Once Daniel and I got rolling we just kept coming up with more and more ideas for cheap props. I think this is why we’re still in the photography business - we’re always coming up with something new, it keeps us from getting bored. So here’s 5 more ideas for cheap props when you are planning your next smash cake session. And, here’s the original post if you missed it: ideas for cheap and easy props.

Yes, photography gear costs a ton- but you might as well save a little money where you can. We’ve got a couple of ideas of what you should be buying at your local dollar store to lessen the burden on your wallet.

We love Smash Cakes. Obviously, right? But what if your client doesn’t like sugar, or is looking for something more off the beaten path? Here are 5 alternative ideas to cakes for your next batch of smash cake portraits.

We shot this same theme a couple of months earlier. Here are both ideas so you can see what a difference that a darker background and a different lighting pattern makes. The first birthday cake smash picture with the brick background was shot in the summer, and is a mix of natural and canned light. The wooden plank backdrop picture was shot in the winter and is 100% artificial light.

A couple of years back I was wandering through Pinterest and realized that a lot of my pinned images were starting to look the same. I went back, and sure enough, 90% of them were the same photographer. And then I realized the images I was LOVING from Intuition Backgrounds? Also Jennifer Nace.

I stumbled across this site the other day via my Pinterest page, and fell in LOVE with this set and this adorable little girl. I don’t think I’ve ever found an Alice in Wonderland smash cake design I love as much as this. The original Lewis Carroll inks, the Cricut cut banner - absolutely beautiful. The set colors were spot on, and I was enamored with that amazing backdrop.

Smash cake themes for boys are pretty interesting in the northwest United States. Our communities are proud of our outdoors, proud of our self-reliance, and don’t mind getting our hands dirty. We’ve been working with this particular family for over a year now, through multiple shoots and really appreciate their thoughts and contributions to our photography.

This picture is going back aways - I was reminded of how much I love it a couple of weeks ago when we photographed her little sister - how time flies. I wanted to take a minute and talk about how DIY-ing isn't just to keep your cost down. DIY-ing keeps the creative juices flowing in your head AND keeps your smash cake sets looking unique.