Calgary Cake Smash Photographer
One year of JOY, laughter, and a delicious little mess.
It also celebrates YOU.
Congratulations, you’ve survived an incredible year of parenting! From sleepless nights to heartwarming moments, you've embraced every challenge this first year has brought. Now it's time to look back at all the hard work, love, and dedication you've put in. This session isn't just about your little one -
You’ve not only raised a little one, you’ve built a family. This celebration is for you, too - a playful nod to your resilience, joy, and the wild ride of parenthood. In just twelve months, your baby has grown, changed, and begun showing a personality all their own. Today, amidst the sweet chaos and laughter, we celebrate every messy, magical moment that makes this journey uniquely yours.
view the portfolio:
✧ Full of giggles, frosting & fun.
✧ Spunky, carefree & adorable.
✧ Finding their own voice.
✧ A bundle of cake-covered charm.
See your little one as they are:
Proof that first birthdays are pure, playful JOY.
A memorable experience, designed for you.
Every cake smash session at Studio James is designed with your busy family in mind. From the moment you step into our Calgary studio, we handle every detail - from playful setups to expert guidance - so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the sweet chaos of your little one's first birthday.
What's included:
✧ We provide the cake, so you don't have to!
✧ Guided interaction & couture girls dresses
✧ Soft, flattering studio lighting for a polished look
✧ Professional retouching for naturally flawless images
✧ A private studio setting for a distraction-free session
Every detail is taken care of, so you can RELAX and enjoy the experience.
An effortless experience, designed for YOU.
Because creating something extraordinary should feel easy. From start to finish, we’ve thought of everything - so you don’t have to. Our process is seamless, stress-free, and designed to give you the most beautiful portraits you’ve ever seen.
1.
Discovery & Booking
2.
The Portrait Session
3.
Your Image Reveal
4.
Final Product Delivery
Let’s make something beautiful together.
Right now, your family is celebrating a year of love, laughter, and a little delicious chaos! This cake smash is a playful salute to your journey as parents, and a fun reminder of how far you’ve come.
Birthday Session Pricing
✧ Session Fee: $300 - Includes session planning, access to the client wardrobe, and your time in our private Calgary studio.
✧ Collections begin at $990 - We offer a mix of digital images and magazine-worthy artwork.
Frequently Asked Questions
"Jaime's work is absolutely stunning!
She was really welcoming and I felt comfortable with her and her handling my baby. She is extremely gentle and patient with baby which I really liked. I am in awe of the results."
- Bessie C.
When should I book my cake smash session with you?
Ideally, book your session when your baby is around 10 months old to ensure you get in our calendar. Some parents choose to have the session before their child’s birthday so they’ll have the images in time for their first birthday celebrations and some choose to have the session on the actual birthday. However, if you’re running behind, don’t worry - we can still capture the magic!
How do these sessions work, what are the sets like?
Our cake smash sessions are all about keeping the focus where it belongs - on your baby. We keep things simple, classic, and timeless, avoiding trendy props that will look dated in a few years. (Let’s be honest, your little one won’t care about a giant Bluey cutout, and we don’t want the props to steal the spotlight!) Instead, we create a beautiful, minimal setup that highlights your child’s personality, expressions, and joy.
Each session includes three parts: a portrait session before the cake, the cake smash itself, and a fun bathtub cleanup afterward (because what kid doesn’t love splashing around in bubbles?).
Can we do a birthday session without the cake?
Absolutely! If you’d prefer just a portrait session or a first birthday session without the cake, we can customize it to fit your vision. Some babies aren’t fans of cake, and that’s totally okay - we’ll focus on capturing their sweet personalities in other ways.
Where does the session take place and how long is it?
All sessions take place in our cozy, fully equipped studio. We have everything needed to create a fun, memorable birthday experience.
We don’t set a timer on our sessions - every child is different, and we let them take their time. Some dive into the cake right away, while others take a while to warm up. We go at their pace to make sure we capture genuine moments and real joy.
Can parents and siblings be in the photos?
Yes! We encourage parents and siblings to join in for a few portraits before, or even during, the cake smash. These are such special memories, and having family in the photos makes them even more meaningful.
Do you provide the cake or do we bring our own?
We provide the cake! You don’t need to add “remember to bring the cake” to your todo list - you’re busy enough! You also don’t want to smash the cake yourself on the drive over!
If your child has allergies, though, for safety reasons, we ask parents to bring the cake. If you need recommendations for local bakeries that create beautiful, smash-friendly cakes, we’re happy to help!
What if my baby doesn't want to smash the cake?
This happens more often than you’d think! Some babies dive right in, while others are more hesitant. We have a few tricks to encourage them, but the magic of the session is capturing who they are - whether that means excitedly smashing the cake or delicately poking at the frosting.
If your baby isn’t into the cake, we still capture beautiful portraits before and after, and the bathtub splash session is always a hit!
How long does it take to receive my images?
You’ll get to see your images within two weeks at your viewing appointment, where we’ll design a collection of your favourites. Afterwards we will begin our custom editing, so that every image you receive is is hand-retouched to perfection.
"I would recommend Studio James a hundred times if I could.
We booked a shoot for my daughter's first birthday. She was fussy that morning, but Jaime worked her magic, had my daughter's attention and the pictures were wonderful! The studio was great, there were lots of outfits to choose from (we brought some of our own as well) and Jaime made it so easy from start to finish. We will definitely be back."
- Monique R.
"We loved our newborn photoshoot with Jaime!
She was very professional and did an incredible job with making our son feel comfortable during the session. She is very good with handling babies and putting them at ease (and the mother as well!).
Overall, we had an exceptional experience with Jaime and would highly recommend her to others!"
- kim d.
"Our family had such a lovely experience with Jaime.
She was so caring, professional, and amazing with both our kids. She knew exactly what to say to our toddler to elicit a smile, and was incredible at calming our new baby.
The photos she captured were fantastic and we love them so much!"
- brittany o.
and giggles are the soundtrack of the day.
Messes become MAGIC
© 2018-2025 Studio James Photography
- Site Credits -
© 2018-2025 Studio James Photography | Site Credits
