A Sixth Birthday Celebration in September 2011

Looking back at these photos from a birthday in September 2011. It was a classic family celebration, centered around the dining table and a very colorful cake. The tablecloth had this bold floral pattern, which set the scene perfectly.

The main event was a white frosted cake, absolutely covered in rainbow sprinkles. My photos from that day seem to follow the entire ritual. First, carefully placing the candles on top – a whole set of 'Happy Birthday' letters plus the big green number six. The girls were watching intently as we got it all set up.

Then came the moment everyone waits for. A hand reaches in to light the candles one by one. The room gets a little darker, and their faces are just illuminated by that warm candlelight. Everyone is smiling, posing behind the cake, ready for the song. Then, the big puff of air to blow them all out, with smoke trailing up afterwards. It’s these small, simple celebrations that stick with you.