A Dusty Rose Cake Smash for Baby’s First Birthday

Happy birthday, Amelia Rose! This darling little girl just turned one and to celebrate, we planned an elegant rose garden cake smash. It was beautiful and so fun to put together. I love any chance I get to use my classic ONE letters - especially filled with flowers! 

As with all of my cake smashes, we started the session off with new portraits of Amelia Rose. Her mother and grandmother were also there to celebrate. There’s not much I love more than generational portraits, particularly when it’s easy to see how much of a special bond these three ladies have. I adored the light purple that Amelia’s mother chose as the base for their outfits. It looked perfect on each of these ladies and their own unique outfits worked well together in the light setup of my Saratoga Springs studio. 

After her studio portraits, Amelia got to change into a super sweet dress. I loved the layers of tulle and the gold accents paired with her floral crown. She was a little princess!  Amelia was one of the most excited babies I have ever had in the studio, and she truly smashed that cake! We were all laughing when she picked up the entire cake in her hands and brought it up to her mouth to bite. So sweet and I loved watching her personality fill up the room. 

Happy birthday again, beautiful girl! I hope you have a wonderful year ahead of you!

mom in lilac dress lifts up baby girl in dusty rose dress photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom in lilac hugs baby girl in dusty rose dress photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom hugs toddler in light purple dress during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom, grandmother, and baby girl sit in purple attire together on sofa during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
grandmother holds one year old sitting in purple attire together on sofa during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler girl leans on white stool in purple dress during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler girl sits on studio floor in purple dress during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom helps toddler daughter in light purple dress walk across studio floor during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
grandmother in purple top hugs granddaughter in light purple dress during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and grandmother hug toddler making her laugh during milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl sits in white high chair with wooden cake during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in purple dress sits with white cake topped by butterfly in front of ONE lettres filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in purple dress sits with white cake topped by butterfly in front of ONE lettres filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in purple dress sits with white cake topped by butterfly in front of ONE lettres filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in purple dress eats white cake topped by butterfly in front of ONE lettres filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in purple dress eats white cake topped by butterfly in front of ONE lettres filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in purple dress plays with white cake topped by butterfly in front of ONE lettres filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl plays in bubble bath in front of ONE letters filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl plays in bubble bath in front of ONE letters filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl plays in bubble bath in front of ONE letters filled with dusty rose roses during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A dusty rose cake smash for baby's first birthday in Saratoga Springs studio photographed by New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Zhua Zhou Portraits and a Cake Smash for Baby’s First Birthday

This was my first time photographing a Zhua zhou, a traditional Chinese ceremony celebrating a baby’s first birthday. When Kayden’s mom reached out to plan her session, she told me she wanted to do it in two parts: a zhua zhou ceremony to honor their Chinese heritage, followed by a traditional western cake smash. I absolutely loved the idea and couldn’t wait for them to come into the studio! 

Zhua zhou is a ceremony marking the baby’s first birthday. During the ceremony, parents place an assortment of items in front of their child and the child chooses what they want. Tradition said that what the child chooses would determine their future capabilities and interests. Each item symbolizes a career path and helps reveal the child’s potential personality traits, too! Zhua zhou is really about parents sharing their good wishes and hopes for the future of their children. It was so special to be a part of Kayden’s ceremony! 

Kayden loved exploring the different objects, picking them up, and putting many of them into her mouth. Some of the objects were a ball (to represent an athlete), a steamed bun (to represent a little foodie), a gavel (a lawyer), a scepter (diplomat), a book (teacher), etc. She kept coming back to the bun, and her parents laughed at how much she enjoyed food and how she was their little foodie.

Next we did her cake smash, and this little foodie did not disappoint! She was certainly one of the most enthusiastic smashers I have enjoyed having in the studio this year, and I adored her session. We had the most beautiful cake from Indulgence Bakery! I loved the swiss dot pattern on the buttercream, and it may just be my new favorite style of a simple cake. Kayden was definitely a fan, too! 

