happy birthday, little one

Carlsbad Cake Smash Photographer

Photographing styled first birthday shoot and cake smashes.

Lovely Baby Photography Studio is based in Carlsbad, CA – just outside of San Diego

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All sessions take place in our San Diego-based LUXURY photo studio. We provide everything needed!

Cake Smash Sessions are one of my favorite offerings! Our Cake Smash sessions are so much fun for parents and kiddos. I have you pick out your backdrops ahead of time, and I have outfits set out for you to choose from on the day of the session.  I have over 250 different backdrops/themes for you to choose from.  

We have a beautiful selection of clothing for children in the 12 month size and 12-18 month size, and clients can choose to use our wardrobe or bring their own outfits (almost everyone uses our wardrobe). Our closet is STOCKED!! We have over 200 dresses and rompers for little girls and over 100 outfits for little boys. Our wardrobe is high end and Stacey works very hard to bring in specialty, and often custom, items for your kiddo to wear during the session.

  • A baby sits on the floor clapping, surrounded by dinosaur skeleton props, eggs, lanterns, and greenery in a themed studio setting.
  • A toddler in a red dress sits on a small chair, holding a red balloon overhead. The background features pink and red balloons and large strawberry decorations.
  • Smiling baby with short dark hair wearing a light green shirt, sitting in front of a blurred, animal-themed background with soft decorative lights.
  • A baby sits in a vintage wicker stroller, smiling, with a soft pink sash draped over the side. The background features large pink bows and floral arrangements.
  • A baby wearing a tan sweater and gray pants sits on a white background, smiling and looking at the camera.
  • A young child wearing a floral headband sits on a suitcase, holding two teddy bears, with another teddy bear sitting beside her on a wooden floor.
  • A baby in a pink striped romper sits on a small wooden bench holding a baseball, surrounded by baseballs, stars, and crates with popcorn.
  • Baby wearing a "one" crown sits on the floor with a small cake, eating with hands, surrounded by blue and gold balloons.
  • Smiling baby wearing a gold crown sits on the floor in front of a white cake, surrounded by white flowers and wooden boxes, with cake on their face and hands.
  • A baby in a floral outfit sits in a wicker chair holding a "one" sign, with surfboards, beach-themed decor, and flowers in the background.
  • A baby dressed in a Moana-inspired costume sits on the floor with a toy paddle, surrounded by ocean-themed props, including a rooster plush and a sailboat backdrop.
  • A baby sits in a white clawfoot bathtub, surrounded by pink, black, and white balloons with cow-print patterns in the background.
  • Two toddlers sit side by side in front of Lion King decorations, each with a small cake. One wears a yellow dress, the other a brown outfit and a crown with the number one.
  • A baby in a blue dress poses with hands on head in front of a "Winnie the Pooh" themed backdrop with "Hunny" pots, flowers, and a large "one" sign.
  • A baby wearing a pink dress and floral headband sits on a small cream bench, surrounded by large pink bows and dried floral arrangements on a pastel backdrop.
  • A smiling baby in overalls sits indoors with fishing props, including a lantern, baskets, tackle, and fishing rod, against a backdrop of tall grass at sunset.
  • A young child in a cow-print cowboy outfit sits barefoot on a wooden bench, smiling and holding a brown cowboy hat in front of a rustic barn backdrop.
  • A baby wearing a crown sits on the floor in front of a floral backdrop with a small cake and scattered flowers around her.
  • A smiling baby in a green outfit sits on a wooden bench holding a "one" sign, surrounded by vintage travel-themed decorations and light blue balloons.
  • A young child sits on the floor in front of a small table with a donut, surrounded by large donut decorations and a sign that says "Donut Grow Up.
  • A baby wearing a crown sits on the floor, eating cake, with a pastel hot air balloon backdrop and the word "One" illuminated beside them.
  • A baby girl in a white dress and floral headband sits on a small bench, holding a sign that says “one,” with a cloud and moon backdrop decorated with stars.
  • A baby wearing a lavender flower dress and headband stands barefoot in front of a fairytale castle and carriage backdrop.
  • A toddler in a brown dress stands holding a small wooden ladder, with lanterns and flowers in the background on a wooden floor.
  • A baby wearing a white outfit sits on a small bench in front of a backdrop with clouds, a crescent moon, and gold stars.
  • A baby in a pink dress sits holding a teddy bear, surrounded by floral decorations and vintage props, with a large “one” sign in front.
  • A baby in a lavender floral dress stands smiling in front of a pastel castle backdrop, with pink decorations and a large number one, suggesting a first birthday celebration.
  • Baby wearing a red outfit and crown sits on a white chair holding a Mickey Mouse toy, with a "one" sign and Mickey-themed decorations in the background.
  • A baby in a pink dress and crown sits in front of a pink cake, surrounded by flowers, crates, and wooden decor.
  • Two babies wearing "one" crowns sit in front of rainbow decor with cakes labeled "WEST" and "RUBY," surrounded by boho-style decorations.
  • A baby in a frilly cream outfit stands next to a white chaise lounge, with a floral arch of pink and purple flowers in the background.
  • A baby wearing a headband and lace outfit sits in a vintage wicker stroller, with a backdrop of flowers and large fabric bows.
  • A baby wearing aviator goggles and brown overalls kneels on a wooden floor next to a small white bench, with a backdrop featuring airplane illustrations.
  • A baby sits in a white tub with arms raised, surrounded by stuffed animals and jungle-themed balloon decorations in the background.
  • A baby wearing a crown with the number one sits next to a white cake, surrounded by jungle-themed decorations with a lion and giraffe.
  • A baby wearing a crown labeled "one" sits next to a cake on a stand, with balloons and a "one" sign in the background.
  • A smiling young child in a pink and white hanbok stands beside a decorative white bench, with flowers and a soft floral backdrop in the background.
  • Baby wearing a white ruffled dress and headband stands holding a distressed white wooden bench with pastel flowers in the background.
  • A toddler in a silver astronaut costume sits on a white chair with a stuffed toy, in front of a space-themed backdrop featuring planets, a rocket, and tents.
  • A young child sits on a small wooden bed in front of a pastel hot air balloon-themed backdrop with clouds and garlands.
  • A baby in a tuxedo sits on the floor holding a gold bar prop, surrounded by blue, white, and black balloons. Behind is a "Boss Baby" sign, a "ONE" sign, and a large Boss Baby character cutout. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh
  • A young child in a pink plaid dress sits on the floor with a small cake, surrounded by pink and cow-patterned balloons and decorations.
  • A smiling toddler wearing a blue crown sits on the floor in front of a small blue cake. The background is decorated with blue elephant toys, white cloud props, and an animal-themed mural. The child's shirt reads "The Birthday Boy. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh
  • A baby in a white romper sits on a small wooden chair, holding a wooden "one" sign. A green dinosaur toy is beside them, with illustrated dinosaurs and greenery in the background, celebrating a first birthday. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh
  • A toddler in a pastel dress and "one" birthday crown sits on the floor, eating cake. Colorful balloons and polka dot wall decor are behind her. A white "one" sign is beside her. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh
  • A baby in a lavender dress sits on a white chair, surrounded by pastel balloons, artificial flowers, and butterfly decorations.
  • A baby girl in a pink, ruffled dress and headband sits on a white, ornate bench with pink flowers and a floral backdrop.
  • A baby wearing a crown sits on the floor next to a small cake, with "Where the Wild Things Are" themed decorations in the background.

