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I'm a family and wedding photographer based in Maidstone, Kent.
I specialise in documenting heartfelt imagery that's both fun to capture and creates memories that will last a lifetime.

I go by she/her pronouns. I'm a Hufflepuff! Spring and Autumn are my favourite seasons. Christmas is my absolute favourite holiday. I've been Vegan since May 2019. You've Got Mail is my favourite movie. I live in baggy jumpers and fluffy socks. I am obsessed with Pumpkin Spice Lattes! I have Nanny'd 6 children. Musical Theatre is my second love after photography (I'm a performer at heart). I have two Cats called Merlin & Wilbur. My Fiancé and I have been together since 2011! Aristocats, Mary Poppins and Sleeping Beauty are my all-time-favourite Disney movies. In August of 2023 I became a Mama!

Oh, hey there!
I'm Lori.

The Blog

help keep me caffinated!

Before little Emilia turned one, mum Laura booked a cake smash session to mark the special occasion!

Cake Smash sessions have long been a popular way of documenting a child’s first birthday and whilst they can be a little on the messy side, they are a LOT on the cute side!

As you may know, I do not (as yet) have a photography studio. But I wasn’t going to let that stop me! So after a little back and forth with Laura, I set to making myself a ‘pop-up’ home studio using a large roll of white paper (to protect the floors) and a large white bed sheet to act as my backdrop and before you know it, I was ready for all the cake this little one could throw at me!

✴︎ ✴︎ ✴︎

For at-home sessions, I always follow the rule; less = more! So if you’re trying this at home, don’t sweat the small stuff and keep it minimal!
For starters, you’ll want to consider the light. So pick a room that has the most natural light available. That could be by a large bay window or a back door for example.
Next, you’ll want to set your scene; remembering less = more!

I chose to create a backdrop using a white sheet, simply because I was working in a relatively small room and didn’t have the ability to move furniture out of view. So by clipping up this sheet, I was able to create a clean space for my subject, little Emilia, to sit in front of.

The make-shift flooring is also not essential but it did make clean-up extremely quick and easy!
Once we were finished, I simply pulled up the paper, threw away the sections that were covered in cake and saved the rest for my Nieces and Nephews to use as drawing paper!

Thinking of giving it a go yourself? Click here for the link to my DIY Cake Smash Amazon shopping ideas list!

And as a final tip; “embrace the mess!”


Supplier Links:

– Photography: Lori Young Photography
– Cake Stand: Party Pieces Co
– Cake Topper: Birch and Tides
– Cake: Baked by Nicky
– Outfit 1 & 3 (Blue & White Romper): A Material Girl
– Outfit 2 (Pink Bloomers): Evie et al

October 13, 2020

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get in touch

I don't believe photography is just about taking pretty pictures. Photography should tell a story, your story, in turn creating lifelong memories that you can hold in your hands and hang on your wall.

Hi, I'm Lori.
honorary Gilmore Girl & your new photography BFF!

KENT WEDDING & FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER