An Ice Cream Truck Cake Smash for Adelaide’s Second Birthday

Who says cake smashes are just for one year olds?! My son did cake smashes all the way up through his fifth birthday, and I’m sure he’ll want one again as he gets older. So of course with our daughter’s second birthday this month, I knew we had to do a sweet little cake smash to celebrate our birthday girl.

Adelaide has been a fan of ice cream ever since her first taste of it last summer. She had her own little way of pronouncing it for months, calling it “i-ga”, and we all knew what she was talking about. She would run over to the freezer whenever we opened it up, shouting “i-ga! i-ga!,” and pushing aside the top drawer and looking into the bottom where we keep the ice cream.

With our favorite local ice cream shop open again for the season, Adelaide hasn’t missed a beat and she continues to be a big fan of ice cream. When thinking of a theme for her second birthday, I knew immediately that this would be it! I chose to keep the decor simple with just a watercolor ice cream truck and some ice cream cones on the floor as confetti. Her pastel rainbow dress was the perfect match to the beautiful colors, and I couldn’t resist doing our favorite new hairstyle on our little toddler – pigtail buns!

She LOVED IT! She was cute & dainty, dipping one little finger in the frosting at a time. Grayson (6 years old) accompanied us in the studio and took pictures on his own little digital camera the whole time. I loved seeing how excited he was to capture her smiles, and how he kept exclaiming, “Ahhhh, this one is so good!”

While I can’t even believe that we have a two year old already, I’m excited to celebrate our sweet girl. She is most looking forward to blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, and she talks about it every day. Happy birthday, baby girl!

two year old sits in rainbow dress next to cake with ice cream cones on it during ice cream truck can smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress eating cake with ice cream cones decorations for ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress eating cake with ice cream cones decorations for ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress eating cake with ice cream cones decorations for ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress eating cake with ice cream cones decorations for ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress eating cake with ice cream cones decorations for ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress licking wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress licking wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress holding a wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress holding a wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress holding a wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress holding a wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress holding a wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress holding a wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
two year old sits in rainbow dress holding a wooden spoon during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big brother holds up toy digital camera taking a photo of sister during ice cream truck cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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ice cream truck cake smash for birthday girl’s second birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Mountains and Moose Cake Smash: Using watercolor cutouts to create a cake smash backdrop

Happy birthday, Maverick! This cute little guy is one of our recent baby graduates of the Collective Membership. For the last year, I’ve had the joy (and honor) of photographing Maverick’s milestones. I’ve gotten to know him and his parents pretty well. I can’t believe it’s already time for his first birthday cake smash! We planned a super fun mountain and moose cake smash, to echo his nursery theme at home. It turned out so perfect! 

I am a huge fan of watercolor art. There’s something about the soft colors and the way the edges bleed into each other, not to mention the delicate details. I like to decorate our home with watercolors, and I enjoy incorporating it into my styled portrait sessions, too! When families come to me with a specific theme idea for their baby’s cake smash, I often look to see how I can include watercolor artwork cutouts in their setup. Maverick’s cake smash theme turned out to be the perfect chance for some watercolor cutouts! 

One of my favorite places to find these designs is from independent artisans on Etsy, and you know I love supporting other artists and small business owners! I purchase the design, and print it as large as possible on a 40” poster. Places like Staples can do this for you, and you want to make sure to use a matte finish paper to avoid any shine being reflected back at the camera in the studio. Then I cut it out and use it to create the backdrop. I have done this for countless themes for my clients (and even for my own children’s portrait sessions and birthday parties!), and I love the variety that it lends to my sessions without cluttering up the studio with even more expensive props. Plus, as a minimalist at heart and a huge fan of reduce/reuse/recycle and avoiding one-time-use props and items, this works for me!

Bringing everything together for Maverick’s theme was especially fun, and I scoured the internet for adorable moose artwork. His nursery has a moose & mountains theme, with a mural that his father hand-painted, and we wanted to incorporate that into his first birthday portraits. I adore how it all came together, and the moose really are the cutest little moose I have ever seen!

Happy birthday again, little guy!! I’ll miss seeing you in the studio every few months - but I’m so proud to have captured your big moments this past year.

one year old sits in wooden highchair playing with wooden cake during first birthday cake smash photos in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in wooden highchair playing with wooden cake during first birthday cake smash photos in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in denim overalls by cake with moose, mountains, and bears for mountain inspired cake smash for first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in denim overalls by cake with moose, mountains, and bears for mountain inspired cake smash for first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old digs into cake with moose, mountains, and bears for mountain inspired cake smash for first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits by cake with moose, mountains, and bears for mountain inspired cake smash for first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits by cake with moose, mountains, and bears for mountain inspired cake smash for first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits by cake with moose, mountains, and bears for mountain inspired cake smash for first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white bathtub with watercolor backdrop featuring mountains and moose behind him photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom sits on sofa holding one year old in grey and white plaid sweater during family portraits in Saratoga Springs studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds son during family portraits in Saratoga Springs studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds son on hip while mom hugs them both during family portraits in Saratoga Springs studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds son on hip while mom hugs them both during family portraits in Saratoga Springs studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and dad play airplane with son during family portraits in Saratoga Springs studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A Mountains and Moose Cake Smash with watercolor cutouts to create a cake smash backdrop photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Simple Woodland Cake Smash Setup for Baby Boy’s First Birthday

How is Lucas already a one year old?! This was our fifth session together thanks to our Collective Membership, and Lucas absolutely loved the camera! He was so comfortable in the studio, and he had a blast digging into his cake to celebrate turning one. Seeing babies be super comfortable with me is definitely a huge perk of being a part of the membership! 

