Little Picassos – Colour Splash Sessions!

Trying out a new creative twist at Ellie J Photography

Well, today was so much fun! I had the pleasure of welcoming a wonderful, art-loving family into the studio for their older baby’s portrait session—and we decided to try something a little different.

Instead of the usual toys and props, we introduced a splash of colour… quite literally! I’ve been working on a safe, baby-friendly version of paint for a while now, and today we gave it a go. I’m delighted to report it was a big hit—not just with baby, but with the parents too!

Safe and Sensory Fun

As always, safety comes first in my studio. The paint I created is completely safe to eat (because let’s face it—everything goes in the mouth at this age!). It’s made from just four simple kitchen ingredients:

• 63g of plain flour

• ½ teaspoon of salt

• 119g of water

• A few drops of food colouring

All you need to do is pop the flour, salt, and water into a saucepan and gently heat while whisking until a nice, thick paste forms. Then, I gradually

 add a little extra water to get the right paint-like consistency. Finally, I stir in a bit of food colouring to create vibrant, baby-safe paints—perfect for little hands to explore.

Even though the paint is completely edible, we still took care to avoid baby putting it in her mouth as much as possible. Mum and Dad were on standby throughout the session to gently guide her hands and distract her if she looked like she might try a taste. It’s all about balancing creative fun with sensible safety, and this little one did brilliantly!

A Joy to Photograph

Watching this little one explore the textures and colours was an absolute joy. From tiny fingers dipping into squishy blobs of colour, to full-on handprints on the paper, every moment was packed with personality (and the photos are just gorgeous!).

It’s a lovely alternative for families looking to do something different—especially those who may not be keen on a traditional cake smash. And of course, I handle all the cleanup afterwards!

 Want to Try It?

I’m thinking of offering these Paint Photo Sessions, and would love to hear from any families interested in giving it a go. These can be booked as part of your older baby session, or even in place of a cake smash for babies around their first birthday.

If you love the idea of colourful, creative fun that captures your little one’s personality, get in touch to learn more or reserve your slot!

Let’s make a masterpiece together—one tiny handprint at a time.