Boise Cake Smash Photography
services
First Birthday Cake Smash Photos in Boise Idaho
You blinked. Somehow your squishy little newborn is about to turn one.
First birthday cake smash photos are our absolute favorite way to celebrate that wild, exhausting, beautiful first year — and we are the Boise photography studio that makes it genuinely fun for the whole family.
At Glean & Co, our smash cake photography sessions include everything: a curated setup, professional guidance, a bubble bath cleanup, and a fast turnaround so you're not waiting weeks to relive it — most families see their images within a week.
Whether you're dreaming of a studio setup or heading out into Idaho's gorgeous outdoors, we'll find the perfect backdrop for the most adorable mess they've ever made — and capture every frosting-covered, first birthday cake smash moment along the way.
Serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, and the greater Treasure Valley
When you choose a Glean + Co photography experience like our Boise Cake Smash sessions, you are choosing to have your hand held every step of the way. We will help you with the tough decisions like whether or not to include family photos before the smash, our favorite local smash cake vendors, what to wear, where to go and what to bring. PLUS, our advice on our absolute favorite artwork and album designs for first birthdays so you can forever remember this special day.
We encourage you to join in on the celebration (and the photos!). We’re looking for lots of laughter, dancing, singing, playing and feeding each other bites of cake. Be prepared to get a little messy and have a lot of fun.
We strive to make this an experience that you will treasure and remember through the artwork we create together.
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What to Expect at Your Boise Cake Smash Session
Cake Smash & Splash:
The Full Session Timeline
celebration
cake
mom & baby arrive at the shoot
baby & family arrive
get ready to get messy
bubbles
clean up time!
We start with clean photos of baby and even a few family photos of everyone together if you'd like to celebrate a fantastic first year
We do a quick outfit change for baby and we're ready to bring in the cake! We click away capturing all the funny little moments as your baby enjoys.
Time to splish splash in a warm tub- yep even if you opt for an outdoor smash! We capture baby smiling and splashing as they get all cleaned up
Paige worked with our budget and helped narrow down images.
She never tried to push extra pictures or products on us and just wanted us to be truly happy with our experience.
~Becca, Mom to Lincoln
One of the questions we get most often from Treasure Valley families is whether to do their cake smash photography in our SE Boise studio or out in the beautiful Idaho landscape — and honestly, both are spectacular.
Our lifestyle studio in SE Boise gives you full control: perfect lighting no matter what the weather does, access to our full client closet with birthday outfits, and a quick turnaround so your images are in your hands fast.
Outdoor cake smash sessions are a little more adventurous — we've done them in the Boise foothills, along the river greenbelt, and in open fields with wildflowers. If your baby is turning one anywhere between April and October, Boise's weather is generally warm enough to make an outdoor session totally comfortable, even with a bubble bath at the end. And yes — we bring everything we need for that warm bubbly cleanup no matter where we are.
Not sure which is right for your family? Tell us what you're envisioning during your booking consultation and we'll help you figure it out.
We encourage you to join in on the celebration — and the photos! We're looking for laughter, dancing, singing, and yes, feeding each other bites of cake. Be prepared to get a little messy and have a lot of fun.
We strive to make this an experience you'll remember long after the frosting is cleaned up, through the artwork we create together.
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Smash Cake Photography Near You — Studio or Outdoors?
Studio vs. Outdoor: Same milestone, completely different backdrop.
Our SE Boise studio gives you warm wood floors, exposed brick, and that gorgeous natural light pouring through the windows year-round.
The outdoors gives you Idaho's wide open landscape, golden hour glow, and sagebrush as far as the eye can see. Both are stunning.
Put Joy on Your Walls
We believe the memories you're investing in should be enjoyed every single day, whether on your walls, in an album, or on your devices. Our new streamlined ordering process makes it easier than ever to choose your favorites and bring them to life:
Flexible Collections:
We offer flexible collection packages that adapt to your family's unique needs and lifestyle. Choose the combination of products that work best for you - whether it's a timeless Heirloom Album, a cutting-edge Digital Frame, stunning wall art, or a mix of all 3. Our goal is to provide you with memories you'll love, displayed in ways that fit seamlessly into your life.
Your Ordering Experience:
In-Person Guided Experience: Let us hold your hand through the entire process. Visit our studio or meet us on zoom where we'll walk you through your images, help you choose your favorites, and assist in designing the perfect display options for your home. It's a personalized, immersive experience perfect for those who appreciate hands-on guidance.
What's Included in Your First Birthday Cake Smash Photos
includes:
A Pre-Session Design & Planning Consultation
Up to 2 hours of Shooting Time (Studio or Outdoor Location) with our
Professional Baby Photographer & Trained Assistant
Family & Individual Portraits, Cake Smash & Bubble Bath experience
Access to Our Client Closet with Birthday outfits & special occasion wear, coordinating family wardrobe options, professional cake stands & styling accessories.
