Connor is o-FISH-ally One!


Sweet Connor came to visit me last weekend to celebrate his first birthday. He is o-FISH-ally a complete cutie pie!!!


He was such a snuggle bug and so easy-going about having his outfit changed, so we got to get a few different looks.


Y'all keep bringing me these doll babies, please!

red head baby on white bed chattanooga baby photographer cake smash session teal jumper boy portrait

We started out with some photos on the bed. Mom chose this little teal romper from the client closet. He crawled around and had a grand old time. Please not the inner thigh roll- Mom mentioned how much she loved that little roll, so I made sure to capture it for her to keep forever. All these photos where he's smiling but not looking at the camera? That's him, with alllll the heart-eyes for his Mama!

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Oh gosh, that cute little "excited" face when mom first handed him Elmo! Bring those lovies along and we will get some photos of them!

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Next, we put Connor in this little peter-pan collared Jon Jon and sang him Happy Birthday with his wooden cake. I love the close up shot of his sweet little dimply hands in the bottom left.

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C is for Connor! We changed him into a little knit romper (client closet staple!) . As a fellow blue-eyed redhead, I love the way he pops on the green blanket. Blue and green are our colors!

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My obsession with details is well documented. Look at those soft little soles of his feet. Someday they'll grow rough from playing barefoot outside, but for now, they are sweet, squishy little piggie toes!


Connor seems like such a thoughtful little person. I always think it's so interesting how different our personalities can be, even at the age of one. He seemed so calm and observant. He was a bit wary at the beginning of his session, but by the end was trying to "blub blub" my lips-- you know where you make the fishy face and then take your index finger horitzontal and waggle it up and down? That. TOO FUNNY!

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Here is his "o-FISH-ally One" set up. I looked at a lot of inspiration online for fishy-theme cake smashes, and it seemed like a lot of dark wood tones and primary color rainbows. Those things are *NOT* East Ivy style! I like things to be light and usually soft neutrals and pastels. So this is my spin on fish-theme, and I LOVE that it's a little bit bougie and neutral. The orbs are actual vintage fishing bobbers that I sourced last summer, and have just been waiting for the perfect set to use them. I love how they reflect the light and create that little sparkly look!

baby boy blue overalls cake smash portraits chattanooga photo studio fish banner bunting nautical theme apison ooltewah

Can you even STAND those big blue eyes? They are HUGE! His hair, skin, and eyes play *so well* with the neutrals and blues in the background. So, so handsome.

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Here is his little cake. I wanted a topper that stayed with our theme colors, and couldn't find ANYTHING online that worked, so I used some inspiration photos (toppers were primary color rainbow-- nope!) and made this one myself from heavy cardstock. I love themes, costumes, dress up... and these cake smashes give me such wonderful opportunities to flex those creative muscles to come up with custom decor for each baby. IT'S SO MUCH FUN!!!!

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He's like, "All this? For me? Thanks Mom!!!"

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He got pretty into it. The foot!

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Just chilling out, eating frosting!

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We could hardly see his little fingers, they were so covered in cake!

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That feeling when you get buttercream up your nose. :)

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Time for a tubby!

smiling baby boy in white clawfoot bathtub East Ivy Photography Liza Reifsnyder nautical cake smash fish chattanooga

I'M DEAD. I HAVE DIED. HE IS SO CUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!!!!!!! I JUST WANT TO SQUEEEEEEZE HIM!!!!!

baby boy in clawfoot bathtub chattanooga cake smash photographer liza reifsnyder east ivy photography nautical blue fish

Connor chilled out in the tub for a loooong time, then decided to go snorkling. Bubble face!

baby boy redhead portrait wooden chair barefoot jeans cake smash photographer chattanooga East Ivy Liza Reifsnyder

I told him he was done after the tub, and then in classic "Liza" fashion, was like, "you're not crying. How about one more outfit?"


I reeealllly wanted to get him in this little cable knit fisherman's sweater. When your theme is FISH, it's just gotta happen. Connor was tired, but he was an absolute champ and we got this sweet, classic portrait of him. Gosh I love my job!


Thank you for coming to visit me, Connor! I had so much fun celebrating you!


xoxo,

Liza