When I was just starting out as a photographer I worked primarily outdoors. I was big on beach sessions basically any time of year. I wanted to move into studio work, specifically Cake Smashes. Those sessions seemed like so much fun to plan and carry out, I wanted to try one for myself. My problem was that I didn't a studio space. Doing Cake Smashes in other people's homes is something other photographers do. A mobile Cake Smash Studio. It wasn't something that appealed to me because there are SO MANY unknown variables. Would there be enough space? How long would set up and break down be? I hate being in the way and when I feel pressured to execute quickly I get clumsy so I knew that just wouldn't work for me. Then I had a glimmer of an idea. An idea that was a tiny bit crazy but a tiny bit genius as well. You see, we recently purchased a house. A house that wasn't a big open space downstairs which was something we actually liked. My husband and I are from the dying breed of wanting separation between rooms to define the spaces vs using strategically placed furniture. We have a living room, a dining room, a sun room, a kitchen and a mudroom. I decided, while my husband was at work, to sell all of our dining furniture and turn the dining room into...a STUDIO ROOM! My husband is one of the most supportive people I have ever met and took the change like a champ. Thus, Knot & Anchor Studio was born. I had my very first Cake Smash a couple of weeks later and I've been absolutely hooked ever since.
One thing I like to do in order to really let my creative side thrive is offer a list of Cake Smash themes I'm dying to book. I call this my "Cake Smash Bucket List" and in return for letting me have control of the vision of my client's session I offer a discount off my most popular package (the Super Smash). The Twinkle Twinkle theme had carried from one list to another and it was one I was really anxious to do. I was picturing pink, navy and gold and I had a little pink lace outfit all picked out. FINALLY Ashley came along and decided to book this theme. Everything came together so easily because I had been dreaming about it for months!
When Ashley arrived she brought along her two daughters, one being the birthday girl, Alex but they called her Sassy more often than not and the nick name fit her PERFECTLY. This little girl was total sunshine.
We had so much fun during this session. Ashley had a playlist of remix children's songs that I totally searched for to use during future sessions. PJ Panda is the bomb, for those of you wondering! This little Sassy danced her way through portraits and her Cake Smash.
For my Super Smash sessions I include a little "Splash" in one of my tubs for the last 15 minutes of the session and I think this was my favorite portion of Alex's session. She blew kisses, she played peek-a-boo but my FAVORITE was when she kept standing up and I caught Ashley just out of frame telling her to stay seated. Such a "Mom" moment that we all have had!
Alex is now officially one year old and I hope to see her and her amazing family again soon! If you're looking to book a Cake Smash of your own, I just released my Spring/Summer Bucket List for 2019! Don't miss out on beautiful sets like this one!
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