11 Best Cake Smash Backdrops for Your Baby's First Birthday

Photographing a first birthday? It might just be one of the most joyful gigs out there. Sure, it’s fun, but it also carries big emotional significance for the parents. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of event, and capturing it beautifully? It’s definitely a non-negotiable.

So, thinking of saying yes to that first birthday photoshoot? You’re in the right place because we’ve got just what you need: cake smash backdrops!

Oh yes, you read that right. Birthday Backdrop brings the party to life, perfectly frame the moment and make your little model look like the star they are. Without bringing up the instant highlight of personality, professionalism and a whole lot of charm. 

Oh, and did we mention how much more fun it makes the session?

Curious to check out more?

Let’s dive into some first birthday cake smash backdrops that will surely level up your shootings!

Cake Smash Backdrops for Your Baby Girl's First Birthday

Girls first of course! Let’s kick things off with a curated lineup of cake smash backdrops made just for the little queens who are turning one. Think soft palettes, pink and purples, rainbow themes, and sweet teddies.

Can you imagine the cuteness already? Feel the sugar rush? And we haven’t gotten to the cake… just yet.

1. Donut Balloon Backdrop

It’s cute. It’s girly. It’s sweet (quite literally). This donut balloon backdrop features a pink background, a balloon arch, and inflatable donuts that highlight the festive vibe. Filled with soft pinks, creamy whites, and vibrant props, this backdrop brings just the right balance of sweetness and realism, making it the perfect stage for a 1 year old to smash her first cake.

🍩 Add a pop of fun to her first birthday with Donut Balloon Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Props are essential when photographing a one-year-old. You’re not just taking pictures, you are throwing a tiny, oh so adorable, party! To make it as fun as possible, match your cake smash backdrop with extra balloon donuts, sprinkle cupcakes, pastel party hats, and all things pink and playful. When it comes to first birthday,s there is no such thing as too cute, so go for it!

2. Rainbow Balloon Garland Backdrop

Loved the donut balloon backdrop, but want something a bit more classic? The rainbow balloon arch might be just the right fit. It shouts festive and joyful, yet still keeps it timeless in its style. With its arch of colorful balloons, this backdrop adds beautiful depth and movement to your overall composition. It strikes that perfect balance between softness, brightness and celebration.

Ideal for a cute and classy, but still celebrative, kinda look.

🌈 Celebrate in color with Rainbow Balloon Garland Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Want to take this festive backdrop to the next level? Start with the ultimate party essential: rainbow balloons. They're a non-negotiable for this scene. Then add up to the fun with rainbow party hats, colorful wooden toys, and, of course, a cake made in full rainbow glory.

The goal? Pure, playful joy. Make it bright, make it bold, make it burst with color. Let the backdrop shine, but let the colors do the celebrating!

3. Purple Boho Balloon Backdrop

Not into the classics? Craving something a little more boho? If your style leans towards earthy, cozy and chic the purple balloon backdrop is for you. It blends soft purples with neutral tones and features organic balloon shapes that add a natural charm. The perfect background for a stylish and heartwarming celebration.

💜 Create a cozy, boho vibe with Purple Boho Balloon Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

The addition of carefully selected props here can truly change and increase the photo’s personality and overall beauty. Here are our suggestions: dried floral arrangement will enhance the overall charm, while wooden rattles or toys beautifully add up to that boho vibe. Of  course balloons are always a good idea - but try to choose some natural tones to match the palette.

4. Dreamy Pastel Balloon Party Backdrop

If you’re the kind of photographer who imagines a soft pastel palette as a background for a cake smash, we’ve got you! The pastel balloon backdrop delivers just that, combining gentle pinks, blues and creams to create a sweet and inviting mood. Featuring decorations with sprinkles, balloons and flowers, it is designed to evoke a whimsical and celebratory mood.

🎈Set the sweetest scene with Dreamy Pastel Balloon Party Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Main tip: stick with the pastel palette. So make sure to include pastel balloons and a cake decorated accordingly too. Adding soft stuffed animals and cozy blankets are a sweet way to add up to the overall soft vibe.

Cake Smash Backdrops for Your Baby Boy's First Birthday

Curious to dive into cake smash backdrops for baby boys?

If what you’re looking for is a curated selection of backdrops that feature shaded blues, sporty themes and cute lil men vibes… this section is for you.

Let’s get into it.

5. Top ONE Plane Backdrop

Let’s start with one for the little dreamers and future explorers. The plane backdrop doesn’t only bring vibrant blues and whites. It sets the stage for big adventures. With its clean design, bold “Top ONE” lettering and playful plane graphics, it’s perfect for a first birthday that’s ready to soar. Ideal for tiny pilots who are meant to fly high and got dreams as limited as the sky.

✈️ Let your little pilot soar with the Top ONE Plane Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

This first birthday backdrop already speaks for itself, but the right props will take this backdrop from adorable to absolutely unforgettable. Think toy airplanes, fluffy cloud props, pilot hats or goggles, to give the setup that extra lift. Want to go all in? You can always add a birthday cake decorated with sky blue frosting and airplane details. Suddenly, your 1st birthday shoot feels like a mini aviation adventure and your tiny pilot is ready for takeoff

6. Blue Balloon White Striped Backdrop

Think of this backdrop as the cool kid at the party. It’s clean, elegant, but still knows how to have fun. The white striped backdrop features crisp lines and a pop of vibrant balloons. It brings just the right mix of “polished” and “let’s eat cake with our hands.” Ideal for photographers who want to play it safe… but not too safe!

🎈Make playful memories with Blue Balloon White Striped Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Here’s how to enhance your themed cake smash setups. First things first: blue and white balloons. Yes, they’re always a classy and always a win. Then throw in some cute party hats, and a few toy trucks or cars for that playful touch. Hey, of course…. the birthday cake! Seriously though: no cake, no smash!

7. Jungle Animals Backdrop

If you had enough of balloons, don’t leave us just yet! The jungle backdrop is the absolute perfect cake smashup setting for boys who are wild! A playful jungle theme filled with cute lions, elephants and monkeys surrounded by lush green foliage. The ideal background for little adventures and big birthday energy, setting the scene for a celebration that is all things joyful, creative and a little chaotic till the good point.

🦁 Bring the wild fun to life with this Jungle Animals Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Ready to go wild? This backdrop’s got the big jungle energy, but now it’s your turn to bring the extra fun. Think tiny binoculars, jungle animal toys, safari hats and maybe a roar or two why not. Add some bold animal prints and you’ve got a real adventure in the making! And let’s not forget (never!!) the cake, make it wild, themed and make sure it’s worthy of your little wild explorer’s first messy mission.

8. Hot Air Balloon Backdrop

If you’re here for the classics, we haven’t forgotten about you. This hot air balloon backdrop is filled with soft pastel blues, creams and gentle clouds that make it nothing less than dreamy. It features hot air balloon elements that naturally evoke a sense of wonder and adventure. Perfect for a sweet, and classic setting.

🎈Lift your session with the dreamy charm of Hot Air Balloon Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Cake smash photo props can make such a dreamy backdrop even dreamier… How? Add soft cloud cushions, pastel balloons, sky themes, and why not, some lit candles too.

Gender-Neutral Cake Smash Backdrops for First Birthday Photoshoot

Perhaps you’re the kind of photographer who wants to play safe, and choose a backdrop that is not too specific.

If that’s the case, read on! Below you’ll find a curated selection of gender neutral cake smash backdrops. They are the perfect choice if you aim to create timeless, pleasing and unique setups with ease.

9. Colorful Bunting Balloons Backdrop

Now think Mikey Mouse vibes, but backdrop style. The colorful balloons backdrop is the perfect choice if you aim for a setting filled with vibrant colors and festive energies. It features a cheerful combination of playful flags and yellow, red, black balloons (Mikey Mouse palette). Perfect for themed cake smash photoshoots.

🎉 Turn up the fun with Colorful Bunting Balloons Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

For this colorful backdrop consider dressing your little model in a Mickey or Minny Mouse costume, to make it even cuter and more personalized. Adding matching colorful balloons, bunting flags and playful wooden toys will beautifully enhance the setting too.

10. Circus Tent Backdrop

Are you the kind of photographer that truly wants to stand out? Then, roll up roll up… the circus backdrop is the ticket to turning your cake smash photos into an absolute carnival of cuteness. With bold reds, blues, and yellows and that iconic tent design, it brings all the fun with a side of pure excitement. Perfect for spotlighting your little star in a scene that’s bursting with energy, joy and just the right amount of circus chaos.

🎪 Bring the birthday magic center stage with Circus Tent Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Here comes the even more fun! Make this backdrop come to life by using some cute circus animals, hats and striped balloons. Of course, don’t forget to decorate your cake with the cutest circus themed art.

11. Little Duck Bath Tub Backdrop

And last, but definitely not least, this one’s for the extra creative photographers out there. The bathtub backdrop adds a splash of surprise, yeah quite literally, to your cake smash photography. Quirky, playful and adorable it’s the perfect way to end with bubbles and giggles. Featuring a charming bathtime theme complete with adorable duck illustrations, it’s a sweet mix of soft yellows and blues that brings a sense of comfort, relax and fun to your birthday photoshoot.

🛁 Add a playful splash to your shoot with Little Duck Bathtub Backdrop ➜

Create a Cohesive Look: Prop Suggestions for This Backdrop

Don’t be afraid to exaggerate by adding as many rubber duck toys as you feel like, they’ll make the scene so much more fun! Consider including soft mini towels, bubble props and any other bath decoration that could enhance this playful bath time scene.

FAQ

Okay, you probably figured out what is your backdrop selection for your cake smash photoshoot.

You may have questions? Don’t worry, we have answers!

1. What size backdrop should I use for cake smash photography?

For most cake smash photos a 5x7 ft or 6.5x10 ft backdrop works beautifully. This choice depends on the space you have and how much of the scene you’d like to capture. 

Want more detailed advice? Check out our full blog post on choosing the right backdrop size!

2. How to deal with the mess from a cake smash photoshoot?

We get it… Cake smash sessions can get messy! But isn’t that also half the fun?

Still, a little prep goes a long way. Keep wipes and towels nearby for quick cleanups and frosting-covered fingers.

Great tip: Use a transparent PVC reflection floor mat. It protects your backdrop and floor and it’s super easy to clean and reuse.

3. Are there any all-in-one cake smash kits including backdrops and matching props?

Of course! You can save time and get everything you need in one go with our Kate Photo Kit collection. Each kit includes a coordinated backdrop and props for an absolutely perfect cake smash photography.

The Backdrop Sets the Entire Tone of Your Cake Smash Photography

Well, by now, you’ve seen how backdrops drastically transform a simple 1st year cake smash session into something unique, full of personality and incredibly professional.

Choose one that fits the theme or reflects the baby’s personality (or even their gender, if that’s part of your concept), and don’t be afraid to get creative with the styling ideas we shared.

The perfect backdrop (and prop) choice can make your cake smash pictures truly unforgettable.