Birthday & Cake Smash — Seville

Whichever you prefer. I can take care of the décor — backdrop, balloons, matching details in the palette you choose — and advise you on a cake suited to a one-year-old, eye-catching but easy to smash. Many families prefer to bring their own cake, sometimes sugar-free or adapted to allergies, and that's perfect. We agree on it at booking so that on the day you only have to bring the birthday child hungry and ready to party.

It happens more than you'd think, and it's no problem at all. Some babies dive into the cake and others eye it warily or don't want to get messy. I take it patiently: if they hesitate, mum or dad can put the first finger in to encourage them, or we start with a small piece. And if they simply don't fancy it, that's fine: a puzzled little face or even a pout at the cake makes hilarious and very real photos. I never force them.

Both options work very well. The studio is the most comfortable for cleanup, because everything is prepared and protected; you just enjoy. At home the child is in their own surroundings and sometimes that helps them stay calmer. Either way I protect the floor well with plastic and a washable mat, so the cake mess is cleared up without drama. And if we finish with a little bath, the little one ends up clean and lovely photos come out of it too.

Of course, and it usually makes very endearing images. Before the cake moment we do some portraits of the birthday child with the parents and, if there are any, with the siblings, everyone dressed up and clean. During the cake smash the star is the little one, but you can appear helping or laughing along. We discuss it at booking so you bring clothes that go with the décor and we also get a nice family portrait out of it.