Thank you to Kayden and her parents for trusting me to capture both parts of their family’s story. I’m so honored and I loved learning about this unique tradition! 

toddler in white and red outfit reaches for various items during Zhua Zhou portraits in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in traditional white and red Asian outfit reaches for various items during Zhua Zhou ceremony in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in traditional white and red Asian outfit reaches for various items during Zhua Zhou ceremony in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in traditional white and red Chinese outfit reaches for various items during Zhua Zhou ceremony in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in traditional white and red Chinese outfit chews on item during Zhua Zhou ceremony in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler in traditional white and red Chinese outfit chews on item during Zhua Zhou ceremony in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper  puts icing in her mouth during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper plays with white cake during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper leans forward to bite cake during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper leans forward to bite cake during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper plays with wooden spoon pushing cake off cake tray during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper plays with cake pushed off the cake tray during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper plays with cake on the floor  during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old girl in ivory romper plays with cake on the floor  during cake smash in studio with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in bathtub with rubber duck after cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds daughter on her lap sitting together on the sofa before first birthday portrait session in studio with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents sit on couch with daughter before first birthday portrait session in studio with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad lifts up daughter sitting on sofa before first birthday portrait session in studio with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Zhua Zhou Portraits and a cake smash for baby’s first birthday photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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.

Classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer

Happy birthday, Jordan! This sweet guy is already ONE, which I can’t believe! He came by the studio recently for his classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash. We used the most gorgeous watercolor illustrations for his backdrop and had a blast photographing the birthday boy. It was a sweet and absolutely adorable session from start to finish!  

When Jordan’s mom suggested this classic Winnie the Pooh theme, I was so excited. I absolutely love this theme! I’m a sucker for anything painted with watercolors, and these Winnie the Pooh designs were the perfect touch to this backdrop and setup. We used some wooden ONE letters - they were a team effort to collect! When this mom walked into the studio, she immediately recognized them and asked me, “Ohhhh, you got the last letter?” She had seen my post on Facebook searching for the letter E, because I already had the O and N, but our stores around here had no E! I had friends, family, and acquaintances across the country checking out their Michaels stores for this letter. One lucky friend found it and shipped it to me from South Carolina! I’m so glad that we found the E to include in Jordan's portraits! 

We’ve documented all Jordan and his big brothers, Jacob and Jonas, since they were newborns. Each boy has had milestone sessions from newborn sessions to cake smashes, and it’s truly been a joy to capture these memories for them. I can’t believe this sweet family is moving to a new state. I’ll miss seeing them in the studio every couple of months, watching them grow, and catching up on life! Clients really do become like family, especially because we’re together a lot throughout the portrait experience. From planning your session, to capturing your portraits, gallery reveal, and artwork delivery - I LOVE getting to know every family who comes into my Saratoga Springs studio. 

Happy birthday again, Jordan! I can’t believe you’re one and our studio sessions are done!

toddler sits in white high chair with wooden cake toy during cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits in white high chair with wooden cake toy during cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with Hunny Pot cake during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with Hunny Pot cake during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white clawfoot tub during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in white clawfoot tub during classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with Saratoga Springs baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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Classic Winnie the Pooh cake smash with yellow Hunny cake with Saratoga Springs baby photographer 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.

Mauve flowers and twinkle lights for a beautiful floral cake smash

Karina is a year old! I can’t believe this sweet baby girl is already a year old. To celebrate, we planned a gorgeous floral themed cake smash in the studio for her. To tie into her newborn portraits, we chose mauve flowers and twinkle lights. For those portraits, we used mauve accents and greenery. Put together for Karina’s cake smash, everything looked so beautiful. The entire setup felt super classic and elegant for this little girl!

Before Karina’s cake smash, we started with family portraits in Congress Park here in Saratoga Springs. We had a beautiful fall day and with all of the leaves on the ground, everything looked perfect. Karina’s big brother, Kaylen, was so excited to show her off and shower her with lots of hugs. It was sweet to watch them together!

When we were done, we headed into the studio to start her cake asmsh. Featuring a cake from Leah’s Cakery, Karina went right into it. She absolutely loved the icing! Kaylen couldn’t wait until he was asked to help, too. They were adorable together and I loved celebrating Karina’s first birthday! Enjoy a little peek into her cake smash!

baby girl in lace romper climbs on white bench during Saratoga Springs cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper plays with mauve flower during Saratoga Springs cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper plays with mauve flower during Saratoga Springs cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper plays with white naked cake topped with mauve flower and wooden topper during Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper plays with white naked cake and wooden spoon during Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper plays with white naked cake and wooden spoon during Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper licks icing off finger during Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper eats icing off wooden spoon given to her by big brother during Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
big brother licks icing off wooden spoon while sister reaches for cake during Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl in lace romper pulls on cake topper during cake smash with mauve flowers and twinkle lights in Saratoga Springs studio with Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl plays in bathtub after cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
baby girl plays in bathtub after cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
siblings hug during fall family portraits in Congress Park during photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four hugs together standing in leaves at Congress Park during photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
siblings hug and brother kisses sister’s forehead during fall family portraits in Congress Park during photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four hugs together standing in leaves at Congress Park during photos with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad holds one year old daughter during fall family portraits in Congress Park photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
brother holds sister in leaf pile during fall family portraits in Congress Park photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
mom in black lace gown holds one year old daughter during fall family portraits in Congress Park photographed by Nicole Starr Photography

