Did you know many dog breeds have a national holiday? February 3rd is National Golden Retriever Day. Makes sense, Golden retrievers are one of the most popular dog breed; they should be celebrated! 

This year, I photographed a few golden retrievers. One in particular stands out because it was my first cake smash/birthday dog photography session. 

A cake smash session typically involves creating a special cake made out of dog-friendly ingredients, such as peanut butter, yogurt, or carrots. You can make one yourself or pick one up at your local pet bakery. The dog is then placed in front of the cake with balloons and a fun hat and we encourage them to dig in, creating a playful and messy scene that makes for some truly adorable photos. 

I was approached early in the year by the mom of Maple Sweet Golden who was looking to celebrate her dog's 1st birthday. We decided to do a combination outdoor/studio session to celebrate. 

We started the session at Benson's animal park, followed by some photos at my studio. Mom wanted a cake, balloons and party hats. I was all in! Let's do it.