All necessary Props* & Styling elements including
cake stands, outdoor bath basins, bubbles, towels and clean up supplies
Access to our list of favorite Cake Bakers in Boise
Our 5 Image Base Package of High Resolution Digital Files
$790
Additional Digital Files, Prints & Products are purchased separately.
You will have the option to upgrade to a larger collection at your ordering appointment
*Please note that the actual cake is NOT INCLUDED due to allergy considerations.
We are happy to offer payment plans through affirm
sign me up!
Boise's Best Cake smash & Splash Photo session
- Helping you choose between our bright lifestyle studio or beautiful outdoor location
- Providing access to our client closet with adorable birthday outfits
- Creating wall art and beautiful albums that capture both sweet and messy moments
- Offering guidance from our 25+ years of photography experience
- Including pre-cake family and individual portraits and a bubble bath finale
We'll document the complete first birthday story, from sweet family moments to cake-covered smile and bubbly cleanup.
We recommend booking your first birthday cake smash photos at least 6–8 weeks before your baby's birthday — sooner if you want finished prints in hand for the party. Some families prefer to schedule a few weeks before the actual birthday so they have images ready to share with guests. Others love celebrating right on the day. Either way, don't wait until the last minute — our smash cake photography sessions in Boise book up fast, especially during spring and fall.
How far in advance should I book first birthday cake smash photos?
Is the smash cake included in the session fee?
Think outside the cake — seriously, we love a creative smash session! We've done donut smashes, spaghetti smashes, pie smashes, and even pumpkin smashes for fall birthdays. If your baby has food sensitivities or you'd just prefer something different, we're totally on board to brainstorm a custom first birthday session that fits your family.
What if I don't want my baby to have cake?
We understand that stuff comes up and will do our very best to get you rescheduled whenever possible. We ask that you please use the “better safe than sorry” mindset and reschedule if you or another family member is sick.
Absolutely — and we love it when they are! We begin every cake smash session with clean portraits of baby alone, then bring in siblings, parents, and even grandparents for family photos before the mess begins. There's no extra charge for additional family members, just let us know who to expect when you book so we can plan accordingly.
What if I need to reschedule?
Can the whole family be in the cake smash photos?
The cake is not included due to allergy considerations — but we make this easy! We have a curated list of our favorite local Boise bakers who specialize in smash cakes for photography sessions. They know exactly what looks stunning on camera and holds up under enthusiastic little hands. Just ask us and we'll send you our go-to vendors.
How long does the session last?
Our cake smash and splash sessions run about 1 to 1.5 hours from start to finish. That includes clean portraits, the cake smash itself, and the bubble bath cleanup — which babies almost always love just as much as the cake. You'll be in and out with a full, beautiful story of your baby's first birthday.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Cake Smash Photography
For both studio and outdoor cake smash sessions, we'll schedule your ordering appointment within about a week of your session — you'll view your images on our 65" screen at the studio or via Zoom, choose your favorites, and place your order all in one go. No waiting months to relive those messy, joyful moments. If you'd like to do a same-day ordering appointment, just ask — we're happy to accommodate that for studio sessions when our schedule allows.
How quickly will I see my cake smash images?
Wait, Viewing Session? What’s that?
All images that you purchase are professionally color corrected for print and cleaned up for stray hairs, tiny blemishes, baby acne etc. Extensive retouching is available for an additional fee.
Yes, all of our collections are available with or without the physical products however the price remains the same. While we highly encourage creating a keepsake art piece for your child, it is ultimately your decision.
How much editing do you do to the images?
Can I just buy digital files?
A viewing session or ordering appointment is when you look at your images together for the first time and place your artwork order. It takes place in person at the Glean studio or via Zoom. At this session you’ll see the products we offer, choose your favorite images and place the order. We will then begin editing your images to perfection and printing your chosen artwork with our professional labs.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes! We are happy to offer payment plans with Affirm as well as Afterpay so you can receive your images while your baby is still little- but break up the payments over time.
Your images are finalized 10-14 days after your ordering appointment and sent via web gallery for your approval. Once product orders have been placed, albums and collection boxes arrive in about 3-4 weeks. Please allow 8-10 weeks for custom framing and wall art. Everything will ship directly to your doorstep.
Once my order is placed how long does it take to arrive?
Lingering Questions?
Email Us
Call Us
What's your cancellation policy?
Your base package is fully refundable minus the session fee up to 30 days prior to your scheduled session date. After that time, your package is no longer refundable but can be transferred to any other session we offer within one year.
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Join us for the ultimate birthday celebration for your baby
Serving Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Nampa, and the greater Treasure Valley
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