We also provide the cake

Cake Smash Sessions include a cake – you can choose a simple design or go with a custom cake (at least two weeks notice required for custom cakes). 

  • A newborn baby wearing a small crown sleeps inside a white, decorative carriage prop, surrounded by pink flowers and greenery on a white background. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh
  • A newborn baby sleeps in a beige basket with a soft brown outfit, surrounded by two green dinosaur plush toys on a light textured background. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh
  • A sleeping baby wrapped in a light blue blanket is nestled inside a wooden bucket, surrounded by white artificial flowers on a white background. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh

How do you get started?

Contact me so that we can first agree on a date… once we have selected a date, in order to secure that date on my calendar, I do require a retainer and a contract to be completed online. I will then have you send me your backdrop selections and I send a planning sheet to ensure we’re on the same page about backdrops and details.

If you’re looking for pricing and additional information, please fill out the contact and Stacey will contact you as soon as possible.  

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cake smash sessions are a great way to commemorate a baby’s big milestone of turning one year old! Our cake smash sessions include THREE backdrops, and in the last of the 3 backdrops your little one is presented with a cake to enjoy.

Absolutely! I have a huge prop room and most of my backdrops have coordinating props. I have cute “one” signs, cake stands galore, themed props, etc. If you have a specific request for any specific props, I may or may not be able to accommodate them… and anything custom does require a package upgrade. I even have an adorable tub for cute pictures and a real water clean-up at the end of the session!

It’s never too early to get on the schedule! Some months fill up fast and I have to turn clients away. So it’s better to book as soon as you decide you want to do a session. I often will book sessions several months out. It’s best to do the pictures within about 4 weeks of the baby’s actual first birthday if you want photos back in time for a party. I do have parents who want the shoot right around the baby’s actual birthday and that is fine too!

NOTHING! I handle the whole process. Just bring me a happy well-rested baby! If you have a special outfit you want to bring along, that is fine. But I do have a huge wardrobe available to clients for your use during the session. I will send you a prep guide ahead of your session and I do have you bring a few of the baby’s favorite snacks. Otherwise, I handle everything from start to finish!

Absolutely!  I highly encourage it!  This is not a full drawn out family session, but we spend about 10-15 minutes grabbing some beautiful family pictures at the very start of the session.  We want to save baby’s energy and smiles for the rest of baby’s solo pictures.

