A heartwarming family portrait of mum, dad and their seven month old, capturing love and togetherness.
Auckland's premium Family & Cake smash photographer

preserving your future legacy

how a  family or Cake Smash session works with MANAWA

How do I prepare my family for a studio session?

Preparation really is the key to a relaxed and enjoyable session! We recommend getting a good night's sleep the night before, making sure little ones are fed and well rested before you arrive, and keeping the morning of your session as calm and stress free as possible. Talk to your children beforehand and let them know it is going to be a fun day — excitement is always better than surprises!

What exactly is a cake smash session?

A cake smash session is a wonderfully fun and colourful celebration of your baby's very first birthday! Your little one is placed in front of a beautifully decorated setup and given their very own cake to explore, touch, squish, and of course eat! The results are pure joy — full of personality, laughter, and the most wonderfully messy and magical images you will ever see. It is truly one of the most fun sessions we offer!

We also provide family images and images of little before we proceed to cake.

What if my child is shy or having a bad day?

This is one of the most common concerns we hear and honestly one of the most natural things in the world! Children are completely unpredictable and that is part of what makes them so wonderful. We are incredibly experienced at working with children of all ages and temperaments. We go at their pace entirely, use gentle encouragement, and always make the session feel like play rather than work. Some of the most magical images come from the most unexpected moments.

How long does a family or Birthday session take?

A typical family studio session lasts around 1 to 2 hours. This gives us plenty of time to capture a variety of groupings, individual portraits of the children, couple shots, and full family images without anyone feeling tired or rushed. We always work at a relaxed pace so that everyone, especially the little ones, stays happy and engaged throughout.

Arriving at the studio

When you arrive at the property their are clear sign posts for parking and the studio entrance. You will hear frogs, don't worry thats my sign that you have arrived! just relax and start taking in the experience your about to embark on.

How to book

Simply scroll down to view your options. Wether you want to book everything now or simply reserve your session with a viewing appointment. the choice is yours.

products - digital, wall art and albums

All of our wall art and albums are 100% pure New Zealand made, crafted to the highest quality and built to last a lifetime.

When your images are ready to view or download, this is the perfect time to place your order for any physical products you would love to have. You won't need to make any decisions on the day — simply enjoy your session and choose afterwards when you can see your beautiful images in full.

Throughout your session, samples of our wall art and albums will be available for you to view and touch, so you can get a real feel for the exceptional quality before you order.

When will our images be ready and how do we receive them?

Your images will be ready for your personal viewing appointment at the studio within 7 - 14 days. We arrange this appointment together at the end of your session so you have something wonderful to look forward to. If you have purchased the all inclusive package your images will be available for digital download from your personal profile within 7-14 days. This is also the perfect time to order your wall art and albums, all of which are 100% pure New Zealand made.

learn

want to know more?
scroll down↓to find more of your questions answered

ready to book

Scroll down for individual maternity sessions. for multi sessions head over to our services page
Proudly rated 5 stars on Google — trusted by families across Auckland for stunning, professional photography.

" We met Emma for our little girls 1st birthday, she was so kind and patient. My baby girl was very shy as she was born in covid and not met many people, Emma was fantastic and before long they were both laughing and playing with cake. We came back for her birthday every year afterwards and have amazing pictures all over my home. I couldn't recommend Emma enough she is a true artist!

A gorgeous cake smash album capturing every messy, joyful moment of baby girl's first birthday celebration beautifully.

LEARN

Questions you may have about your Family or Cake Smash Birthday session at MANAWA

What should we all wear?

Coordinating your outfits without being too matchy matchy always works beautifully in family portraits. We recommend choosing a colour palette of two or three complementary tones and building everyone's outfits around that. Soft neutrals, warm creams, dusty blues, and earthy tones all photograph beautifully. Avoid large logos, busy patterns, or very bright colours as these can draw the eye away from what matters most — your beautiful family.

Do I need to provide the cake?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions! Please check with us at the time of booking as we can discuss the best option for you. Whether you choose to bring your own cake or we arrange one for you, we make sure it is perfectly sized, beautifully presented, and completely baby friendly for your little one to dive straight into.

What should my baby wear for a cake smash?

