There is something so special about getting to photograph a family on a regular basis, and this was my third time capturing sweet Jordan and her moms. When Melissa reached out to book a first birthday cake smash, it felt like that milestone was forever away — and then suddenly, here we were. For Jordan’s first birthday photos in Avondale, AZ, Melissa envisioned something simple, streamlined, and centered around wildflowers. As a Phoenix cake smash photographer, I love when parents come with a vision and trust me to bring it to life.
If you’ve lived in Arizona long enough, you know wildflowers are beautiful — and completely unpredictable. Their season is short-lived, which makes planning around them tricky when you’re coordinating a custom cake and a toddler’s ever-changing nap schedule. Instead of hoping for blooms on the scheduled date, I suggested creating a backyard cake smash setup at my home in Avondale, AZ and using fresh flowers from Trader Joe’s. It gave us control, flexibility, and the soft wildflower look Melissa wanted without the stress of Arizona’s desert timing.
From there, the magic really began. I found the sweetest crocheted bee at the Litchfield Park Farmers Market — because wildflowers and bees belong together, right? I hand-painted a wooden letter “J” with florals to match Jordan’s dress, let my backyard grass grow long for texture, and carefully placed fresh flowers throughout the clover to create a layered garden feel. A simple cream blanket paired with a rust-toned accent matched the florals perfectly, and I styled the cake on a wooden crate alongside the bee and wooden letters spelling “ONE.” As a Phoenix cake smash photographer, I also love adding unique elements — so I hung sheer curtains from a pop up tent to create soft, “through-the-window” portraits that added depth and warmth to the gallery.
Like all toddler sessions, everything unfolded on Jordan’s timeline. She had just woken from a nap, so we began with family photos to help her feel comfortable. Including parents at the beginning of a first birthday photoshoot often creates a calm, connected start. She was hesitant about the cake at first (as many one-year-olds are), but once her mom Misha gave her a taste of frosting, she was fully committed. Frosting-covered fingers turned into frosting-covered toes, followed by a brief “what is this on me?” moment that every cake smash session needs. The photos flowed from family portraits to include grandparents, to cake exploration, and finally ended in a warm bath — the perfect, joy-filled ending to her Avondale cake smash session.
Sessions like this are my heart. These first birthday photos happen in the “before” — before they have strong opinions, before they request themed shoots, before they insist on wearing the Donald Duck costume that’s entirely too hot for Phoenix falls. This is the season where parents get to choose, where your vision and their tiny personality intertwine. If you’re looking for a Phoenix cake smash photographer serving Avondale, AZ and surrounding areas, I would love to help you create something meaningful, beautiful, and completely yours. Just email me at kimvanosphotography@gmail.com.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Photographer – Kim
