A Sweet & Timeless Way to Celebrate Your Baby’s First Birthday in Poole.

Your baby’s first birthday is such a beautiful milestone — one filled with tiny achievements, big feelings, and memories you’ll cherish forever. A cake smash photoshoot is the perfect way to celebrate turning one, and at Our Little Darling Photography here in Dorset, I create sessions that are gentle, joyful, and full of the natural magic that babies bring.

Whether you’re in Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorset or Hampshire, my cake smash sessions offer a relaxed, timeless experience designed to highlight your little one’s personality.

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What Is a Cake Smash Session?

A cake smash is a fun, milestone photoshoot where your baby explores, tastes, and plays with a beautifully styled cake in a soft, neutral setup to mark a very special day in their life (and yours!). It’s an unforgettable way to capture:

• chubby hands smudged with buttercream
• curious expressions
• big, wide eyed smiles
• messy toes
• joyful, unposed moments
• their magical personality

Every reaction is adorable, even if your baby isn’t quite sure about the cake at first. That’s part of what makes these sessions so special. You get to see exactly who they are, and that perfect little personality they are growing into.

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My Cake Smash Style – Soft, Neutral & Timeless

At Our Little Darling Photography, I specialise in natural, minimalistic cake smash setups that feel warm, clean, and beautifully simple. No busy backdrops or harsh colours — just gentle tones and classic styling that keep the focus where it belongs: on your baby.

Parents choose my cake smash sessions because they are:

• light and airy
• neutral-toned
• free from distracting props
• timeless — never trendy or over-the-top
• and most importantly, they are about your baby… not the cake, or the props, or the backdrops.

Your images will still look beautiful in 5, 10, or 20 years. And we all know our children will thank us on their 18th birthday for bringing out such wonderful, albeit slightly embarrassing memories.

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The Three-Part Cake Smash Experience

Every session includes three parts, giving you a full gallery and plenty of variety.

1. Milestone Portraits (before the cake!)

We begin with simple, classic portraits of your baby before the mess. These images are perfect for marking their first birthday and capturing their personality at this precious age. We capture their explorative nature, and those little details that we never want to forget.

2. The Cake Smash

Then the fun really begins! Whether your baby dives right in or gently pokes the icing with one cautious finger… it’s all adorable. I style each setup for your child using soft neutral tones to match your family’s aesthetic.

3. Bath Splash

To finish, your little one enjoys a warm bubble bath — a perfect clean-up AND the cutest set of giggly images. Think, bubbles, chaos and a lot of splashing. Honestly, this is almost always the baby’s favourite part and we end on a high!

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Why Book a Professional Cake Smash Photoshoot in Dorset?

A first birthday only happens once. Booking Our Little Darling Photography as your dedicated cake smash photographer in Dorset ensures:

• beautiful, polished images
• a calm, baby-focused environment
• professional lighting
• a setup prepared just for you
• a stress-free experience where everything is handled

I provide the cake, the styling, and the props — you simply bring your baby and enjoy the moment. Remember, this isn’t just their milestone, it’s yours too.

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How to Prepare for Your Cake Smash Session

Here are some helpful tips for the best experience:

• Choose the right time of day – after your baby’s nap and before lunch is usually perfect.
• Pick a simple outfit – rompers, nappy covers, or neutrals photograph beautifully. I have a selection of outfits in the studio for you to choose from if needed. You can also get inspiration from my previous clients over on social media too.
• Bring a drink – cake smashing is thirsty work!
• Let baby try icing at home – so the texture isn’t a surprise.
• Relax and enjoy it – babies sense our energy, so a calm parent = a happy baby. Not all babies jump straight in, and that’s part of the fun. These sessions are baby-led, so we observe and let them explore at their own pace.

You don’t need to bring props or décor — everything is styled for you in my cosy Poole studio. And our cakes are hand-baked by my wonderful baker Meg at ‘Gerastan bakehouse’, who can cater to all allergies including gluten and dairy intolerances. She is a magician with her baking, and the bonus is, whatever your baby doesn’t eat, you get to take home and enjoy with a cup of tea during nap time- It’s a win win!

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Where Are You Based?

My studio is based in Poole, perfectly located for families travelling from:

• Bournemouth
• Christchurch
• Broadstone
• Wimborne
• Wareham
• Swanage
• Dorset & Hampshire

If you’re searching for cake smash photography near me in any of these areas, I’d love to welcome you!

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Book Your Cake Smash Photoshoot in Dorset

If your little one is turning one soon, now is the perfect time to book their cake smash. These sessions are joyful, relaxed, and full of little moments you’ll treasure forever — from frosting-covered toes to splashy bubble-bath giggles.

✨ Ready to celebrate with a cake smash?
I’d love to create something beautiful for you and your little one.

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