This is completely your choice and part of the fun! Many parents love dressing their baby in a cute birthday outfit, a tutu, or a little romper that fits the theme and colour palette of the session. We recommend bringing a complete change of clothes for after the smash — things can get wonderfully messy! A nappy and bare skin also works absolutely beautifully if you prefer a simpler natural look.


What if my baby doesn't touch or engage with the cake?

Every baby reacts completely differently and that is what makes each session so unique and special! Some babies dive straight in with both hands while others are a little more cautious and curious. We are incredibly patient and experienced at gently encouraging little ones in the most natural and playful way. We never rush or force anything — the most authentic and beautiful images always come from letting your baby lead the way entirely. If baby loves fruit, I always suggest topping the cake with whipped cream and cut up slices of fruit.

Is there a bath or cleanup provided after the session?

Absolutely — we have you completely covered! After all the wonderful mess and mayhem we provide full cleanup facilities so your baby is fresh, clean, and comfortable before you leave the studio. No need to worry about driving home with a cake covered baby! We want the entire experience from start to finish to be as easy, relaxed, and enjoyable as possible for both you and your little one.

A joyful first birthday cake smash moment, capturing pure delight and personality in this milestone celebration.
An adorable first birthday portrait of baby girl with the most gorgeous squished up nose, full of personality.
A playful first birthday image of boy enjoying bath time, full of giggles, bubbles and joyful splashing.
A cosy portrait of a 7 month old posed on soft fur, creating a warm and gentle textured backdrop.
Book your Newborn session

Choose the way you want to book


Some families prefer to book their session and then choose their images whilst others prefer

to pre-book everything upfront and then spread the cost. The choice is yours.

A native New Zealand silver fern, symbolising new beginnings, growth and the beauty of home grown memories.

 

OPTION 1

 

Session & Viewing

 

  • 2 hour professional family or birthday session
  • Full use of our props
  • Relaxed, warm and completely private studio
  • Fully equipped changing station
  • Guidance and posing throughout to make you feel completely at ease.
  • Images previewed throughout your session.
  • Personal viewing appointment arranged at your session and ready within 7 - 14 days
  • Samples of wall art and albums available to view and touch on the day.
  • All wall art and albums are 100% pure New Zealand made

 

$199

 

 

OPTION 2

All

Inclusive

Everything included in the Option 1, plus:


  • All of your digital images included (20 -40)
  • $250 product credit to spend on wall art or albums
  • Digital images available for download within 14 days from your personal secure online profile
  • A complete, lasting memory of this beautiful chapter of your life
  • Available on 0% in house finance from $50/week

 

$1,500

Still Undecided?

This is what other parents had to say...

"I had a fantastic experience working with Emma ! She was professional, friendly, and made the entire shoot feel relaxed and natural. Her attention to detail really shows in the final photos—they turned out absolutely beautiful. She captured every moment perfectly and exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for high-quality photography with a personal touch!"

Halle & Baz

"Emma is a talented professional photographer, I told her “this photography job is your calling”

She’s really lovely, not bias I must say, very welcoming and joyful. With the two encounters I’ve had with Emma, to know her is to love her. I recommend Manawa with my full chest. Also, myself and my husband was wowed with the way she has redesigned the space, she is a Star!  ❤️"

Rita Omotayo

"We had our 1 year photoshoot with Emma. She was lovely, energetic and got some beautiful shots of our little ones. Would recommend!

I really appreciated that she was not pushy or pressuring at all during the ordering session, and we felt very free and relaxed throughout the whole process. '


Marina & family

Over 2000 families photographed world-wide.

 

2000+ FAMILIES

 

Family owned   since 2020 using 100% NEW ZEALAND products and local business'

New Zealand home grown newborn studio.

 

HOME

GROWN

 

 

Safely photographed

in our fully equipped studio

 

Reserve your date from as far as 6 months ahead.

 

FREE

RESCHEDULE

 

 

Reserve your session up to 1 year in advance with free rescheduling

 

Takes card payments and finance options available from 0%

 

MONTHLY PAYMENTS

 

From $50/week, interest free, in-house finance

Fully trained to handle newborn babies and children.

 

FULLY

TRAINED

 

 

Newborn safety and First Aid qualified.

Fully Insured

 

Free delivery across New Zealand

 

FREE

DELIVERY

 

 

Wall art and albums shipped throughout New Zealand