Some photography sessions mean a little extra, and this one meant everything.
Photographing my cousin's baby
I have known my cousin Brianna her entire life. She and her brother Blake were our family’s first set of twins, and I even babysat them when they were little while their parents came into town. During childhood family visits to their home, Brianna loved painting my fingernails. I would head back to school proudly showing off nails painted every different color.
Over the years, I had the honor of photographing both Brianna and Blake for their senior pictures. But I have been patiently waiting for this chapter for years: getting to photograph Brianna’s first baby.
I just had to wait for her to get married and have a baby first, lol.
A Long-Awaited Baby Photography Session
Brianna and Ryan welcomed their sweet little girl, H, in 2025. They gave her the sweetest name, and I had been so excited to finally meet her and capture her first birthday photos.
Brianna drove all the way from Selah, Washington, to my Puyallup studio for H’s cake smash session. That alone meant so much to me. I had been waiting for this little girl for years, and now that this dream has finally happened, I feel like I can retire someday knowing I got to photograph her.
Of course, I am not ready to retire just yet. But I really was waiting for her.
Wildflowers, Bows, and the Sweetest Smiles
For H’s custom first birthday cake smash setup, we created a wildflower and bow theme. It was something I had never done before, and I absolutely loved how it came together. I am a total sucker for flowers, so this theme was right up my alley.
The soft florals, bows, and sweet details created such a beautiful setup while keeping the focus on H and her adorable personality. She was so smiley during her session, even though I was technically a complete stranger to her. It almost felt like she knew who I was.
Little H loved her cake and gave us the very best photos with so many happy smiles. She made the session easy, fun, and full of the sweetest first birthday moments.
A Very Special Day for Our Family
After the session, Brianna, Ryan, and H went to my mom’s house for lunch so the family could meet her. Everyone was so excited to see this precious little girl, and she was still happy, giddy, and such a star even after her photo session.
I was honestly surprised and so proud of her.
I am incredibly proud of Brianna, Ryan, and the little family they have built. I am also proud of the years I have been able to keep my photography business open and beyond honored that they trusted me with their baby’s first birthday photos.
Sessions like this are why I do what I do. Photography is about more than a pretty backdrop or a cute cake. It is about preserving the people, milestones, and full-circle moments that mean the most.
Looking for a Puyallup Cake Smash Photographer?
Veronica Victoria Photography creates custom first birthday and cake smash sessions in downtown Puyallup, Washington. Whether you are local to Puyallup, Tacoma, or traveling in from another part of Washington, I would love to help celebrate your baby’s first birthday with a setup that feels personal to your family.