25 Cake Ideas for 1st Birthday Photos

If you are planning your baby’s 1st birthday photos in the Nashville area, you have come to the right place!

I’m Shannon, and I’ve been photographing 1st birthday cake smashes for over 10 years. This blog post will share 25 cake ideas for 1st birthday photos.

First Birthday Cake Smash in Nashville

As a Nashville-area cake smash photographer, I specialize in simple, timeless cake smashes. No busy backdrops, just your baby and the cake.

I’ve spent years perfecting the art of cake smash photography to create a beautiful balance of simplicity and fun. My goal is to give you a fun, memorable portrait experience and to deliver images you’ll be proud to display in your home for years to come.

A cake smash is a great way to celebrate your baby’s first birthday. One of my favorite parts of planning first birthday photos is helping you design the perfect cake to match your vision.

To make sure you’re fully prepared for your baby’s cake smash photos, be sure to read my detailed First Birthday Photoshoot Guide with all the info you need for a smooth session.

Cake Ideas for 1st Birthday Photos

Every cake smash in my Hendersonville photography studio includes five essentials: a white backdrop, outfit from my Client Closet, cake, cake stand, and a simple topper.

My partner bakery, The Rolling Pin, makes sure that every cake looks beautiful and is ready for your baby to dig in!

When deciding on the look for your baby’s smash cake, there are a few key elements to consider: frosting style, frosting color, decorations, and toppers.

Boy Smash Cake Ideas

Boy smash cakes can be simple and classic or customized with a subtle theme or color palette. From crisp whites to soft blues, greens, and creams, there are so many ways to make the cake feel special while keeping the focus on your baby.

Many of my boy moms love incorporating small, simple details like textured buttercream, a ONE topper, or even a touch of greenery. These accents add personality without making the design feel busy. This ensures that the cake looks beautiful in photos and timeless on your walls for years to come.

Simple Smash Cake Options for Boys

The most simple option is a white cake. If you want a classic, white cake, you still have several frosting options to make it your own.

You can customize your cake by choosing a frosting texture, subtle color tones, or even adding a small topper for a personal touch.

Here are my favorite boy smash cake designs.

1. Naked Smash Cake

A light layer of frosting that lets the cake peek through—perfect for an organic, natural look.

2. Rippled Frosting

Soft waves in the frosting add beautiful texture without being too busy.

3. Ombre Smash Cake

Ombre cakes feature frosting that gradually fades from one color to another, usually from light to dark. It’s a beautiful way to add color while keeping the cake elegant and soft.

4. Vintage Piping

Intricate, old-fashioned buttercream piping that adds a charming, elegant feel. The true definition of simple yet timeless.

Themed Cake Smash Ideas for Boys

Even though I focus on simple cake smashes, we can absolutely incorporate a fun theme that reflects your baby’s personality or nursery. The key is keeping the design clean and simple so the focus stays on your little one.

There are several ways to add a theme without making the cake (or photos) feel too busy or overwhelming.

Think minimalist touches like custom toppers, themed cookies on the cake, soft greenery, or a subtle color palette that hints at the theme without overpowering the setup.

5. Animal Cake

A clean, white cake with a single animal cookie for a sweet and playful touch.

6. Party Animal Cake

A simple cake accented with party hat–wearing animal toppers, adding fun personality to your cake. These animal toppers from Etsy can work well with safari animal, jungle animal, and circus animal themes.

7. Teddy Bear Cake

An adorable cake shaped like a teddy bear for a cute, cuddly look.

8. Lion Cake

A cake shaped like a lion or decorated with lion-themed details, perfect for a “wild one” theme that’s both playful and refined.

9. Fruit Topping Cake

Fresh seasonal fruit or your baby’s favorite fruit. Fruit adds natural color and texture.

10. Woodland Style Cake

Neutral or earthy tones paired with small greenery, pinecones, acorns, or animal toppers for a nature-inspired look.

11. Dinosaur Themed Cake

Soft green or neutral frosting with a small dinosaur topper or mini dino figurines.

12. Farm or Tractor Theme

Simple cake topped with a custom tractor topper or farm animal figurines.

13. Wild ONE Cake

A simple naked cake with rustic elements such as greenery, pine cones, wood cake stand, and wooden Wild ONE topper.

See more ideas in our boys’ first birthday cake smash gallery in Nashville.

Girl Smash Cake Ideas

When it comes to girl smash cakes, soft pastels and classic textures are always a beautiful choice. From blush pinks to lavender and ivory, there are so many ways to make your baby girl’s cake feel sweet and girly—without going over the top.

One of the most popular choices among my girl moms is adding florals to the cake. Whether it’s fresh blooms, faux flowers, or dried elements, florals instantly elevate the look while keeping it soft and feminine. They pair beautifully with simple white frosting or pastel buttercream and look stunning in photos.

Simple Smash Cake Options for Girls

Here are some of my favorite girl smash cake designs.

14. Naked Cake with Floral Accents

Cake is lightly frosted so that the cake peeks out. Fresh or faux flowers are arranged on or around the cake.

15. Smooth Frosted Cake with Floral Accents

Cake is fully frosted. Fresh or faux flowers are arranged on or around the cake.

16. Ombre Cake

Ombre cakes feature frosting that gradually fades from one color to another. We can dress up a girl’s cake with gold flakes or florals.

17. Polka Dot Frosted

Naked frosted cake with polka dot accents. This cake looks great with our polka dot cake stand.

18.Piped Frosting Flowers

Flowers are piped on the cake in a variety of colors and designs.

Themed Cake Smash Ideas for Girls

19. Boho Inspired

Soft neutrals, dried florals, and natural textures create a natural, boho vibe.

