what to expect

• session flow : Studio cake smash sessions are usually scheduled for 60minutes. This allows us 10 minutes on the front end to set up (if needed), 30 minutes to shoot, and 15-20 minutes on the back end to clean & pack up!

• digging in : Keep in mind that your little one may (or may not) dig right in. We just sit back & let him/her do whatever they are going to do!

• music : sometimes we’ll play music that your little one enjoys to lighten the mood & make it more fun, like we’re all just hanging out! Think about some songs your babe likes and we can play those :)

• expect mess : icing makes for quite a mess. The icing can stain the outfit your little one is wearing, so consider that when choosing what they wear!

how to prepare

• decor : when choosing a “theme” or idea for your session, think about what you want to do with these photos. Do you want to hang some on your wall? If so, what does your home look like? Would you want red/yellow mickey vibes or would you prefer a solid more neutral look?

• keep it simple : my style is simple & timeless. I want you to look back & love your photos for years to come rather than seeing a specific decade due to my editing or the decor involved. Consider sticking to a simple outfit, cake, and possibly a banner or balloons.

• pack essentials : if your babe digs into the cake (like we hope they do!), they will likely get messy. Bring a bag of essentials such as wipes, a new outfit, & an old towel. I also encourage mom/dad to wear old clothes that they don’t mind getting icing on in the case that you have to scoot your little one back onto the paper.

• cake recommendation : I highly recommend Publix bakery for an affordable, but precious, smash cake. Be sure that they put the cake on a round base as it allows us to use a cake stand if we wish!

illness safety precautions

At Kelli Barnette Photography, safety is my top priority. Here is what you can expect from me and what I will be asking of clients to prevent unnecessary contamination.

• Arrival - Please leave shoes at the door and wash hands if coming from being out and about. I serve families with members that have weaker immune systems.

• Sick Symptoms - Please notify me immediately if you or anyone in your family become ill. This is not limited to Covid symptoms but any type of bug, cold or flu as well. As with any childcare facility, I expect that we postpone until everyone has been fever/symptom free for 24hrs without medicinal assistance before we meet for our reschedule.
  I will also notify you if myself or my family should fall ill. Your session will need to be postponed until further notice if any one of us are sick. Please don’t arrive to your session if your family is ill in any way. I will need to as you to leave and your retainer fee will not be forfeited.

• Clothing - I ask that all clothing worn by both parties be freshly laundered. Meaning I will wear clean clothing before your session and will immediately launder my clothing once the session is over. I ask that you please do the same for parents, siblings and newborns.