Yana Skakun
Cambridge
First Birthday Photographer Cambridge
Cake Smash · Bath Splash · Family Portraits
Celebrating One Year Old in Cambridge
The first birthday is its own kind of milestone — genuinely unlike any other year. Your baby has gone from entirely helpless to mobile, communicative, opinionated and full of personality in twelve months. The cake smash session at one year captures all of that personality at its most freely expressed: a small person encountering a cake for the first time, entirely without self-consciousness.
I photograph first birthday sessions in Cambridge with warmth, patience and genuine delight in the subject. The chaos, the joy, the mess — all of it is beautiful when properly observed and honestly photographed. For families who want a complete record of this milestone, I offer full party coverage and portrait sessions alongside the classic cake smash.
Packages
First Birthday Photography Packages
Birthday Mini
£175
- 45-minute studio/home session
- 20+ edited images
- Cake-smash optional
- Gallery within 5 days
Most Popular
Full Birthday Session
£295
- 90-minute session
- 40+ edited images
- Cake-smash + bath splash
- Family portraits included
- Gallery within 5 days
Party + Portraits
£450
- Party event coverage
- Pre-party portrait session
- 60+ edited images
- All guests captured
- Priority gallery 48 hrs
What's Included
First Birthday Session Coverage
Cake Smash Session
The iconic first birthday cake smash — your baby encountering their very first cake with all the curiosity, confusion, joy and mess that follows. One of the most consistently charming things to photograph in this work.
Bath Splash
The traditional sequel to the cake smash — the glorious clean-up bath. Bubbles, splashes, grins. Baby in the bath produces some of the year's most joyful and publishable images.
Family Portraits
First birthday sessions are an excellent opportunity for family portraits — you, your partner, your baby all together in a dedicated session context. The whole family together at one year old.
Detail Shots
The cake, the decorations, the tiny shoes, the birthday outfit — detail photography that will help reconstruct the day in 20 years. These quiet object photographs become surprisingly treasured.
Natural Play Portraits
Before the cake smash — natural portraits of your one-year-old in their outfit. At one year, most babies are already full of personality and will show it in front of a camera with the right approach.
Party Coverage
If you are holding a first birthday party, full event coverage captures all guests, the party atmosphere, adults' expressions, and the whole social environment of the celebration.
FAQ
First Birthday Photography — FAQ
What is the best age for a first birthday cake smash?
Exactly at one year — or up to 2 weeks either side. By twelve months, most babies are sitting confidently, have enough hand-eye coordination to interact with the cake, and are just old enough to have strong facial expressions and identifiable personality. Earlier is too young; much later and they become more hesitant rather than freely curious.
Where do you photograph first birthday sessions in Cambridge?
At your home (most popular — familiar environment, everything you need), or in my Cambridge studio. Home sessions have the advantage of your own setting and props, and babies are always most relaxed in their own space. The relevant décor and high chair are already there.
How do I prepare for my baby's cake smash session?
Put baby in their party outfit before the cake arrives. Have a change of clothes and a warm bath ready. A small birthday cake (6-inch tier is ideal — not too large) in the colour scheme you want, placed low on a high chair tray or on the floor. Do the session when baby is well-rested and not hungry — typically mid-morning.
Do you include a bath splash after the cake smash?
Yes — the bath splash is included in the Full Birthday Session and Party + Portraits packages as standard, and is available as an add-on to the Birthday Mini. It rounds out the story perfectly and babies often seem more delighted by the bath than by the cake itself.
Can we use the images for social media and print?
Yes — all packages include high-resolution digital files that are yours to use freely for personal use: social media, print at any size, digital sharing, and personal albums. Print products (framed prints, canvas, albums) are available to add separately.
Get in Touch
Let's Create Together
Tell me about your vision and I'll be in touch within 24 hours.