Embracing Chaos: The Alternative Cake Smash Photoshoot

I love it when families aren’t afraid of the messiness that toddlers bring to their life and homes - it’s part of it! A recent photoshoot with a gorgeous mum & daughter duo in South East London really captured this sentiment. With flour everywhere, licking spoons, butter smudges and everything in between this session screamed chaos and beauty all at the same time.

Keep It Simple And Just Go With It

The main advice I give is to keep it simple. You don’t have to create an elaborate cake. Use a simple cake recipe just using flour, eggs, butter etc. That’s all that’s needed.

What I loved about this session was that the mum really just went with it. The attitude was, we can clean up later. The girl loved it because she was able to explore and create, she had free reign to experiment (of course always making sure there were no safety concerns). And this attitude is what made it possible to capture those images.

The Alternative To A Cake Smash?

I’ve often heard from parents that their little ones were terrified during a cake smash photoshoot. I can imagine why! Imagine being put on a little set with a big cake in front of you (when you’ve maybe never had cake before) and suddenly it’s time to perform and make a mess with this weird object. My alternative cake smash takes place in your kitchen and your child is so busy baking they won’t realise I’m there taking photos which will give you some really lovely memories of how they truly are.

There’s also way less food waste! I always wonder what happens with these cakes after the photoshoot. You really don’t need much for making a few cupcakes and there’s a good chance your creations will be edible.

And lastly, you can easily combine it with a more standard family in-home photoshoot. The baking could maybe take 40 minutes out of a two hour session. Giving us plenty of time to capture mess free cuddles, playtime etc

Final thoughts…

So, the next time life throws flour at you, both literally and metaphorically, don’t shy away. Embrace the messiness, the imperfections, and the unexpected surprises. In those moments of chaos, you might just find the most beautiful memories and the most genuine smiles. After all, life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain—and sometimes, in the flour too.


I'm Maria O’Connor, a family & newborn photographer based in South West London, England. I am a mum of two boys and love capturing natural family moments in my clients’ homes. Are you ready to get in the frame? Contact me today!

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Why You Should Book A Family Photoshoot With Your Teenage Kids

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Finally Reunited! - An extended family photoshoot in Wandsworth