A Birthday Cake Smash on the Beach in Villefranche-sur-Mer¶
When P's dad first reached out, he shared that he and his wife, N, would be celebrating their daughter's first birthday with a family trip to the French Riviera. They wanted to mark the occasion with something sweet and memorable, a little cake smash for their beautiful baby girl. It was such a lovely idea, especially in a setting as picturesque as the Côte d'Azur.
Planning the Cake Smash¶
Of course, no cake smash is complete without a cake. For this session, I picked one up on their behalf, which is something I am always happy to arrange. For families booking a cake smash, you can either bring your own cake or I can collect it for you and simply be reimbursed. Whatever makes things easier for you.
E's parents also brought a few simple decorations, and I cannot recommend this enough. Even minimal details can elevate a shoot significantly. They included a small candle shaped like the number one, matching party hats for E and her parents, and a sweet first birthday card. It was simple, tasteful and incredibly charming.
We chose Villefranche-sur-Mer as the location. With its warm orange and terracotta tones, soft blue water and pastel shutters, it offers the most beautiful natural backdrop. E's parents thoughtfully selected pastel colours that complemented the surroundings perfectly. If you are planning a session like this, I always suggest choosing decorations and outfits that harmonise with the background, just as they did.
A Timid and Tender Cake Smash¶
We began with the cake smash itself. E wore a little red outfit for the first part of the session, and she looked absolutely adorable.
Rather than enthusiastically smashing the cake, she surprised us all. E is a gentle and slightly timid little one, and instead of diving into the cake, she carefully picked at it. At one point, she even tried to share pieces with her parents. She would delicately remove a strawberry or a small piece of cream, examining it before offering it over. It was honestly one of the sweetest things to witness.
These moments are what make cake smash sessions so special. Every baby reacts differently, and that unpredictability is part of the magic.
Outfit Changes and Family Moments¶
After the cake portion, we did a quick outfit change. E changed into a soft purple outfit and later into a tiny dress, each look just as charming as the last. The variety added a beautiful dimension to the final gallery.
For the last part of the session, her parents joined in. The three of them together, laughing and cuddling in the morning light of Villefranche-sur-Mer, created some of the most heartfelt images of the day. You could feel how much love surrounded this little girl.
Why We Recommend Early Mornings¶
This session took place on 12 June 2025, which means summer had already arrived on the Riviera. It can get quite warm at that time of year, so we scheduled the shoot very early in the morning.
For cake smash sessions, I always recommend the earliest possible time, ideally right after sunrise. There are two important reasons for this. First, the temperature is much more comfortable, especially for babies. Second, early mornings are far quieter. As the day progresses, beaches and promenades fill with people, and babies can easily become distracted by movement and noise.
The calm of early morning light allows little ones to feel more relaxed and focused, which makes all the difference.
E's first birthday session was tender, joyful and beautifully personal. A pastel cake, a gentle baby who preferred sharing to smashing, and the warm colours of Villefranche-sur-Mer made it a celebration we will not forget.
