. Before things get messy, we’ll take beautiful portraits of your one-year-old and some relaxed family shots. Have your cake and photograph it too.
Milestone Artwork
A first birthday is one of the few moments you’ll want on the wall for good. Once you’ve seen your images, we’ll help you turn them into something lasting, whether that’s a piece of wall art, a custom collage, an album, or a digital collection to send to family near and far. We’ll guide you through the whole thing, so you end up with artwork that suits your home and does this milestone justice.
Allergies & Special diets?
Your baby’s safety comes first, always, and the cake is part of that. Our cakes are baked fresh to order by a local cake maker, so we know exactly what’s going into them. If your baby has an allergy or a dietary requirement, tell us when you book and we’ll make sure they’re well looked after. We can do a sugar-free cake, or skip the cake altogether and set up a fruit smash instead.
Between every session, we wipe down and sanitise all surfaces, because half the studio is about to be touched by a baby who puts everything in their mouth.
We’ve been photographing Perth families for over 18 years. Nothing about a messy, unpredictable one-year-old is a surprise to us.
Not sure if you want a cake smash or our signature session?
Before we get messy, we’ll take beautiful family photos and portraits of your little one, so you can have your cake and eat it to!
Frequently asked questions
When should I book a cake smash session in Perth?
Getting in touch around nine or ten months is ideal. That gives us room to plan your theme and lock in a date close to the big birthday, especially if you want some images for the First Birthday party. Cake smash spots book out early, so the sooner you get in touch, the better the choice of dates. Babies don’t always cooperate with calendars, so we’ll build in a little flexibility around the day.
What if my baby doesn't like the cake?
That happens more than you’d think. Plenty of babies are unsure at first, or completely uninterested, or a little outraged that the cake exists at all. Those reactions are often the most photogenic part of the whole thing. We’re not chasing a perfect shot of a baby beaming over cake. We’re capturing your actual baby, exactly as they are at one. We’ve coaxed plenty of hesitant little ones in, and we know when to nudge and when to leave them be.
What exactly is the "splash" part of a cake smash?
Once the cake’s been demolished, we pop your baby into a warm, bubbly tub for the clean-up, and it becomes its own little photo session. Bubbles, splashing, and that delighted face most babies pull the moment they hit the water. It’s a lovely way to round things off, and it means your baby leaves clean instead of covered in icing.
Do you provide the cake?
We do, and it’s part of your session fee. It matters that we’re the ones organising it. Our local baker knows which icing makes the best mess and photographs beautifully, and you don’t have to stress about collecting or storing a cake on an already busy morning. If there’s an allergy or dietary requirement, let us know when you book. We can do sugar-free, or set up a fruit smash instead.
Do you provide an outfit for my baby?
We have a gorgeous wardrobe you’re welcome to use. Our outfits lean timeless rather than heavily themed, so the photos still look beautiful in ten years and aren’t locked to a trend. If you’ve got a special outfit of your own you’d love your baby to wear, bring it along.
Can the whole family be in the cake smash photos?
Please bring them. Older siblings, both parents, grandparents, the dog if they’re part of the family. A first birthday is a milestone for all of you, not just the birthday baby, and these are often the only photos from this year with everyone in the frame. That includes you. Mums are usually the ones organising the whole thing and missing from the pictures, and we’d love to fix that.
How long does a cake smash session take?
Around an hour, give or take. Some babies get stuck into the cake straight away and some take their time, and we move at whatever pace keeps your baby happy. There’s no rush.
What should we wear?
We’ll sort your baby’s outfit from our wardrobe, so that part’s handled. For the rest of the family, coordinate rather than match, stick to two or three tones that work together, and skip busy patterns and big logos. When you book, we’ll invite you into our online client lounge, which has a proper guide to make it easy.
My child has scratched their face. Do we need to reschedule the session?
95% of the time, no. As long as the mark isn’t in a tricky spot to retouch (like the lip line) or hasn’t caused swelling, it’s usually straightforward to fix in post-production. Text us a photo if you’re not sure and we’ll let you know. Minor marks, rashes, and scratches can often be removed easily. Unless, of course, you’d rather we left them. Those little imperfections are often part of the personality.
Can we do the session on a weekend?
Very limited weekend dates are available for a small additional $50 fee. They book out early, so it’s worth getting in sooner rather than later.
Can we get the digital files?
Yes. We offer both digital and printed collections. Matching digital files are also included with any image ordered in print. You choose what works for you.
How much does a cake smash session cost in Perth?
The session fee is $295, which includes your professionally made cake. After that, choose only what you love. But be warned, with a cake smash and splash, you’ll love a lot. There’s never any high-pressure selling, and you’ll have a full price list before you book so there are no surprises. Our pricing and products page has a thorough guide (LINK).
How do we order our portraits after the session?
We make this easy too. You’ll view your images straight after your session or a week later, and we’ll help you choose what you love. We’ll have all the products on display and we’re experienced at designing the right artwork for your home and your portraits.
What is your cancellation policy?
Because we rarely have the chance to rebook at short notice and due to the lead time on ordering cakes, cancellations within seven days of your session will forfeit your session and weekend fee. If someone in your family is unwell within that window, let us know as soon as you can and we’ll do our best to work something out.
Do our photos have to go on your socials and website?
Absolutely not. When you book, we simply ask whether you’re happy for us to share your images, or whether you’d prefer to keep them private. Your photos are yours.