I’ve been photographing this family for a few years now, and I love every session together. I love when families come back to me again and again, because it builds so much trust and the sessions are always so relaxed – this family knows my process, and knows I’m just looking for authentic moments, not picture perfect posed moments (although we do try to sprinkle those in there).

We met at an open field in Eagle River, and the sun definitely made us work to find some sweet spots that included both mountains, but not sun directly in our eyes. With a few breaks in the clouds, we were able to grab some shots with the Eagle River mountains, as well as some gorgeous glowy sunny photos behind us. Over the years, I’ve found that creating beautiful family photographs is less about the background, and more about capturing the connections between your family members. In saying that, it’s hard to find a spot in Alaska that isn’t beautiful. 😉

We wandered, we explored, we got a little silly. Whether it was chasing each other through the grass, snuggling up for a quiet moment, or sharing a tickle-fueled laugh, every moment was full of love and connection. Family sessions don’t need to be stiff or overly posed—in fact, the best ones never are. It’s the little in-between moments that matter most: a hand reaching out, a toddler and his older brother running wild with joy, a parent catching eyes with their kid and smiling like no one else is around.

This session was a reminder that the real magic is in showing up just as you are. And when you do? That’s when we create something beautiful together. If you’re dreaming of relaxed, joy-filled family photos, let’s make it happen. I’d love to tell your story—messy hair, goofy grins, and all.

Thank you for choosing me to be your photographer!

Barbie Dreams & Buttercream

When you mix pink frosting, sparkles, and a whole lot of personality—you get a Barbie-themed cake smash that’s as fabulous as it is fun!

Savannah brought all the adorable glam to the studio for her cake smash session, and let’s just say… Barbie herself would be obsessed. From the moment she arrived, our tiny birthday queen was ready to shine. Decked out in a an adorable dress from Always in Bloom Clothing Co. (who she is a clothing ambassador for), she channeled her inner Barbie with giggles, sass, and sparkle in her eyes.

The set was pure Barbie magic—think dreamhouse meets cake heaven: pink balloons, a shimmer wall, disco balls, and of course, a cake fit for a doll from Sabrina Bakes.

Once the cake came out, things got messy in the best way. She wasted no time digging in—smearing frosting like a true cake-smashing pro. Her little hands covered in icing, her toes kicking in delight, and a frosting-covered grin made every snap pure gold.

Barbie is all about being bold, confident, and uniquely YOU—and this session was all that and more. It’s such a fun way to celebrate the magic of turning one and to give your little one a moment in the spotlight (with a LOT less cleanup than if you did this at home).

Barbie isn’t just a theme—it’s a vibe. Bring along your babe’s favorite outfit, maybe a mini pair of sunglasses, and get ready to have some fun. Whether you go classic pink or add a twist with Malibu or retro Barbie details, the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Ready to plan your own Barbie dream cake smash? Let’s make some magic, one giggle and frosting-covered toe at a time.

Who says cake smashes are just for babies?

This guy brought the energy and fun to his milestone session – and yes, we went full cake smash style with a face in his cheeseburger cake, because turning 5 is a big deal. It’s starting kindergarten, high fives for tying your own shoes, and having very strong opinions from anything from snacks to superheroes. What better way to celebrate than with cake, confetti, and colorful chaos?

For this session, we went pretty simple with a white backdrop, a cheeseburger cake from Fred Meyer, and colorful confetti, which gave our big kid the chance to shine. The best part was when he came in, he immediately told me he would be putting his face in his cake, and he delivered on that promise.

Cake smashes for older kids are quickly becoming one of my favorite things to photograph. It’s a chance to document a moment that’s often overlooked – a sweet spot between toddlerhood and big kid milestones. At 5, they are bold, curious, full of spark, and capturing them is pure magic.

If you have a little one hitting a big milestone – whether it’s 1, 5, 10, etc, don’t be afraid to think outside the birthday box. A cake smash is a chance to celebrate them in a totally unforgettable way.

Welcome to my (extensive) list of available backdrops and previous cake smash setups!

Keep in mind that while many of these are showing a cake to go with the backdrop, all cakes can be changed to match your vision. Not seeing one you love? Scroll all the way down to the bottom to check out my list of backdrop suppliers. I am happy to order a new backdrop for your session, I just ask that you give me a full month’s notice so that I can make sure I have enough time for ordering and shipping to Alaska.

One of my favorite parts of my job is being able to walk through life’s seasons with the families I photograph – and this session was such a fun reminder of that.

I first met this beautiful family two years ago for big brother’s newborn session. Since then, we’ve captured toddler giggles with a cake smash, and now a newborn session for baby #2! There’s something extra special about having longtime clients return with a brand new baby. It’s a reminder about how fast time moves – and how lucky I am to help freeze just a little piece of that for them. Because I know this family, there was an ease to this session. Everyone knew the flow, and the trust is already there, which makes all the difference when working with children.

We planned this newborn session in the studio, where it’s warm, cozy, and families are able to look at props, choose colors, hats, blankets, wraps, etc. We used three different colored fur blankets from Luneberry, and the basket at the end is from Hello Little Props. Baby boy was a dream, so snuggly and sweet, and let us capture those sleepy poses that every parent treasures.

Big brother joined us for some sibling shots, and while baby brother was being fed, we did a couple of happy portraits while he ate his (bribery) lollipop. After baby was good and full, we laid down on a soft blanket for some sibling shots, and big brother did such a great job of smiling, and keeping baby safe with his arm around him.

To the Montuya family, thank you for continuing to trust me with your memories. It means the world to me to be part of your journey! Baby boy is so lucky to be born into your family.

Can’t wait to see you for his cake smash!

“M” Newborn Session