I’d say that over half of babies are not really interested in eating the cake. That’s why I highly suggest bringing a few of the baby’s favorite snacks, and we put them on the cake to get the baby to interact with the cake. I have been doing this for many years and I have lots of tricks to help the session go smoothly!

I discourage this only because being in a new place is already overwhelming to a lot of little ones. Adding in all the family members trying to interact while I’m trying to get baby to look at the camera and it’s often just too much for baby. I highly suggest parents only at the session. If you do bring other family I ask you to limit it to 2 other people and I will have other family members stay in my waiting area.

Families come to my Carlsbad studio from all across San Diego County for cake smash and first birthday sessions. I handle every detail — the custom cake, themed backdrops, and the splash bath finish — so there is nothing for you to organize. I regularly welcome families from Carlsbad, Carmel Valley, Coronado, Del Mar, Encinitas, La Jolla, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, San Clemente, San Diego, and Solana Beach. Click your area to learn more about cake smash photography near you.

HUNDREDS and hundreds OF FAMILIES HAVE TRUSTED US WITH THEIR PRECIOUS MEMORIES

from past clients

  • I really wanted editorial-style newborn photos and Stacey exceeded my expectations! Throughout the entire process, Stacey was very communicative and great to work with. She listens to her clients and runs a well-organized business. As first-time parents, my husband and I were concerned about baby’s exposure to germs. I also appreciated the fact that Stacey goes through the photo selection process in person. It’s so much easier, and it was nice to have her professional input. The photos arrived digitally to us in less than a week and they were gorgeous. I will definitely be using her services again for future family photo shoots!
    Eliza Jane Smith
  • Our experience with Stacey was wonderful! We came in for a cake smash photo with an added family session, and had so many great photos to choose from. The hardest part was picking only a handful because we loved so many. Stacey was really great with the kids – I was nervous that we weren’t going to be able to get genuine smiles, but she made them feel comfortable and made it fun. She is very responsive in her communication and it was easy to talk through my vision and get scheduled for the shoot. Highly recommend!
    Caroline Belen
  • Stacey is truly the best baby photographer. Both my girls have taken their cake smash photos with her and each image is beautiful. She has a huge selection of background choices and will even customize one for you if she doesn’t have what you’re looking for, as she did for us. We will definitely be returning for family portraits.
    Mayra Escobosa
  • Stacey was so wonderful to work with to photograph our son and daughter. It was our son’s first birthday and she did a great job working with him as he was on the move during the photoshoot. She handled a one year old and three year old really well, and we loved how our pictures turned out.

    Her studio has so many outfit options and back drops so it was fun to choose. Plus, she provided the outfits that aesthetically work with the backdrop so that was great that we only had to show up with the kiddos. I would hire her again. Highly recommend!
    Monica Fallone
  • We had an absolutely incredible experience with Lovely Baby Photography!! Stacey captured both our maternity & newborn sessions perfectly – our galleries are absolutely gorgeous & way beyond our expectations. Her skill at working with newborns was extra impressive – she nailed every pose & we have such fun + unique photos. I would highly recommend her & will be reaching out to her again in the near future. Thank you for sharing your talents, Stacey!!
    Stephanie Baker
  • Definitely will be back when we have baby #2 to have Stacey take the photos for maternity and newborn. Very professional and would recommend anyone and everyone to her.
    Brianna M.

  • Stacey is literally the baby whisperer. I had also brought my son to her for his newborn photos, cake smash, halloween and holiday photos. I am a repeat customer so that should say a lot!
    Michelle R
  • She has a wonderful collection of dresses so you don’t need to stress out about the wardrobe. She worked amazingly with my entire family of 5 (kids 5,15,19) and captured so many great shots!
    Chanel J

Ready to Connect

Fill out our contact form OR CALL US FOR A FREE NO-OBLIGATION CONSULTATION SO WE CAN GET TO KNOW YOU AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE

760-271-0725 

I can’t wait to hear from you

  • A woman in a white dress holds a sleeping newborn dressed in pink, both facing the camera against a light, neutral background. Lovely Baby Photography by Stacey Marsh
  • Newborn baby wrapped in a light blue blanket, sleeping inside a round basket on a soft blue background.
  • Pregnant woman in a sheer white gown sits sideways, holding her belly, with flowing fabric extending behind her against a white background.
  • Newborn baby sleeping on a crescent moon prop, surrounded by white flowers and soft fabrics, against a neutral background.
  • Baby in a khaki outfit and crown sits next to a white cake, with jungle-themed first birthday decorations in the background.

Lovely Baby Photography is a maternity and baby photography studio in Carlsbad, CA, a North County suburb of San Diego and proud member of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. We specialize in natural newborn photography, outdoor and studio maternity photography, cake smash sessions, and family photography. Let us capture those precious timeless moments to cherish forever. Call us for a free no-obligation consultation so we can get to know you.