First Birthday Cake Smash & Splash Photographer in West Sussex
FOR ONE YEAR MILESTONES
It’s Your Baby’s First Birthday – Let’s Celebrate!
Planning a fun and memorable experience that honours this incredible milestone for your whole family
You’ve made it – a whole year of love, laughter and life with your little one.
A joyful, story-led First Birthday Cake Smash photography experience at my East Grinstead studio, created for families across West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
You’re standing at the threshold of a new chapter, looking back at a year filled with profound change and strength. Your little one is turning one, a milestone that brings a wave of pride in everything you’ve overcome, alongside the subtle weight of responsibility and the knowledge that things are shifting again.
The demands of life are closing in. Returning to a career means less time at home, and the fear of rushing through precious moments or feeling disconnected from your child looms large. You desire something tangible to mark this incredible first year, a way to celebrate your little one’s budding personality before the pace of life accelerates.
Three Little Chapters. One Big Birthday.
Beautifully Them…
We start simply, with relaxed portraits, favourite toys, family and all those little expressions that are so completely them at one.
Let Them Eat Cake…
Then the cake arrives. Balloons, tiny fingers, big reactions and glorious mess. No performance required, we simply let your little one lead and capture whatever unfolds.
Splishy Splashy…
Finally, warm water, bubbles and wet eyelashes. A playful little echo of bath time at home, before they’re wrapped in a towel, wonderfully shattered and ready for a snooze.
The experience is around 90 minutes, but I always allow up to two hours, giving your little one plenty of time to settle in and enjoy it all at their own pace.
The Little Details Are Taken Care Of
THE CAKE & TOPPER
Just for your little one and styled to complement your chosen colours.
They will also have their very own personalised cake topper too.
THE BALLOONS
A playful pop of colour, coordinated with your Cake Smash.
THE WOODEN SPOON
Their very own little spoon for poking, scooping and serious cake investigations.
THE DUCK
A little bath-time friend, ready and waiting for the Splishy Splashy finale.
You know this milestone matters now it’s time to celebrate it.
As your baby approaches their first birthday, a new chapter begins to unfold. Perhaps you’re stepping back into a demanding career, recalibrating everything you thought life would be and holding complex emotions about the path you’ve carved. You deserve to feel seen, understood and affirmed in this tender and powerful season.
I believe First Birthday parents deserve to feel confident in who they are becoming. It’s my role to honour the depth of this moment for you and your child. I understand the delicate balance of pride, tenderness and responsibility you carry, alongside the silent questions about how this next chapter will take shape. You’re not just marking a birthday; you’re acknowledging a year you’ve carried well, laying the foundation for a life centred on love, strength and connection.
When we work together, you’ll find space to slow down. Time to simply be present, listened to without judgement and guided with genuine understanding. This experience is crafted uniquely for you, reflecting who you are, how you love and what feels most meaningful to your family.
There’s room for imagination and excitement, allowing you to open up and enjoy what this journey holds as your child steps into their next year. Together, we create First Birthday Transformational Experiences that become visible proof that your care, choices and family life truly matter. These are not just photographs; they are emotional anchors designed to live in your home, reminding you consistently that you and your child are going to be okay.
Artwork affirms your worth every day, and Quantum Cards extend that connection from your home into your busy life.
My work is centred on dignity, care and recognition. It’s about ensuring you feel seen, confident in your decisions and excited about what comes next. It’s about creating a visible reassurance that your love, your strength and the life you are shaping with your child is real, intentional and enough.
This first trip around the sun has changed everything. You’ve watched them grow, cheered on every tiny milestone and now here you are, ready to celebrate the incredible journey you’ve all been on.
What Happens Now?
Step 1
Let’s connect…
With a conversation where I can learn about your journey this past year and understand the unique story you wish to celebrate. We’ll explore how this special experience can affirm your love and hope for your child’s next chapter.
Your experience begins from the very first call, not just when the camera starts clicking.
Step 2
The Experience…
We’ll create a nurturing space where your child’s joy and determination can unfold naturally. This is time to slow down, be fully present and truly feel the profound connection you share, knowing every tender moment is being honoured.
It’s going to be joyful mayhem full of icing, fun with plenty of giggles (and lots of cheeky mouthfuls of cake along the way!).
Step 3
Design Consultation…
Together, during your Design Consultation, we will thoughtfully select and create your artwork that will be a daily reminder that your care, choices and love for your child are evident, powerful and matter
Step 4
Imagine..
Imagine waking up every morning, passing by the artwork in your home, and feeling joy.
Is This Experience Right For You?
This First Birthday Cake Smash & Splash Experience is perfect for parents who want to celebrate their baby’s first birthday in a meaningful way. Whether you’re wondering where the last year has gone, preparing for the next chapter, or simply wanting beautiful artwork that tells the story of this special milestone, this experience is designed to help you slow down and celebrate everything you’ve shared together.