For Lucas’ first birthday portraits, his mom and dad wanted to keep the setup super simple. We brought in elements of the woods, including the gorgeous pine tree trunks and greenery. With lots of fairy lights intertwined with the leaves on the floor, the setup became more whimsical and fun for this sweet boy. His outfit was also simple, but Lucas looked absolutely adorable in his overalls! 

My favorite portraits from his cake smash are actually where Lucas is smiling up at his mom and dad. His eyes just light up when he sees them, and I hope they always look back at these portraits and see the love that they reflected right back on to him. It was so precious to see those moments happen in real life and to have saved them forever for Lucas and his parents is beyond special to me! 

Happy first birthday, Lucas! I can’t believe you’re already such a big boy!! 


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A sugarplum fairy winter wonderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer

Happy 1st birthday, Ella Kate! We’ve been documenting all of her milestones during her first year as part of the Collective Membership and yet, I can’t believe she’s already one! To celebrate the end of her first year, we created a beautiful Sugar Plum fairy winter wonderland cake smash inspired by her mother’s ballet memories! 

Ella Kate’s Mom was a ballerina as a child, and she brought her old ballet slippers and pointe shoes to incorporate into the setup. I loved that sweet personal touch to the winter setup - and it was fun to sneak in something that means so much to her mom, too! Winter wonderland is always a popular theme for babies, so I love that we learned more into the Sugar Plum fairy inspiration for Ella Kate’s portraits! The setup really came together with soft whites, peachy pink, and the sweetest ballet dancers lined up across the backdrop.

As always, I incorporated some portraits of milestone portraits of Ella Kate before we even got to the cake. I’ve fallen in love with using my white wooden high chair with my babies in the studio! It’s always been one of my favorite props because it’s so classic, but it’s fun to be using it regularly again. Paired with the wooden cake (a popular prop for the babies, too!), it’s a great touch to any cake smash. After Ella Kate got to play with her cake, we also wrapped up with my favorite bubble bath setup. I’m all about sending you home with a clean baby! Plus, who doesn’t love a little one playing in bubbles?! Parents always love these portraits! 

Happy birthday again, Ella Kate! Thank you for allowing me to capture another beautiful milestone for you!


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Timeless First Birthday Portraits with a Cake Smash

Baby Kennedy isn’t such a baby anymore! This little girl is now a year old! We celebrated with timeless first birthday portraits in my Saratoga Springs studio. Mom wanted a simple and classic session and to keep the focus on her birthday baby, which I totally get. With that in mind, we wanted to create really timeless portraits. I think we did it - and I hope you’ll think so too. Kennedy’s session really reminded me that sometimes less is more when it comes to a cake smash setup! 

We chose to do a simple backdrop of super white seamless paper, and let this baby girl be the star of the show! I’m a huge fan of simplicity, and I loved how timeless these portraits turned out. For some of the session, she got to sit in my favorite white highchair for her cake smash - with my infamous wooden birthday cake. Afterwards, we got her down and in her sparkly blue dress, she dove into the simple white cake we had for her. Kennedy was absolutely adorable and I LOVED watching her figure out how to get into the cake.  

It was also important to capture new portraits of her and her parents in the studio. Honestly, family portraits in the studio at this age are always so much fun! There’s also lots of laughs, big smiles, showing off their personality and new milestones achieved. Look at the big personality in the photo of Kennedy walking! Love it!!

Happy birthday, Kennedy! I loved planning and capturing your stunning timeless birthday photos. Enjoy this next year!

toddler in blue dress sits in white high chair playing with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits in white high chair laughing in blue dress sits playing with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue dress plays with wooden spoon next to rustic cake with wooden topper during timeless Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
close up of toddler’s toes in blue dress sits in white high chair during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue dress plays with wooden spoon next to rustic cake with wooden topper during timeless Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue dress plays with wooden spoon covered in icing during timeless Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue dress plays with cake knocked off cake smash stand during timeless Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue dress plays with cake knocked off cake smash stand during timeless Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white bath tub with bubbles after Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white bath tub with rubber duck with bubbles after Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white bath tub with rubber duck with bubbles after Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white bath tub with rubber duck with bubbles after Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white bath tub with rubber duck with bubbles after Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white bath tub with rubber duck with bubbles after Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents sit with toddler on tan couch in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in grey sweater hugs toddler daughter in ivory sweater on couch in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents sit with toddler on tan couch in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad lifts up toddler daughter in ivory sweater making her laugh on couch in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in ivory sweater and white leggings with pink bow sits on couch in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in ivory sweater and white leggings with pink bow sits on wicker basket in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold daughter’s hand walking across floor in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold daughter in the air making her laugh in front of studio wall photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother hugs daughter kissing her cheek in front of studio wall photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Timeless First Birthday Portraits with a Cake Smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Pink and Silver Winter Wonderland Cake Smash

Gabriella is one! To celebrate her first birthday, I had the chance to photograph her and her family again, as well as her winter one-derland cake smash! Andrea, Gabriella’s mother, is a member of our Collective Membership. We’ve documented all of her milestones with 4 sessions that follow her family from maternity all the way through the first birthday! It’s been so fun to watch her grow into the sweet little one-year-old she is now! PS. We’re currently  booking membership clients for 2024! This is perfect for your family if you’re planning to do 2 or more sessions over an 18 month period (not just for baby’s first year clients, either!).

Winter wonderland is a super popular theme in my studio. I loved the chance to put together another classic version of the winter wonderland cake smash. For Gabriella, we focused on a pink and silver color palette. I even got to bring in my new blush pink backdrop fabric that I have already used many times this winter (ha!). The sparkly cone trees were the perfect addition to her winter theme. Gabriella looked adorable in her pink and white tutu, complete with a silver crown. She was a winter queen for her winter wonderland smash, for sure! 

As I always do with cake smash portraits, I captured new family portraits for this sweet family of four. They chose a beautiful blue and white color palette, which was the total opposite of the pinks and silvers we used for the cake smash. Side by side, the entire session looks amazing together and I hope that this family will treasure the portraits forever! 

baby girl in pink tutu with silver crown eats icing off fingers during pink and silver winter wonderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in pink tutu looks up while touching icing on cake during pink and silver winter wonderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in pink tutu touches icing on cake during pink and silver winter wonderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl laughs by pink and white cake with silver one topper and snowflakes during winter ONEderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl lifts up piece of pink and white cake during winter ONEderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big sister uses wooden spoon to help baby sister eat cake during winter ONEderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in pink tutu and silver crown laughs during winter ONEderland cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits in bath tub with bubbles wearing pink flower headband after cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler cries in bath tub with bubbles wearing pink flower headband after cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents sit on tan couch with two daughters in matching blue and white dresses on their laps during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on couch in blue and white dress with blue patent leather shoes during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents sit on tan couch holding daughter on their lap in matching blue and white dresses during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad stands holding one year old’s hand as she balances on one leg in blue and white dress during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad stands holding one year old’s hand while mom hold's big sister’s hand standing in front of white wall during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sister pushes one year old girl in wicker stroller in matching blue and white dresses during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl sits on studio floor wearing a blue and white dress with blue flower bow during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl sits in white high chair playing with wooden cake wearing a blue and white dress with blue flower bow during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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pink and silver winter wonderland cake smash for baby girl in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A horse racing themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs

Happy birthday, Ivy! This darling little girl was born last year during the famous annual Whitney Race and upon her arrival, Heather immediately knew what her first birthday portrait theme would be: horse racing! I always love a chance to break out this uniquely Saratoga Springs backdrop and setup, and to do so in honor of a Whitney Race baby was even more special to me. Ivy’s mom not only used the theme for her portraits, but planned the entire birthday party around this theme too! SO fun. 

Before our cake smash, I met Ivy, Heather, and Lee in a wildflower field that they’ve grown to love over the last year. It’s a field the family frequents to gather their fresh fruit and veggies, so it holds a lot of meaning to the three of them. Ivy had the cutest little blue and white dress for our portraits in the field. She looked absolutely adorable, and everything just had this soft flowing vibe to it. 

After our time in the field, we headed back to the studio for Ivy’s first birthday portraits. Heather loved my vintage high chair and big ONE letters made of metal, so we made sure to incorporate them in our studio time. Heather chose the sweetest blue linen dress for Ivy to wear during her smash. She actually pulled some of the pastel orange and peach out of the backdrop for her cake, too. Such great attention to detail! It really helped everything for the smash come together. 

Ivy was gentle with her cake but had a blast. I loved seeing her little smile come out as she touched the icing and even got to play in our bath after the smash. She was utterly adorable and I had a great time with her and her parents marking this major milestone! Happy first birthday, Ivy! 

one year old sits in vintage high chair with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in vintage high chair in pastel flower outfit with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in vintage high chair in pastel flower outfit with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in vintage high chair in pastel flower outfit with wooden cake during Saratoga Springs cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in white lace dress crawls on floor in front of gold metal ONE letters filled with greenery and mauve flowers photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in white lace dress sits on floor in front of gold metal ONE letters filled with greenery and mauve flowers photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue linen dress eats peach ombre cake in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue linen dress eats peach ombre cake in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue linen dress eats peach ombre cake in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old laughs sitting in clawfoot tub in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old laughs sitting in clawfoot tub in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop for cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of three stands in field of yellow and orange wildflowers during family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of three in blue outfits stand in field of yellow and orange wildflowers during family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue and white striped outfit sits on knit blanket during family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in blue and white striped outfit holds parents’ hands during family portraits in wildflower field with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mother in blue gown holds toddler on her hip during family portraits in wildflower field with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
father hugs toddler in blue dress leaning to kiss her cheek during family portraits in wildflower field with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A horse racing themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A horse racing themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Neutral Beige & White Balloon Garland Cake Smash

Happy first birthday, Westin! To celebrate this sweet boy’s first birthday, we planned a neutral beige and white cake smash in my Saratoga Springs studio. This session was a blast - and so gorgeous, too. I loved bringing Mom’s vision to life to celebrate her little boy!

Before we got into the cake smash, I captured updated mommy and me portraits of Westin and his mom, Chanel. Chanel wore a beautiful gray dress and Westin had a cream hand-knit outfit. He looked absolutely precious! I loved the texture on his sweater - little details like that always look perfect on camera and bring some depth to your portraits. 

Afterwards, it was time for Westin’s cake smash! Mom wanted a boho feel for the setup with all neutral colors and a classic balloon garland. I loved designing this set with beige, white, and cream balloons. I also pulled out some of my classic white lit ONE lights and with his cream colored cake, we were ready to go! Westin wore the cutest little crown with a cream outfit and he looked absolutely adorable while he figured out what to do with his cake. During the session, he also took his FIRST steps! I was able to capture that special moment on film for his family and I am so grateful I could. 

I hope this sweet little boy has the best birthday! I loved having him in the studio for this adorable boho inspired cake smash. 

mom in tan dress holds son in ivory white knit outfit in Saratoga Springs NY studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography, NY cake smash photographer
mom in tan dress holds son on lap in ivory white knit outfit in Saratoga Springs NY studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography, NY cake smash photographer
mom in tan dress holds baby on hip while he sticks out his tongue in Saratoga Springs NY studio
toddler in ivory knit outfit with socks sits on white studio floor with wooden toys during first birthday cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in ivory knit outfit sits in tan chair during first birthday cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in ivory knit outfit with socks sits in tan chair sticking out tongue during first birthday cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in white overalls stands with white and gold crown on head holding wooden spoon during cake smash with beige and white balloon garland behind him photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in white overalls stands with white and gold crown on head holding wooden spoon during cake smash with beige and white balloon garland behind him photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in white overalls with white and gold crown reaches for cake eating a piece during cake smash with beige and white balloon garland behind him photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in white overalls with white and gold crown eats neutral cake with ivory icing during cake smash with beige and white balloon garland behind him photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in white overalls with white and gold crown eats neutral cake with ivory icing during cake smash with beige and white balloon garland behind him photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in white overalls with white and gold crown eats neutral cake with ivory icing during cake smash with beige and white balloon garland behind him photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic neutral cake smash with balloon letters

Happy birthday, Bennett! This classic neutral cake smash was super special to me because Bennett has the same exact birthday as our little girl Adelaide! I have been photographing this family’s milestones ever since they were pregnant with their first baby, and it’s such a joy welcoming them back into the studio and seeing their family grow and change. Bennett was the happiest little birthday boy and his session was a great time for all of us! 

Katie, Bennett’s mom, asked for a setup that was soft, neutral, and classic. We did a neutral “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” setup when her son Carter turned one, and I wanted to use colors that would complement his portraits. With that in mind, we stuck with whites, creams, and gold. I can already imagine the portraits being displayed together in their home! They’re going to be so pretty hanging together on the wall or in an album the boys will flip through together for years to come. 

For Bennett’s session, I picked up these gorgeous gold ONE letters. They’re my newest prop in the studio for our cake smash sessions, and I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a prop since I bought the tiny clawfoot tub six years ago! These handmade letter sculptures shipped all the way from the Ukraine, and I am already dreaming up all the different things we can “fill” them with for our birthday babies! Balloons, florals… the options truly are endless! I think the neutral ivory and peach balloons that we chose for Bennett’s portraits turned out to be the perfect option! 

Happy birthday, Bennett! I can’t wait to watch you grow! 

baby boy sits in high chair in grey and white overalls with wooden cake in Saratoga Springs studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in high chair in grey and white overalls with wooden cake in Saratoga Springs studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden ne topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and eating white birthday cake with wooden ne topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden ne topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grey and white overalls with gold ONE behind him filled with balloons and white birthday cake with wooden one topper for cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in white clawfoot bathtub in front of gold ONE letters with balloons during cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic neutral cake smash with balloon letters for baby boy photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography.

Throw the Confetti: A fifth birthday cake smash with friends

My son Grayson and his friends all have birthdays within 2.5 weeks of each other. I met these moms when we were pregnant – one at prenatal yoga, another at the hospital birth class, and another was a maternity client of mine. Our babies were all born at the same time, and we have been so lucky to have a built-in support group going through exactly the same stages at the same time as one another.

four five-year olds pose in front of Saratoga Springs racetrack backdrop in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography

When the babies turned 1, we did a cake smash with a Saratoga race track theme. It was cute and chaotic, and so much fun! With their fifth birthdays coming up, we knew this was a big milestone that we wanted to celebrate. For many of them, it was their first really big birthday celebration in years because of the pandemic. We got the original four together to do a (cup)cake smash with a confetti theme, and it was such a blast! All of their personalities came through, and it was amazing to us moms as we watched them in this session and reflected on how their personalities today were so similar to the way they each acted during the one year old session.

I chose a confetti theme because it was bright & colorful, and oh-so-classic. Each child’s cupcake had their favorite color confetti sprinkles on top (and yes, I painstakingly sorted the sprinkles by color one at a time the night before the session!). This setup was so much fun to make, and while adapting my regular cake smash set (baby sitting on the floor) to accommodate four grown 5 year olds was a challenge, we pulled it off with a bench covered in white fabric and confetti dots to match the decor. I love how it all turned out, and I’m so happy that we’ll have these memories to look back on years from now and show our little ones these early friendships.

four confetti cupcakes for cake smash with friends in front of rainbow streamers in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography
four confetti cupcakes for cake smash with friends in front of rainbow streamers in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography
fine year old boy in white shirt and jeans sits on studio floor holding confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
fine year old girl in white dress sits on studio floor with confetti beach balls and rainbow streamers behind her for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde girl in white dress blows confetti from hands in studio with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde girl in white holds beach ball in studio with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four five year olds play in studio with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers play with confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers play with confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
fine year old boy in white shirt and jeans dances with confetti beach balls in front of rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers play with confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
girl with brown hair in white dress throws confetti and beach balls in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers in white dresses and white shirts with jeans pose with giant silver 5 balloon in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers in white dresses and white shirts with jeans sit eating cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde toddler in white shirt with jeans eats cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
four toddlers sit together eating cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
blonde girl with purple bow in white dress eats cupcake and licks icing off her nose in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
boy in white shirt laughs holding confetti beach ball in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer
boy in white shirt laughs with girls in white dresses holding confetti cupcakes in studio with rainbow streamers for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs children’s photographer

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Rainbow inspired cake smash for five best friends to celebrate their 5th birthday in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography

A Girly Woodland Cake Smash with a Hint of Pink

Happy birthday, Reilly! Reilly is turning the big ONE, so we planned a sweet cake smash in my Saratoga Springs studio to celebrate this darling girl. When we began planning, her mom sent me an inspiration photo from Reilly’s nursery (which is gorgeous, by the way!). She knew that they wanted to incorporate the birch tree trunks, greenery, and a hint of pink into her cake smash setup. I immediately LOVED the idea - and I was thrilled she wanted to use inspiration from their home.

We were originally going to do Reilly’s session in November, but thanks to daycare germs and multiple illnesses, we had to postpone and wound up finally getting together in December. While I had initially planned a hint of pink with flowers and a few blush pumpkins, the holiday season found me changing it up a little bit with some rose gold ornaments and this gorgeous sparkly felt flower wreath. Either way, I absolutely adore the final results and this sweet family did, too.

After their session, Reilly and her parents had their reveal. We designed a gorgeous heirloom album with all of their favorite images. I love knowing that Reilly will get to turn the pages and look back on this celebration for years to come! It’s one of Grayson’s favorite activities and to think of other little ones doing the same with their own photos means the world to me.

baby girl in white lace dress sits on stool in front of woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in white lace dress sits on stool in front of woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown claps hand in front of woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown reaches for cake by woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown holds up part of cake by woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown eats cake off wooden spoon by woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown plays with wooden spoon by woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown plays with wooden spoon by woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown plays in white clawfoot tub in front of woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown plays in white clawfoot tub in front of woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl with green floral crown plays with rubber ducky in white clawfoot tub in front of woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl plays in white clawfoot tub in front of woodland background with rose gold flowers and ornaments for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom sits on grey sofa holding one-year-old daughter on lap during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and dad sit on grey sofa holding one-year-old daughter on lap during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and dad sit on grey sofa holding one-year-old daughter on lap during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in burgundy sweater holds one-year-old girl during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one-year-old girl sits in cream sweater and jeans on grey sofa during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one-year-old girl sits in cream sweater and jeans on grey sofa during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one-year-old girl scrunches up nose sitting on sofa during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one-year-old girl crawls in cream sweater and jeans with wooden blocks on white floor during studio family portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A Girly woodland cake smash with a hint of pink and rose gold photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography.

A Party Animal Cake Smash for Rocco

Happy birthday, Rocco!! I can’t believe that Rocco is already a year old. He was my first newborn session for the year. Now 2022 is almost over, and this guy is ONE! Time is flying by, seriously. We planned a fun cake smash in the studio to celebrate his milestone birthday. Leah, his mom, asked if we could plan a theme that matched his party invitations, so we designed a “party animal” theme! 

Between Leah and I, we were able to create a gorgeous setup for this little guy. We used lots of fun confetti filled balloons to create a garland backdrop and Leah brought in some stuffed animals she’s planning to use for the birthday party. While everything was colorful and bright - perfect for a one year old - we still managed to keep a pretty clean style, which I absolutely love (and am known for!). This style allows us to really focus on the birthday boy during his portraits!

As with all of my cake smash sessions, we made sure to capture some updated family photos of Rocco and his parents. We also got the most adorable updated photos of him alone in a sweet little plaid shirt. He even had a baseball cap for one photo! I love when we do these milestone photos, because it’s a great time to photograph your baby’s personality and new skills. Once those were done, it was time for cake! Rocco loved digging into the icing and even knocked his cake off the stand at one point. I’m here for it!! We ended their session with a little bath for him, which he loved. He was seriously so happy the whole session and that makes me super excited! 

baby in teal jumper crawls across confetti on floor during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper knocks small white cake with confetti icing off stand during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper smiles in front of confetti balloon garland during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper eats icing during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper eats icing off wooden spoon during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal jumper eats icing and stretches during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in teal crawls around on floor with confetti after knocking cake over off stand during party animal cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in bathtub after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in bathtub surrounded by stuffed animals wearing party hats after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in bathtub surrounded by stuffed animals wearing party hats after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby claps in bathtub surrounded by stuffed animals wearing party hats after cake smash with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in ONE hat sits in black plaid shirt with jeans during milestone photos in studio with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in green dress holds son on lap sitting on sofa photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in forest green shirt holds son on lap sitting on sofa photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in green dress laughs with one year old son in plaid shirt photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad in forest green shirt holds son on lap sitting on sofa photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and dad hug one year old son in plaid shirt photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in plaid shirt claps hands sitting on white floor in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in plaid shirt crawls on white floor in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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a colorful party animal cake smash with stuffed animals in party hats and confetti balloon garland photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Cake Smash Portraits with Inspiration from Wedding Decor

I can’t believe Grace is one! I feel like she was just here for her newborn portraits 12 months ago. Now, we’re celebrating her first birthday. She (and her two big brothers, Charlie and Henry) came to the studio recently for her cake smash portraits and we all had a great time.

When I began talking with Grace’s mom about a theme and setup, she told me that she wanted to include similar colors and textures as they used at their head table in the wedding. First off, I LOVE that idea! How special and unique is that theme? The pictures had peach peonies, birch logs, eucalyptus and twinkle lights. I tied everything in the studio together with a beautiful wooden arch. The best part of this setup was that her Dad had no idea that would be the theme, so when he walked into the studio for portraits, he exclaimed, "Wow, this looks just like our wedding!". It was such a wonderful moment!

Grace had a lot of fun with her cake smash, especially once Charlie and Henry came to help her. They tried to feed Grace some icing and cake, then helped her smash it into the floor. That was when she really got into it. It was perfect!

Happy birthday, Grace!!!

baby girl sits in pink tutu during cake smash with peach peonies and fairy lights photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby reaches for ombre pink cake during cake smash inspired by wedding decor photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with wooden spoon by ombre pink cake during cake smash inspired by wedding decor photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in pink dress sits by ombre pink cake in front of wooden arbor and peach peonies for first birthday photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
siblings help birthday girl with cake during woodland inspired cake smash photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
siblings try to feed baby sister during cake smash for first birthday in studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
siblings help birthday girl with cake during woodland inspired cake smash photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl smashes up cake with wooden spoon in front of wooden arch and peach peonies photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old toddler stands in peach and white outfit by white stool in studio photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big brothers in blue sweaters hug baby sister on couch during studio family portraits with Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in peach and white onesie on sofa during milestone portraits with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in peach and white onesie on sofa during milestone portraits with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
three siblings sit on sofa during family photos in studio photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old sits in peach and white onesie on mom’s lap during milestone portraits with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old toddler stands in peach and white outfit by white stool in studio photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of five sits on sofa in studio for family portraits with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
boy in blue sweater sits on sofa during family portraits in studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of five laughs together on sofa during family portraits with Nicole Starr Photography in studio
boy in blue sweater sits on white stool during family portraits in studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Cake smash portraits with inspiration from wedding decor including wooden arches and peach peonies photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

My Favorite Balloon Garlands for Cake Smashes

I absolutely love balloon garlands! They’re such a fun way to decorate and build a setup for cake smashes in the studio. Today, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorite balloon garlands so that when you start to plan your baby’s first birthday portraits, you’ve got some great ideas in mind.

Balloon garlands are an easy way to bring some color to the studio - especially if a family isn’t sure they want an actual them. They’re festive and celebratory! Paired with confetti, balloon garlands are a super fun way to celebrate your baby turning one!

Use Garlands instead of a Theme

Some families prefer to do a cake smash with no theme, but instead they have color inspiration they would like to use. A balloon garland pulls everything together and makes it festive. Just add a little confetti sprinkled on the floor, and you’re good to go!

You’ll see that we often use balloon garlands WITH a theme, too. It’s such a fun way to pull together a more theme (like the Easter Bunny, music, and a sports team, as you’ll see below!) by adding cutouts and other decor to complete the look.

Assembling Your Balloon Garland

As I prepare for birthday sessions, one of my jobs is assembling the balloon garlands. It’s much easier than you think! My number one tip is to make sure that you mix different sized balloons for a balanced look. I also love THESE balloon clips, which help me reuse my balloons for multiple sessions. All about low waste options! When you start to build the garland, bring your balloons really tightly together and then once you add it to your setup, you can re-arrange the balloons by flipping some forward and backward to get the look you want.

Below, you’ll find some of the most popular themes and color combinations - as well as a chance to click on some of the original blog posts and see the full setup!

I hope these portraits inspire you to include a balloon garland in your child’s first birthday portraits!