20. First Trip Around the Sun

Pastel or neutral tones paired with a sun, moon, or star topper for a sweet celestial touch.

21. Boho Rainbow

Muted rainbow tones with simple buttercream or a rainbow topper for a playful yet minimal look.

22. Fairy Garden Party

Soft greens, pinks, and florals with delicate touches like greenery or tiny butterflies for a whimsical, storybook feel.

23. Butterfly Accents

Simple cake design enhanced with dainty butterfly toppers or edible butterflies for a soft, magical touch.

24. Custom Topper with Baby’s Name

Your choice of cake design personalized with a custom topper featuring your baby’s name in script. All custom toppers are an additional cost or can be provided by parents.

Explore first birthday photos for baby girls in Nashville for more styling ideas.

25. Themed Smash Cake Designs

Don’t see a smash cake that you are dreaming of? That’s ok! I am here to help you design the cake of your dreams. If your baby has a theme for their birthday, we can work together to design a cake to reflect your theme. Here are some more adorable designs that I have done for cake smash photos.

Rubber Ducky Cake

This baby girl was having a bubble bath/rubby ducky themed first birthday party. So we took both ideas and ran with it! We designed a blue ombre cake to represent water and added cute frosting bubbles along with fondant rubber duckies.

Golf Smash Cake

Golf is a popular boy’s birthday theme. This cake was designed to look like a golf ball with a putting green. The pastel colors stay on point with my style and make it still look like a baby’s first cake.  Too cute!

Prince Smash Cake

Mommy wanted a royal theme for her little prince. This gold crown and 1 accented this adorable cake perfectly.

Vintage Hot Air Balloon Cake

I say this a million times but neutral is my favorite color. It always makes me laugh because I don’t really know what color “neutral” really is. But I love it! This baby’s mommy wanted clouds but neutral colors for a vintage hot air balloon vibe. So we chose tan frosting and fluffy cloud frosting.

What is Included with Your Baby’s Nashville Cake Smash Session?

When you book 1st birthday photos with Shannon Payne Photography, I want you to know exactly what’s included—and what’s not—so there are no surprises.

Included in Your Cake Smash Package:

• A custom cake (made fresh and sized for your baby)

• A cake stand from my studio collection

• “1” or “ONE” toppers

• A simple white backdrop for a timeless look

Not Included in Your Package:

• Custom toppers (you’re welcome to bring your own)

• Elaborate cake designs (may incur an additional fee)

• Cake stands not in my collection

• Background props, banners, signs, or balloons

Tip: If you have a specific vision in mind, I’m happy to recommend vendors for custom toppers so your session is exactly what you dream of.

Nashville’s Best Cake Smash Bakery Partner

I am so lucky to work with The Rolling Pin, one of Nashville’s most talented cake artists.

Her designs are not only gorgeous but taste absolutely amazing—soft, fluffy, and full of flavor. She can accommodate all food allergies and dietary needs.

Every cake is custom made to match your baby’s cake smash theme. She always goes above and beyond to make sure it’s picture-perfect.

You can explore her stunning creations on her website at The Rolling Pin website or see her latest work on Instagram at The Rolling Pin Instagram.

Cake Smash Photography FAQs

1. When should I schedule my baby’s cake smash session?
Most families book 2-3 months in advance and schedule the session for 3–4 weeks before baby’s first birthday. This allows families to use the photos for invitations or display them at the party.

2. What’s the best time of day for a cake smash?
Morning is usually best—right after baby’s nap and feeding—so they’re happy and ready to play.

3. Can we do a themed cake smash?
Absolutely! Although I don’t use themed backdrops, we can incorporate a theme through the cake and outfit.

4. What should my baby wear for their cake smash?
I have a large client closet with adorable outfits for boys and girls, but you’re welcome to bring something special from home.

5. Can parents or siblings join in the photos?
Yes! We offer packages that include family portraits before the cake fun begins.

6. How messy will my baby get?
Very. That’s the fun part! But don’t worry—I’ll have wipes, towels, and even a little wash station ready. I do recommend that parents bring a change of clothes in case you get covered in frosting as well!

7. What if my baby doesn’t like the cake?
That’s ok! Parents always have one expectation, and babies always do their own thing. That is what makes cake smash photos so much fun. We can still get great photos even if your baby doesn’t like the cake. Their reactions are what make each session unique.

8. How far in advance should I book?
To ensure I can coordinate your cake with the bakery, I recommend booking at least 2-3 months ahead—especially during busy seasons in Nashville.

Your Baby’s Nashville Cake Smash Photoshoot

I hope these 25 cake ideas for 1st birthday photos have inspired you as we plan your baby’s first birthday session! Of course, you’re not limited to these ideas—I love helping design custom cakes that perfectly fit your vision. We’ll work together to create the perfect cake.

If you have already booked your baby’s 1st birthday photos with me, make sure to read my blog on planning first year birthday photos so that you know what to expect the day of our session.

Cake smashes are one of my favorite milestones to photograph, and I can’t wait to capture this fun milestone for your family. I proudly serve families in Hendersonville, Nashville, Gallatin, Franklin, and beyond.

Shannon was so awesome!! She kept us laughing and most importantly, my one year old laughing and engaged!! The pictures are incredible and we definitely didn’t have“fake smiles”! Highly highly recommend her for your Nashville First Birthday Photography Photos and will be using her again for more!

Katelyn W., Hendersonville, TN

Looking for a Nashville baby photographer? If you’re in the Hendersonville or greater Nashville area and ready to celebrate your baby’s first birthday with a timeless cake smash session, I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch today!