Let’s talk about Cake Smash themes

Janci du Plessis
Aug 12
2 min read

You know you want to do a super adorable, unforgettable cake smash shoot to celebrate Baby’s birthday. Now what? Once you’ve booked your photographer (Kiekiebums Photography for the win!) it’s time to choose a theme. And trust me, this part is where the magic begins.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve done many, sooo many cake smashes —and I’ve learned a thing or two. Mother to mother and Photographer to Mother, here’s a little insight.

In the beginning, I let clients bring their own décor. Sounds simple, right? Nope. It often led to chaos, mismatched setups, and a whole lot of uncertainty. So I started building my own collection of themes—ones I knew would photograph beautifully and bring consistency to every session.

Today, I offer over 50 curated cake smash themes that are tried, tested, and totally adorable. It’s all about convenience, predictability, and gorgeous results. (Love this for me—LOL!)

If you’ve got a fresh idea for a unique theme, I’m all ears. In fact, many of my most popular themes started as client requests!

Here’s how to help me bring your vision to life:

Be specific. Send me some inspiration pics and tell me exactly what you love (and don’t). “I love the balloons in this pic, not so keen on the stars. Pink yes, purple no. And I definitely want those little lights!”
Keep it local. Pinterest is great, but many of those setups come from overseas. Some props might not be available in South Africa—so flexibility is key.
Book early. I need at least 3–4 weeks to prep a new theme. Sourcing the right décor takes time, especially if it’s something custom.
Check our style match. I’ve got a certain vibe (LOL), and the magic really happens when your style aligns with mine. If your idea feels totally different from what you’ve seen on my website or socials, we might not be the perfect fit—and that’s okay!
Think baby-sized. Props should be scaled for your little one to keep the focus where it belongs—on Baby!
Studio only. I don’t offer cake smashes at clients’ homes. My studio gives me full control over lighting, temperature, space, and cleanup. It’s the best way to create the polished look you’ve seen online.