A "Steak" Smash for the Books | First Birthday Milestone Photography

Milestone sessions are such a special way to document your baby’s growth, toothy smile and all the little details that you don’t want to forget about this season. It is one of the sessions I offer as a part of my Legacy Bundle. Many families mark the occasion with a classic “cake smash” session—but this family had something totally original in mind: a steak smash.

Yes, you read that right. Instead of frosting, sprinkles, and sugar highs, we had sizzling steak, hearty bites, and the best kind of messy fun. And honestly? It fit this family’s personality perfectly.

Little Winston knows a good steak when he sees one. From the moment we set the steak in front of him his little eyes lit up—pure curiosity and excitement. Instead of the typical hesitant pokes at frosting, we had enthusiastic grabs, happy bites, and excited bouncing on his bottom.

When Sara came to me with her idea for a “steak smash” I was all in. I loved her idea of doing something that reflected their family’s personality. They are big steak lovers, and instead of following tradition, they wanted photos that were authentic to them—fun, silly, and perfectly “them.” That’s what I love about first birthday sessions: do something that fits your family and your child! Whether it’s a cake, donuts, watermelon, pancakes, or yes, even steak, the goal is to capture joy, personality, and all the quirks that make each child unique.

By the end, we had a happy, messy, steak-loving one-year-old and it was time for a well needed bath. Winston was just as enthusiastic about the bath as he was about the steak and we got some of the cutest photos.These are the kind of memories that will be shared and laughed about for years to come—proof that celebrating your little one doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s celebration.

If you’re dreaming up a first birthday session for your little one, don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Whether it’s cake or steak, the most important thing is that it tells your family’s story.