We set up a mini bakery for Riaan. Small apron, little trays, flour everywhere, dough he was absolutely not supposed to eat but absolutely tried to eat. That was the shoot.

The best cake smash sessions are the ones where you just let the kid be in the space and follow them with the camera. We gave Riaan the dough, the flour, the whole setup, and he went at it with complete commitment. By the end he had covered himself and was smiling the most natural smile you have ever seen on a face covered in white powder.

There is a specific kind of joy that only a very small child can produce, and you either catch it or you miss it. We caught it.