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Cake smash for baby girl with mauve flowers and twinkle lights in Saratoga Springs NY studio with New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

A tugboat themed cake smash for Baby Walter

Happy first birthday, Walter! We celebrated Walter turning one with a sweet tugboat themed cake smash in the studio. When we began discussing possible setups for his birthday portraits, Walter’s mom told me that his dad works on tugboats and she had a sweet tugboat romper that she wanted to pick up for him. Originally, we were just going to do a nautical theme for the smash – but once I saw that romper, I knew that we had to focus on the tugboats! Everything came together perfectly after that and I’m so happy with how these portraits turned out. 

During the smash, Walter was seriously one of the happiest cake smashers I’ve ever had in the studio. He was all smiles and very interested in his cake. At one point, his big brother Caleb jumped in for a few bites. It was hilarious seeing how quickly he was able to demolish the cake after his baby brother had been delicately picking at it for awhile before that.

Before the smash, we also captured updated family portraits in Congress Park! This is one of my favorite spots for portraits in Saratoga Springs. It’s important to me to always document the entire family – and a few non-cake smash portraits of the birthday boy or girl – at the start of each cake smash. Cake smashes are so much fun, but it’s nice to have a sweet and simple portrait of your little one, too! 

Enjoy a look into Walter’s tugboat cake smash today! 

baby boy sits in wooden chair during tugboat themed cake smash for first birthday with Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with cake topper during tugboat themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
baby eats blue cake during tugboat themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with wooden spoon and blue icing during tugboat themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with wooden spoon and blue icing with big brother during tugboat themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits with arms up covered in cake during tugboat themed cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY with Nicole Starr Photography
baby makes silly face in bathtub after cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
baby makes silly face in bathtub after cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
big brother holds one year old on his lap during portraits in Saratoga Springs park with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
big brother holds one year old on his lap during portraits in Saratoga Springs park with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
one year old crawls through grass during milestone portraits in Saratoga Springs park with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
big brother hugs one year old brother and kisses his cheek during milestone portraits in Saratoga Springs park with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
parents and big brother hug one year old for milestone portraits in Saratoga Springs park with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
dad lifts one year old up playing in Saratoga Springs park photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom holds one year old baby on hip during family photos in Saratoga Springs with NY Family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad poses with two sons during Saratoga Springs family session with Nicole Starr Photography
mom stands with two sons during Saratoga Springs family session with Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy sits in grass during milestone photos in Saratoga Springs park with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family of four stands together in Saratoga Springs park for family photos with Nicole Starr Photography
pre-teen boy sits in grass wearing shark polo photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
pre-teen boy leans against tree trunk in park wearing shark polo photographed by NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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A tugboat themed cake smash for first birthday with navy blue nautical details photographed by New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

First birthday portraits with a sage green and beige balloon garland

Happy first birthday to Kodah! We celebrated his first birthday with a stunning cake smash in the studio this spring. Like many babies, his cake smash decor was inspired by his nursery decor - which I absolutely love! There’s just something wonderful about using the colors and themes you already know and love for your baby! His mama sent me her mood board from when she designed his nursery and we used a similar color palette of soft green, beige, and white. With a few greenery accents, the setup was complete!

During our session, we photographed a few family and milestone portraits without the cake first. I love starting sessions this way because I get to immediately capture how you are as a family - and your little one has time to warm up to me before we try the cake! Kodah looked so cute in his little white button up and his parents looked so proud of him!!

They had even more to be proud of during our session. Kodah had a huge milestone - he fed himself for the first time during our portraits! His mom and dad were so surprised and happy, and it was such a fun way to celebrate him taking his first bite and bringing food to his mouth all by himself. Apparently cake was the magic food he was waiting for all this time! ;o)

Happy birthday again, Kodah!

