by Becky Vieira posted in Parenting

Let them eat cake. But if they don't want to, try a burger smash instead.
This is the theory behind my son's first-birthday In-N-Out Burger (and fries) smash photos. My grandmother, who was one of my best friends, was a big fan of the restaurant chain. She died when I was pregnant, yet we strive each day to incorporate her into our son?s life. These photos are an homage to her and her incredible spirit.

My son is proving to tastes that are similar to his great-grandmother's. When offered an option, he almost always chooses savory over sweet. With his first birthday approaching, my husband and I wanted to find a way to incorporate his tastes and personality into a photo to mark the occasion.
?Schedule a cake smash session,? said everyone, everywhere. But we wanted something different, we?ve never been especially traditional. I still haven?t opened his baby book and never took maternity or newborn photos.

Our inspiration was found in a shell, actually -- a creative Taco Bell themed birthday smash that set my mind alight with ideas. I immediately thought of my grandma and In-N-Out Burger. At 100 years old she would always request its cheeseburger and fries (animal-style). I lost count of how many times we enjoyed it together and it felt perfect.
Photographer Michelina Russell of Love My Baby Photography didn?t skip a beat when I presented her with my idea. She even took it one step further by suggesting we shoot on location inside an...