Dog Cake Smash: 7 Tips for the Pawfect Photo

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over.

Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

Looking to celebrate your pup’s big day with an adorable and Instagram-worthy dog cake smash?

You’ve seen those cute photos of dogs diving into their birthday cakes…and now it’s your turn to make the magic happen.

Well, get ready to let the frosting fly! We’ve got the ultimate guide to pulling off a fun and stylish dog cake smash that you, your dog (and the camera!) will love.

RELATED: Apple & Carrot Dog Birthday Cake Recipe 

1. Choose Your Location

The inspiration for this shoot? Dogs deserve to have their cake and eat it too!

This shoot was a styled dog cake smash to celebrate Stella’s birthday in addition to the arrival of the newest member to her family, her little puppy sister Luna.

Stella is a resident of the Boston Navy Yard, so it was a natural decision to use her backyard for the photoshoot! We knew it would be an environment she would be comfortable in, helping her to relax for the photos.

Since we were also including her new puppy sister, Luna, we knew we wanted a location that wouldn’t be too populated. Shooting on the dock provided us with the quiet and privacy we needed.

2. Choose a Color Palette

Lavender was the color inspiration for this shoot, which was styled by a group of local Boston vendors!

Once Stella’s mom, the owner of Tails ‘N Sails, designed Stella’s scarf, she shared the design with Grey Lady Revelry Co. and Lauren Dobish Photography, so they could build a shared vision for the scene.

Grey Lady Revelry Co., an event and floral design company, designed florals with soft lavenders, pinks, and touches of gold to compliment Stella’s handmade scarf beautifully.

3. Style Your Shoot

We wanted Stella’s dog cake smash to be a classy affair, so we collected small pieces of white furniture to display florals and a dog bone birthday cake custom made by Lally Pups.

Even though this was Stella’s birthday celebration, she was also welcoming her new sister to the family, so we found the perfect sized wicker basket for Luna to sit in that complimented the rest of the scene beautifully!

Then we looked to Lauren Dobish, a Boston wedding and dog photographer, to capture the most stunning images of Stella’s birthday dog cake smash celebration.

4. Choose a Cake

Now, the cake will serve as the centrepiece and most important part of the shoot, so choose wisely here!

If you fancy your baking skills, try our berry & almond dog birthday cake or this delicious apple & carrot dog birthday cake recipe.

Of course, you can always enlist the help of your local dog bakery. Here are some amazing dog birthday cake designs for inspiration too!

5. Tips for the ‘Dog Cake Smash’ Moment

After putting together a beautifully styled shoot, the best part is finally letting your pup dig in and enjoy their cake!

Stella was so good for the whole shoot, letting us take so many pictures without trying to eat the cake. But once we finally let her eat it, she was in heaven!

The biggest tip I have for photographing the dog cake smash moment: make sure you’re ready at all times to capture the cake smash. You never know when your pup might make the move towards the cake, so you have to always be ready.

If you let them, dogs will eat their cake in the blink of an eye. So make sure you’re shooting quickly to capture the moment before the cake is all gone!

My favorite moment was right after Stella ate some of her cake, because I love the images when dogs are so happy after eating a treat and licking their lips!

6. Keep Your Pup Comfortable

Let your dog take their time with the cake. If they need to be encouraged, give them a taste of the frosting on your finger.

If there are multiple dogs present ensure they are all happy and have their own treats to keep them occupied while the birthday floofer enjoys their cake!

7. Keep it Simple

Let’s admit it, if we have the time and inclination to give our dog a cake smash for their birthday… life is sweet. So keep it fun (for you and your pupper) and never forget – often the best photos happen when things go wrong!

DOG CAKE SMASH CREDITS

These are all of the wonderful vendors involved with bringing this vision to life!

Florals: Grey Lady Revelry Co.
Dog Scarves: Tails and Sails
Cake: Lally Pups
Photography: Lauren Dobish Photography
Dogs: Stella and Luna (the puppy)