baby boy sits in curved chair in front of sage green and beige balloon arch for first birthday portraits with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits in khaki pants by naked cake for first birthday cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby eats icing on naked cake during sage green and beige cake smash for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby chews on end of wooden spoon during  cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby licks fingers during  cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland for first birthday with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby claps hands sitting by cake for cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits by cake for cake smash with sage green and beige balloon garland with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash for first birthday with sage and beige balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash for first birthday with sage and beige balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in tub after cake smash for first birthday with sage and beige balloon garland photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents sit with son on sofa in Saratoga Springs studio for family photos with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family and cake smash photographer
mom and son sit on sofa during family portraits in studio with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
mom kisses one year old son sitting on sofa during family portraits in studio with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
dad and one year old son sit together on sofa for milestone photos in studio with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
one year old laughs sitting on couch in studio during milestone photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old laughs sitting on couch in studio during milestone photos with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold one year old in studio during milestone portraits for first birthday with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold one year old’s hand in studio during milestone portraits for first birthday with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on studio floor by white curtain in Saratoga Springs with NY milestone photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby crawls on studio floor in white button up shirt during first birthday photos with NY milestone photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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first birthday cake smash with sage green and beige 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

A cake smash with muted blues

Happy first birthday, Baby John! I loved photographing John’s classic first birthday cake smash here in the studio. It was a simple setup featuring a balloon garland of muted blues… and it was perfect for this little guy. When I began chatting with his parents about the theme and setup for his portraits, we knew that classic was the way we wanted to go. With a simple and muted color scheme, it was easy to achieve that look!

His parents decided on two sweet outfits for his portraits. John looked so grown up in his button down during his milestone portraits! And the little romper he wore for his smash reminded me of what we wore as kids. Definitely classic! With a taller and simple white cake from Kelly’s Kitchen, the setup was complete!

baby in blue onesie with birthday cake poses by blue balloon garland in Saratoga Springs NY studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography

After John’s session, his family had their ordering session! They decided to order a gorgeous, hardcover linen album from his cake smash. It complements his newborn album perfectly! I love that they’re going to have both albums to enjoy for many years to come.

baby reaches for cake topper during cake smash with muted blue color palette photographed by NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby laughs sitting by cake during muted blues cake smash photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays with wooden spoon in front of blue balloon garland in Saratoga Springs studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy tilts cake off stand during cake smash with muted blue balloon garland behind him photographed by Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy in blue jumper poses in front of muted blue balloon garland during cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby eats cake during cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
baby boy plays in tub during cake smash with NY baby photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays in bath tub with rubber duck during cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer
baby reaches out of tub during cake smash photos with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents hold one year old on lap during studio family photos in Saratoga Springs with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
parents hold one year old on lap during studio family photos in Saratoga Springs with Nicole Starr Photography, NY family photographer
mom hugs toddler during family portraits in studio with Saratoga Springs family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
dad and son hug on couch during milestone portraits before cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue button up sits on couch during milestone photos with NY children’s photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue button up sits on couch during milestone photos with NY children’s photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue button up shirt plays in studio with wooden toys during milestone photos with NY children’s photographer Nicole Starr Photography
one year old in blue button up shirt stands by wooden stool during milestone photos with NY children’s photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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classic cake smash with muted blues color palette for little boy photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Grayson's Fourth Trip Around the Sun - An Outer Space Cake Smash

I say it every year, but I can't even believe that our sweet boy is another year older! Grayson is FOUR. I don't know where the time goes, but it really does move at warp speed once you become a parent. It feels like we were just doing his other cake smash sessions not that long ago (check out his first birthday, second birthday, and third birthday portraits here!)

four year old laughs during outer space cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

Every year I plan birthday portraits around a theme that is special to Grayson. When he was a baby, his favorite stuffed animal was a llama so we did a llama cake smash -- and it's still his favorite stuffed animal to this day! At age 2, he was obsessed with school buses, so naturally that's what his theme was. Last year at age 3, he was all about the mail truck.

But now this year feels different because he's not just into things with wheels anymore. As he likes to tell everyone, he's "really into space" and "obsessed with the planets."

Our little guy is super interested in learning everything he can about space. This future astronomer first saw pictures of the planets in a little card game a few months ago, and ever since then he can't get enough information about space!

toddler reaches for stars during cake smash with outer space theme photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography

It quickly turned into trips to the library to check out informational books on space and a visit to the planetarium. He asks to read his space books multiple time a day, and his favorite ones are called "Wonderbooks" and they have a read-aloud story built right into the book so he can listen to them on his own. Grayson loves them and plays them over and over. He draws the planets on his chalkboard and rattles off a million and one facts about the planets, their moons, which ones are gassy, which ones are bigger than others, and why some are so cold. He talks about asteroid belts and comets, galaxies and the big bang. It feels like we've been living in a seventh grade science class relearning all of this information alongside him, but he LOVES it and it's amazing to see what he has absorbed and understood.

Grayson asked me to do a cake smash with him, and I told him he would have to help me plan it. Naturally, we chose a space theme for his fourth birthday! He helped pick out the decorations, he chose his outfit, and helped me get it all set up. I make his cakes because of his peanut allergy, and we had fun baking this sweet concoction.

Now that he's getting older he wants to be a lot more involved in the studio, and it's really fun watching that excitement blossom inside of him. He's a pretty cool kid, and I'm excited to watch him come into his own even more this year as a four year old!

outer space cake smash for four year old photographed by New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler laughs during cake smash with outer space theme photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
4 year old licks blue icing off wooden spoon during outer space cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler eats cake pop off top of cake during outer space themed cake smash photographed by Nicole Starr Photography in Saratoga Springs studio
toddler poses during cake smash with outer space themed photographed by New York cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with blue icing and wooden spoon during 4th birthday cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler runs around cake during outer space cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler smiles during planet inspired cake smash in New York studio photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with outer space cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY Cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler poses with space inspired cake for birthday photos in studio with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer
four year old sits on navy backdrop with gold stars during outer space cake smash with NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with space themed cake during outer space inspired cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY studio with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits on stool in front of outer space backdrop during four year birthday photos with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs NY milestone photographer
toddler smiles in space themed pajamas during outer space inspired birthday session with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler shows off spoon with blue icing during Saratoga Springs NY cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography
toddler sits with blue planet inspired cake smash in Saratoga Springs NY studio with cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with wooden spoon during cake smash for fourth birthday in Saratoga Springs NY studio photographed by Nicole Starr Photography

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A Music-Themed Cake smash for Baby Easton

I can’t believe Baby Easton is already one! It feels like yesterday that he came into the studio for his newborn session and now he’s a year old. I was so happy when his mom reached out to me to plan this cake smash for him. It’s the perfect way to celebrate your baby turning one! Cake smashes are completely personalized to your family and your baby, which makes them a great way to document this big milestone!

Since Easton loves going to weekly mommy & me music classes, his mom knew that they wanted to incorporate this into his cake smash. With a requested color palette of light blue, grey, and white, I was able to work on the setup. I love how all of the pieces came together - and I think Easton agrees. He was SO happy our entire session - and super chatty. We had a great time watching him enjoy his cake and crawl around the studio.

Happy first birthday, Easton!!

toddler bites into cake during music-themed cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby sits eating cake with silver cake topper during music-themed cake smash with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer
baby eats icing from cake during music-themed cake smash photographed by NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with wooden spoon during musical-themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with wooden spoon during musical-themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
toddler plays with wooden spoon on teal cake stand during musical-themed cake smash with Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in bath tub during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in bath tub with rubber duck during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in bath tub with rubber duck during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in bath tub with rubber duck during cake smash photographed by Saratoga Springs NY cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography
parents pose with toddler during Saratoga Springs family session in studio with NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
mom and son sit on sofa in studio during NY family session with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs family photographer
dad and son sit on sofa during studio family session with Nicole Starr Photography, Saratoga Springs NY family photographer
toddler sits on sofa during studio milestone portraits photographed by Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
baby plays in curtains during studio family session with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography
family plays together during studio family session with Saratoga Springs NY family photographer Nicole Starr Photography

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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

A Winter ONEderland Cake Smash with Blue & Silver with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer

Happy first birthday, Leo! I recently welcomed Leo and his wonderful parents to the studio for his first birthday cake smash. Since he’s a winter baby, we went with the ever popular theme of a Winter ONEderland. This is honestly one of my favorite themes for babies born in the colder months, and I’m always looking for ways to make it unique. For Leo’s session, we decided to use blue and silver as the main palette. And you may even recognize some of the snowflakes from our holiday sessions! They were the perfect final touch to Leo’s setup.

You never know how babies will be during their cake smashes. Some of them absolutely love the cake and others don’t. But, Leo absolutely LOVED it. He went for the cake and totally smashed it. He was definitely one of the most enthusiastic smashers I’ve ever had in the. Not to mention, one of the happiest babies! His little smiles made me giggle. Just wait until you see them!

If your baby is turning one this year, let’s talk about their cake smash portraits! I love helping families decide on the perfect theme for their little one, and making it all their own! In the meantime, enjoy scrolling through Leo’s winter cake smash portraits!


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A Winter ONEderland Cake Smash with Blue & Silver with Saratoga Springs cake smash photographer Nicole Starr Photography