Pastels

baby plays with cake in front of pastel balloon garland for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, NY cake smash photographer
brothers eat cake during easter bunny inspired cake smash with pastel balloon arch photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in suspenders plays with wooden spoon during music inspired cake smash with pastel blue and white balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in pigtails plays with cake during ice cream inspired cake smash with pastel balloon arch photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with cake topper in front of pink and gold balloon garland for cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub in front of pastel peach, pink and purple balloon arch photographed by Nicole Starr Photography, NY cake smash photographer

Blues

baby boy sits in front of assortment of blue balloons in balloon garland photographed by first birthday photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby puts icing in his mouth in front of blue and white balloon garland photographed by Nicole Starr Photography, NY cake smash photographer
baby crawls on floor during space themed cake smash with blue and tan balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Chromes/Metallics

metallic balloon arch of purples and whites for pastel cake smash for first birthday photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl plays in front of metallic balloon garland during cake smash photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

White with Florals

all-white balloon garland with floral accents for boho inspired cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby lifts wooden spoon during cake smash with all-white balloon garland with floral accents designed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Vibrant

baby plays with cake in front of orange, blue, and green balloon arch shared by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
blue, orange, and white balloon garland for Astros inspired cake smash for one year old in Saratoga Springs NY studio

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Favorite Balloon garlands for cake smashes with a variety of themes shared by New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A First Trip Around the Sun Cake Smash

Happy birthday, Brandon! This little astronaut came to my Saratoga Springs NY studio for his first birthday cake smash - complete with an outer space theme. When Brandon’s parents inquired and began planning their portraits with me, I was super excited about the theme they mentioned. As we dove further into possible colors and ideas, we settled on some blues and oranges, with silver accents. Everything felt super space-y and was the perfect fit for their little birthday boy! Brandon was an absolute joy to photograph. He loved the spotlight and was excited to dig into his cake from Kelly Skitchenny! I don’t blame him… it looked delicious!

We rounded out his first birthday portraits with family portraits on the sofa in my studio. I love the classic and simple feel to these portraits - just these three and lots of smiles! What a perfect way to celebrate a first birthday!!

toddler in blue suspenders sits in chair in front of blue space themed backdrop during cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with blue and peach cake during space themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with wooden spoon during space themed cake smash photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in bubble bath during space themed cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in bubble bath during cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad and son sit on tan couch in studio with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom hugs toddler on sofa during studio portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler crawls on studio floor during portraits for first birthday with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom sits on sofa with toddler during studio portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on tan sofa with white and grey sweater during photos with  Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad and toddler sit on sofa during family portraits in studio with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents pose with toddler in studio during family portraits with  Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays on white studio floor during milestone portraits with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad kisses son in studio during milestone portraits with  Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of three poses in studio photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and son pose in studio during family session with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A first trip around the sun, space inspired cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Tiffany & Co Cake Smash for Baby's First Birthday

I cannot believe Giuliana is already one! She’s a Baby Plan graduate so she’s no stranger to the studio! I’ve loved watching her grow up. We started her portraits before she was even born with her mom’s maternity session then once she arrived, we captured her newborn portraits and milestones, too. And most recently, she came into the studio for her Tiffany & Co cake smash!

This session was so much fun to design. I love the colors of Tiffany & Co… I mean, who doesn’t?! Giuliana’s mom brought in boxes and ribbons from her own collection of Tiffany gifts, so it was perfect. Not only did everything look amazing but it was so personalized because this are her mom’s! How special is that? I actually learned how to tie a Tiffany bow using the ribbon and it was so fun! I’ll definitely be using those bows moving forward because they’re actually knotless bows and so easy to untie!

Giuliana definitely brought her fun personality to her portraits. I loved watching her explore and get a taste of that teal icing. She kept making me think of her newborn portraits when she was posing with her hands under her chin. We used a similar pose when she was a baby. What a fun little throwback! Enjoy a peek into this sweet Tiffany & Co cake smash for Giuliana’s first birthday!


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Where the Wild Things Are Cake Smash

Well this was definitely a fun session! We planned a “Where the Wild Things Are” cake smash to go along with the theme of Jacob’s first birthday party. His mama found the most adorable romper at Zara and it went perfectly with the greenery in the decor. The little golden crown with fur (just like Max wears in the book!) was the perfect finishing touch for the birthday boy’s outfit. Find more tips for choosing a cake smash outfit here!

toddler reaches for cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old licks icing off hand during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

The last time I had this theme request was probably 5 years ago, so it was fun to pull together a brand new backdrop and create something beautiful for this sweet boy’s birthday celebration!

Wondering how to choose a theme for your baby’s cake smash? Check out these tips!

baby reaches for wooden spoon during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler dances around cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in gold crown holds wooden spoon during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with white cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Jacob LOVED this cake, and he especially enjoyed it when his big brother Jonas joined in. I have been photographing this family’s milestones since big brother was a newborn, and it’s always so amazing to see how much they grow and change over the years. Look at how sweet he is feeding his little brother here!

big brother helps toddler with icing during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
brother and toddler play in cake during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in green jumper and gold crown smiles during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in bathtub after Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler laughs in bubble bath during Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold two toddlers during family photos in Saratoga Springs with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

We began the session with family portraits in Congress Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. Summertime colors were in full bloom and it was absolutely gorgeous!

parents pose with two sons in navy shirts and khaki pants during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds two sons on lap during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds son on hip during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

The happiest baby you ever did see!

toddler crawls around during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
brothers hug during family photos in Saratoga Springs with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on curb during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four holds hands walking through Saratoga Springs park with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Where the Wild Things Are cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Racetrack Themed Cake Smash in Saratoga Springs

When your family moves to Saratoga Springs from across the country and most of your first year is spent in your new city, of course you want to reflect that in your choice of cake smash theme! Cameron’s family moved to the area during Covid and wanted to honor their new hometown with a racetrack themed cake smash. They dressed him up in his most dapper outfit (I looooove the colors in his shirt!) and brought a beautiful cake from Kelly’s Kitchen.

