Little Lainey turned one the day before Valentine’s Day, which honestly could not have worked out any sweeter. Her mama wanted a soft Valentine’s Day theme with a little boho vibe, and I was all in.
We planned her one-year-old cake smash session right here in my natural light studio in Montevideo, Minnesota. And let me just say — the light that day was chef’s kiss. When photographers ask what the natural light looks like in my studio rental space, this session is exactly what I show them. Clean, glowy, flattering, and so soft on baby skin.
Mom sent me a few inspiration photos, so I ordered balloons, built a custom balloon garland, and added twinkle lights for that extra little sparkle. We used an all-white backdrop with white flooring so the light would bounce and reflect, and it gave everything this dreamy, airy feel. I also pulled out the little boho tent and added hearts around it to keep that Valentine’s theme subtle but sweet.
Lainey had a few outfit changes (because why not when you’re turning ONE?), and she rocked every single one. Her big brother came along and helped us get some real smiles out of her — which was perfect, because one-year-olds run the show. There were giggles. There were serious faces. There were a few tears. And honestly? I love it all.
Some of my favorite images from this Montevideo, MN cake smash session weren’t even the perfectly posed ones. They were the in-between moments. Dad gently setting her down in front of the balloon garland. Mom fixing her little outfit. That split second when she realized she wasn’t sure about the frosting. The tiny tears. The recovery smiles.
Those are the moments that tell the real story of turning one.
As a Minnesota milestone photographer, I always tell parents — don’t stress the meltdowns. Don’t stress the crumbs. Don’t stress if they don’t sit perfectly. Personality is what makes these sessions magical. And Lainey? She has personality for days.
If you’re looking for a first birthday cake smash photographer in Montevideo, Southwestern Minnesota, or the surrounding area, I would love to create something custom for your little one. Whether it’s a Valentine’s Day theme, boho setup, or something totally unique, we’ll build it around your vision.
And if you’re a photographer looking for a natural light studio rental in Montevideo, MN, this session is a perfect example of how beautiful the space photographs using only window light.
Lainey’s gallery is full of sweet smiles, frosting-covered fingers, and those perfectly imperfect in-between moments. Scroll through below to see some of my favorites from her one-year Valentine’s Day session at Novel Images.
