At The Pod Photography, we love celebrating big milestones in a little one’s life, and this first birthday “splash and smash” session was a total showstopper! Inspired by baby girl’s love of Barbie and her parents’ appreciation for the message of the Barbie movie, this Malibu Barbie girl cake smash was fun and modern, and oh-so-cute!
Barbie always gives “California cool,” but the recent Barbie movie took that legacy to a whole new level, celebrating confidence and dreaming big. For this family, it was the perfect theme to honor their baby girl’s bold, joyful spirit on this big, beautiful milestone.
All the Pink, All the Fun
From the moment this family reached out to our Malibu team, we knew this session was going to be something special. Our amazing set artists on The Pod Photography’s Malibu team (Malibu Barbie, anyone?) got to work designing not one, but two custom sets that brought this pink-powered vision to life, perfectly tailored to reflect the birthday girl’s love of Barbie and her family’s playful style.
The splash set featured a tiny vintage-style bathtub, chandelier, cozy rug, and the fluffiest pink towels and slippers you’ve ever seen. It was everything glam, while remaining soft and playful. The cake smash set had a tropical Barbie beach house vibe, complete with palm trees, lemons, flamingos, and a pink dream mansion in the background. Every detail was curated to match the family’s vision, and that’s what we specialize in here at The Pod Photography. Our Malibu team designs sets that are never one size fits all. They’re custom-tailored works of art that bring your baby’s personality and your family’s style front and center. If you have ever wondered why so many of our sessions go viral, here’s this big secret: When the details are this thoughtful, the magic speaks for itself.
Why Smash and Splash Is the Perfect Combo
Parents love our Smash and Splash sessions for good reason. First, your baby gets to dive into a custom cake, making a delicious mess while we capture all those giggles, squishes, and sweet frosting-covered smiles. Then comes the splash! We transition straight into the bathtub setup for a bubbly clean-up session that turns into its own round of adorable photos.
Not only does this give families a ton of variety in their gallery, but it also keeps little ones happy and engaged. They get to explore, play, and relax, all in one smooth, seamless shoot. And yes, your baby leaves clean and cozy. It’s a win for everyone!
Let’s Talk Cake: A Sweet Shoutout to Top Tier Treats
Of course, no smash session is complete without the perfect cake. That’s where Jamaica Crist, owner of LA’s Top Tier Treats, comes in. Her cakes are custom-designed to match our sets, and she truly outdid herself with this one. Think soft pink frosting, palm tree and beach ball details, and a custom topper with baby’s name in Barbie’s signature font. It was just the right mix of adorable and… smashable.
Jamaica knows exactly what makes a great smash cake. Her creations are baked with love and soft, easy-to-grab frosting, baby-safe ingredients, and designs that pop on camera. Her cakes are always a joy to photograph and, even more importantly, a joy for little ones to dig into.
Tying It All Together with Family Portraits
After the splash came one more surprise: perfectly coordinated family portraits. Mom, Dad, and baby girl in pink gingham outfits tied the whole session together in the sweetest way. These timeless shots brought an elegant finish to the session and gave the family something they’ll cherish for years to come.
Thinking About Your Own Smash and Splash Session?
Whether your little one is a Barbie girl or you’ve got your own theme in mind, our team at The Pod Photography, serving Malibu and all of Greater Los Angeles, is here to bring it to life. We design every session with love, bringing years of experience capturing babies at their very best. From set design to lighting to wardrobe coordination, we take care of it all so you can relax and enjoy the moment.
Want to learn more or book your own custom shoot? Contact The Pod Photography 310-391-4500 to book your consultation and let’s start planning something magical.