This little cutie was all smiles and he loved the attention he got while smashing his cake, but what really got him smiling were the bubbles that we blew! Look closely and you might just see a few bubbles in the corners of the pictures! ;o)

toddler plays next to blue cake for racetrack themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in pastel shirt sits by blue cake during racetrack themed cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby reaches for horse cake toppers on blue cake for racetrack themed cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits by horse backdrop during racetrack themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs with Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits by blue cake during racetrack inspired cake smash in Saratoga Springs photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits by blue cake with horse topper during racetrack inspired cake smash photographed by Delmar NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold toddler during family photos in Saratoga Springs photographed by Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

We started their session with family portraits in Congress Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. I love this colorful spot in the park, and it was perfect for these cuddly family portraits. Cameron adored the hugs and tickles from his parents, and he was beyond happy for the family portraits!

parents tickle one year old during family photos in Saratoga Springs with Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom hugs toddler during family photos with Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom hugs one year old during family photos in Saratoga Springs with Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad lifts toddler up during family photos with Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays during family photos in Saratoga with Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby walks through lawn in Saratoga Springs photographed by Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family laughs during portraits in Saratoga Springs with Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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a racetrack themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs with Delmar NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A White and Green Football Cake Smash

We had such a fun football-themed cake smash for Oliver’s first birthday! I loved designing a simple football setup with whites and greens to match his custom jersey onesie, and this birthday boy had a blast digging into his cake!

His family truly loves football, and everyone has their favorite team they support. From mom and dad to big sister and grandpa, everyone has a different favorite team that they root for, and this little boy was born into a family of football fans! I know what he’ll be doing every Sunday this fall!

baby sits in green jersey looking at cake during white and green football cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits by football inspired cake for cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
birthday boy poses by white cake for white and green football cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Just look at that SMILE!!!! Such a joyful birthday boy!

baby laughs playing with wooden spoon during white and green football cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one yar old wears green jersey for football cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big sister helps baby eat icing on cake during football cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big sister licks wooden spoon with baby brother during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Touchdown! Love this pose he did himself during his bathtub splash!

baby puts up touch down arms in tub after cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby tries to climb out of tub during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits on white leather couch in studio during milestone photos with Saratoga Springs NY photographer Nicole Starr Photography
siblings sit on white couch during milestone photos with Saratoga Springs NY photographer Nicole Starr Photography
young girl sits with wooden toy on couch during family photos with Saratoga Springs NY photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby crawls on couch in studio during milestone photos for first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY photographer Nicole Starr Photography
girl jumps on couch in blue dress during family photos with Saratoga Springs NY photographer Nicole Starr Photography
girl sits on white bench for family photos with Saratoga Springs NY photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Green and white football cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A Lake George and Adirondacks Theme Cake Smash

This was such a fun cake smash theme to put together! When Henry’s mama reached out about planning a cake smash session for his first birthday, she told me how much their family enjoys spending time at Lake George. She wanted to reflect the lake & Adirondack mountains in his cake smash, and she loved the idea of a watercolor mountain backdrop. I found the perfect blue mountain backdrop and added twinkle lights for stars, a little wooden dock, and a tree (from my Christmas props!) for greenery. Mix in a sailboat and an Adirondack chair, and the cutest little striped romper that was reminiscent of an old-fashioned swimsuit, and it was perfect!

Wondering how to come up with the perfect theme for your baby’s first birthday cake smash? I have a whole blog post filled with ideas and recommendations! Click here to read it!

baby plays with boat during Lake George inspired cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby holds wooden spoon with icing photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Henry loved his cake! It took him a little while to dig in, but once he did he started massaging it and he smashed it to smithereens. The ombre frosting on the cake went beautifully with the water/mountain theme, too! Click here for some tips for choosing the perfect cake for your baby’s cake smash!

Big sister Emma joined in for a few bites, and she took her cake eating very seriously. Love these sibling shots!!

big sister help brother with Lake George cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big sister eats icing off cake during Lake George cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby in blue and white striped romper eats cake during Lake George inspired cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby digs into cake during Lake George cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

There he goes destroying his cake! A true cake SMASH!

baby sticks hands in cake during Lake George cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby lifts fistful of cake during Lake George cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after Lake George inspired cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub during cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Every cake smash session starts with family portraits, and in the warmer weather we head outdoors for those. There are so many cute little sidewalks in neighborhoods of Saratoga Springs that I love for these portraits, and we found a colorful area for this family’s summertime portraits.

siblings sit on sidewalk in Saratoga Springs photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad lifts up one year old during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom sits with daughter during family photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

This walking portrait is always a favorite moment to capture in our first birthday sessions! I love it when everyone is holding the baby’s hands and he is looking right at the camera!

family holds hands standing together during portraits with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family hugs on sidewalk in Saratoga Springs during photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Save it for later:

A Lake George and Adirondacks Theme Cake Smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography