I loved getting to spend the morning with friends and they love on their newest addition.
A moody night at North Beach | Kailua Family Photographer
Family Session at Kualoa Regional Park
Cake Smash Welcome Guide
Congratulations, you made it through the first year! It’s been a year of amazing growth for you, mom, and your little one. Now it’s time
to let loose and celebrate! Cake Smash sessions are so much fun!
I absolutely love everything about motherhood and babies. Rest easy knowing that I’m going to treat your little one like my own. I put my heart and soul into these sessions and I cannot thank you enough for trusting your birthday kid to me.
See you soon!
Ashleigh
O U T D O O R S M A S H
Hawaii provides the perfect backdrop for your cake smash. I keep outdoor smashes very simple. From experience, balloons don’t look great as it can get windy, especially at the beach. A blanket, cake stand and a cute topper are really all we need.
M Y H O M E S T U D I O
I started my business after my first son was born. Because it was important to me to do something that I love that also allowed
me to maximize time with my boys, I decided to keep my studio in my home.
My home studio is located in Aiea. The address is included in the email this document came in.
You are more than welcome to park out front (on the street) during our session.
T H E S E T
I like to keep sets simple so that your birthday baby can be the main focus.
Background paper
While I tend to stick with my signature white, let me know if you're interested in another color.
props, banners, balloons, oh my!
Here are some ideas to get your juices flowing. I recommend at least 6 balloons and a banner of at least 4-5 feet.
T H E C A K E
Where to get the cake made?
Honestly, I've had amazing luck at supermarkets for simple cakes. You are more than welcome to make the cake yourself too! If your child has an allergy, I can share a great vegan bakery.
What size?
A round cake (I think 12 inches is the biggest I've done) looks best with two layers. You could also do a smaller cake with 4 layers or even a huge cupcake. If you tell the baker it's a "smash cake" they will help you pick the perfect size.
What about the middle?
The most important thing about your cake is that you get a white cake and avoid dark icing! Dark/chocolate cake tends to look, well, you can imagine what chocolate cake smashed everywhere looks like.
What about the top?
While not necessary, topper does add a little something to the pictures. You can make a little banner, get a glitter #1 candle or even add some fresh flowers to the top.
Do I have to do cake?
No! I set up powdered donuts on a cake stand for my son's birthday session. I’ve also seen adorable fruit cakes on Pinterest that would be perfect for a tropical smash. We could do watermelon, pie, ice cream, etc.
I have several cake stands you can use. Please let me know if you'd like me to send you pictures of what I have.
What to wear
Girls
I love little girls in tutus, ruffle rompers, dresses, or diaper covers. I have a few items in my client closet you are more than welcome to borrow. Please make sure you have a plan to cover their diaper. A Lei po’o is also an adorable touch.
boys
I love little boys in overalls, jeans, knit shorts, or a diaper cover. I have a few items in my client closet you are welcome to borrow.
What to bring checklist
portrait outfit
smash outfit
towel(s) & a washcloth
baby wipes
a trash bag for cake clothes
a small, dry snack your baby likes (like Puffs or Cheerios)
a lovie if your child has one
Hollywood Movie Tour at Kualoa Ranch | Hawaii
We spent our Father's Day at Kualoa Ranch in the Ka'a'awa Valley. The Hollywood Movie tour was fantastic. Before the tour, we explored the grounds at the welcome center. The tour (in a vintage school bus) starts at an authentic WWII bunker (used in the film Pearl Harbor). We walked through to look at props and pictures from movies filmed on the ranch. Then we headed into Jurassic Park. The tour ended with a few more movie props like the penguin from 50 First Dates and getting to see some of the ranch animals. It was amazing from start to finish. And you'll also get to see the crazy weather on the Windward side of the island. Super sunny, crazy rain, back to sunny. That's Hawaii for you.
Our Staycation at Aulani, A Disney Resort
Hindsight is 20/20 right? When a deal popped up for an Aulani staycation in March, we decided to only do one night since we planned to do another staycation in the summer. Well, our staycation weekend and the arrival of COVID 19 lined up perfectly. Looking back, we are so thankful we could take this trip, but man I wish we would have stayed longer. We've been in lockdown pretty much ever since.
Aulani is what I call "fake Hawaii", but that doesn't make it any less amazing! It's Hawaii with Disney magic. We had so much fun playing in the pools. We didn't even do much exploring of the resort or even stick our toes in the sand because, well, you know... we thought we were coming back shortly. I cannot wait to go back soon!
Hampton Park Family Session
Folly Beach Farewell
Hiking Tripler Ridge
The boys and I hiked Tripler Ridge. It was going great - the boys were handling the incline and we got a call from dad on the submarine. We had made it off the paved trail and were working our way to the swing. Deep in the mountain, we ran into a pack of hunters with a ton of dogs and a HUGE pig they had killed. It scared me so I grabbed the boys and we basically ran back down the mountain. It was an adventure to say the least.
Kolekole Hiking Trail
Kolekole is such a great trail for kids. It's about a mile around trip, pretty easy and has a great view at the top. The boys had fun and it was the perfect way to spend the morning.