What I Believe
I believe every child deserves to grow up knowing just how loved and wanted they have always been.
For your baby their first birthday tells the story of a whole year of being held, worried about, laughed with, celebrated and loved beyond measure.
These portraits are for you too. They are a way to hold onto this extraordinary little person exactly as they are right now, and to always remember the expressions, the quirks and the tiny things you thought you could never forget.
Those same portraits will become part of your baby’s story. Not just something beautiful on the wall, but visible proof of the love and belonging that surrounded them from the very beginning.
One day, when your baby is old enough to wonder about the beginning of their story, I want them to be able to look back and see it for themselves.
You were here; you were ours and goodness, you were wanted and loved.
Your First Birthday Experience
£55 Experience Fee
Your £55 Experience Fee reserves up to two hours in the studio, giving your little one plenty of time to settle in and enjoy their First Birthday Cake Smash & Splash at their own pace.
Your experience includes:
🎂 Your Discovery Calls
Time together before your experience to get to know your family, your little one and all the details that will make their First Birthday celebration feel completely personal.
🎂 Your First Birthday Cake Smash & Splash Experience
Three little chapters, beautifully them, gloriously messy and wonderfully splishy splashy.
The Little Details
Cake, balloons and all those thoughtful touches taken care of for you.
🎂 Your Cinematic Design Consultation
Where we bring your story together and you choose the portraits and artwork you love.
🎂 £100 To Spend
Yours to put towards whatever portraits you choose.
What you choose afterwards is entirely up to you. There’s no minimum spend and no need to decide what you’d like before you’ve seen your portraits.
What happens afterwards?
There’s no need to decide what you’d like before you’ve even seen your portraits.
At your Cinematic Design Consultation, we’ll bring your story together and you can choose the portraits and artwork you love. There’s no minimum spend, and your £100 artwork credit is yours to put towards whatever feels right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is best for a First Birthday Cake Smash?
Most babies take part in their Cake Smash & Splash Experience around their first birthday, although many families choose to visit a few weeks before so that their artwork is ready in time for birthday celebrations.
Is the cake included?
Yes. Your First Birthday Cake Smash & Splash Experience includes the cake and balloons, so everything is ready for a joyful celebration. We’ll discuss any allergies or dietary requirements during your Discovery Calls.
What happens if my baby doesn’t like the cake?
Every baby is different, and that’s completely normal. Some babies dive straight in, while others are more interested in the balloons, decorations or simply exploring their surroundings. The experience is designed to celebrate your little one’s personality, whatever that looks like on the day.
Can parents and siblings be included?
Absolutely. This experience celebrates the first year you’ve shared together as a family, so parents and siblings are very welcome to be part of the portraits. You may want to keep things more intimate and that’s fine too.
What should my baby wear?
We’ll discuss styling during your Discovery Calls and help you choose outfits that complement the colours and feeling you would like to create. Many families choose one outfit for portraits before changing into a special outfit for the cake smash itself.
How long does the experience take?
The photographing itself is usually around 90 minutes, but I always reserve up to two hours for your family. That gives your little one plenty of time to settle in, take a break when needed and enjoy their portraits, Cake Smash and Splash without ever feeling rushed.
Do we need to bring anything?
Very little! The cake, balloons and all the little Cake Smash details are taken care of. We’ll talk about outfits, favourite toys and anything meaningful you’d love to include during your Discovery Calls, and I’ll make sure you know exactly what to bring before the day.
Do I need to decide which portraits I want before I book?
Not at all. You’ll see your portraits for the first time at your Cinematic Design Consultation, when we’ll bring the story of your experience together. You can then choose the portraits and artwork you love, with no minimum spend and your £100 artwork credit ready to use.
To read our comprehensive FAQ’s click here:-
Still have a question? You’ll find lots more in our complete First Birthday FAQs
One is only the beginning of their story
A first birthday is such a funny little milestone. They’re still your baby, yet already becoming so completely themselves.
The expressions you know by heart, the things that make them laugh. It’s the toy that goes everywhere and the way they wrinkle their nose, clap their hands or do that one little thing nobody else would ever think was important.
Those are the things I want to know, because your First Birthday Experience isn’t about creating somebody else’s idea of the perfect Cake Smash. It’s about celebrating your little person exactly as they are right now.
So, tell me about your baby. What would you love to remember about them this year?
First Birthday Cake Smash Photography
Celebrate your little one’s first trip around the sun with a fun, messy, and memory-filled cake smash session. My East Grinstead studio welcomes families from Sussex, Surrey, and Kent for a full milestone experience — from smash to splash — all captured in beautifully styled portraits that mark this once-in-a-lifetime moment.