There’s something truly heartwarming about celebrating that first trip around the sun — that sweet mix of cake, curiosity, and giggles that marks a baby’s first birthday.

For little Luca, his Wild One cake smash was a celebration of personality and pure joy. His session was full of smiles, frosting, and those cheeky baby expressions that parents will treasure forever. 🌿🦁

Inspired by Luca’s happy, adventurous spirit, we created a Wild One safari setup that was both playful and beautifully styled. Surrounded by adorable giraffes, lions, and zebras, the neutral earthy tones and soft green palette gave this set a fresh, organic feel — perfect for a modern first birthday theme.

His parents mentioned that he loves exploring new environments, so we designed the session to let him move freely, crawl, and play — and he certainly did!

This was Luca’s first-ever taste of cake — and he was absolutely fascinated!

At Buttons & Bows Photography, we love seeing babies discover new textures and flavours during their cake smash sessions. Luca started cautiously, gently poking the frosting before realising this was his chance to go all in! Soon enough, he was laughing, smashing, and tasting to his heart’s content.

Every expression — from curiosity to delight — told a story. It’s moments like these that perfectly capture the wonder of turning one.

No cake smash session is complete without a warm bath at the end!

Luca’s splash time was full of giggles and play. He happily splashed away in our mini clawfoot tub — the perfect way to wrap up a messy, joy-filled session. These bath portraits are always a parent favourite, capturing those sweet, bubbly smiles and a bit of calm after all the fun.