First birthday cake smash with one-year-old Belle

Simon had just got home from work when Lauren handed him a small wrapped parcel.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“Open it,” Lauren nudged.

Simon peeled back the layers and found a white babygro inside. ‘Daddy and me’ was written in a curvy font across the front. He stared at it, not quite sure what to make of it.

“Does this mean…?”

“Yes – we’re having a baby!”

After three years of trying to conceive, the couple had all but given up hope of having a baby. They had accepted this, and committed to being the best cool and crazy aunt and uncle that they could be instead.

But even when the pregnancy test showed those exhilarating two lines, Lauren and Simon tried to manage their expectations and avoid getting too excited. Happily, Lauren’s pregnancy progressed smoothly, and to the couple’s delight they had a little girl in December 2019.

They named her Belle, which means ‘fair, lovely one and beautiful’ – a very fitting description of this little cutie 🙂

The three of them have spent the last year setting into family life, and are enjoying every second. Belle is already so full of personality and character, but at the same time is joyful and easy-going.

“Belle’s first year has gone by so fast,” Lauren told me, “It’s passed in a blur.”

The couple wanted to celebrate Belle’s first milestone birthday with a cake smash photoshoot, while also using the opportunity to update their family photos and create some timeless portraits that capture Belle’s beautiful smile.

Belle has learnt how to crawl, and zips across the floor at speed, making it very difficult to capture great images of her at home. Using a few games, tricks and a little patience, however, we created a whole range of beautiful photos of her that Lauren and Simon can’t wait to display on their wall.

Lauren is a HUGE Disney fan and can’t wait to take Belle to Eurodisney, hopefully next year, and then Disneyland Florida in a few years’ time. Belle’s wardrobe is Disney-themed, and apparently she has one or two Disney soft toys at home, too. Simon is… well, slightly less of a fan…

“I turn the TV on in the kitchen and it’s set to the Disney channel,” he said, “TV in the lounge – set to Disney. Bedroom – same thing. Everywhere you go – Disney.”

Simon may not care quite as much for Disney, but it’s clear he’s completely besotted with Belle. Lauren tells me he’s super-protective of her, and she clearly adores him too, scooting over the floor to be near him and giggling away as he tickles her.

So Lauren certainly had foresight when she chose a ‘Daddy and Me’ babygro to announce the big news all those months ago. After all, Belle is not just a perfect little Disney princess, but also very much daddy’s little girl. 🙂

Scroll down to see what Lauren and Simon did with the photos!

After our shoot, Lauren said:

“We got Sarah to do our daughters first birthday photos and cake smash and it was an absolute pleasure. She made such an effort to find out things about us all before hand, as well any favourite toys etc that Belle liked to make the whole experience so much easier for us. Her studios are lovely and she made us feel at ease straight away with keeping our daughter entertained in between all the different shoots and outfit changes. The photos are absolutely stunning and have captured memories that will last a life time. I would definitely go back to Sarah again and would certainly recommend her to anyone.”

Lauren, First Birthday shoot client from Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Lauren and Simon opted for my Wall Art Collection. They choose a large print framed in the Spectrum Satin Black moulding to go up in their lounge, and a white Sanctuary montage for their bedroom wall:

If you’d like to book your child’s first birthday photoshoot, or if you have any questions about family photography with me, please get in contact.

Sarah Plater LMPA is an award-winning, qualified, professional family portrait photographer based in Bicester, Oxfordshire. She is the Master Photographers Association Newborn Photographer of the Year 2019 for the Central Region (covering Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire).