One Year Old Chicago Birthday Smash Cake

This sweet girl was born just before Covid-19 was declared a pandemic last year, and she was the last newborn I photographed prior to Chicago going into lockdown. I had a surge of newborn sessions in early 2020, and I’ll be forever grateful that I was able to get the majority of them photographed before the world shut down. Those babes are all turning one now, after living their entire first year under the weight of a global pandemic. I know they have no idea the magnitude of this burden, but I assure you their parents do. Phew, what a year!

Nonetheless, this little lady LOVES Elmo and was able to have some photos taken for her first birthday to celebrate her big milestone. I love her so, and I love how full of joy she is. Her smile makes my day every time I see her and it has helped me get through this year many times. I adore you, little A, and I love watching you grow!

Chicago Smash Cake Session - One Year Old Lumberjack!

The pandemic isn’t stopping Mr. Jack from turning one and he is here for his smash cake! I had so much fun with Jack while he smashed, played with, and gobbled his cake. We took a few photos of just him in his little lumberjack shirt before he switched to the lumberjack diaper cover overalls & bowtie. Have you seen anything cuter?!? He took this cake-eating business extremely serious, using all appendages to grab cake when his hands were already full and putting his face right in his cake!

And can we talk about that cake! SO beautiful. It’s from Toni’s Patisserie in Hinsdale and it was so pretty. It looked just like a birch tree for this perfect little lumberjack and the way he devoured it, I’d say it tasted amazing as well! The very last photo here shows him trying to share with me - I politely declined, obviously! But he sure is sweet!

Pro tip: Chocolate Cake Is Great For Smash Cakes!

Chocolate cake, or darker cakes or even dark frosting, tend to show up well in photos if you’re really looking for that “messy” smash cake look.

I photographed Jack’s Fresh 48 session last year and he was not happy I was there! His in-home newborn photos were a breeze and I’ve photographed him & his sister a few times this year for their family’s milestones. This smash cake birthday session was full of smiles and curiosity! I so enjoy this guy, and his whole family and am so so grateful.

Get a Baby to Smile in Pandemic Photos While Wearing a Mask?! {Logan Square/Avondale Chicago Family Photo Session}

My usual tricks don’t work in a pandemic for getting littles to smile or laugh! I rely so much on facial expressions, games and tickling while photographing kids but that doesn’t work when my face is covered and I can’t get close enough to play. It’s been a challenging year in every aspect for all of us, so this seems trivial in the grand scheme of things. And I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I do still appreciate a child’s natural expression over a forced smile anyway.

Miss O was not impressed with any of my antics! Peek-a-boo and her favorite songs weren’t working. Then again, she wasn’t falling for any of it from her parents or grandma either! I got lucky for a few photos with their help but most of the time, she really showed her disdain for having to perform in front of a camera! And we all laughed a lot! Her dad said he was so proud of her for not giving in ;P We think she may have started teething that day and just wasn’t feeling the smiles. Of course, Murphy’s Law. And it’s 2020. What can go wrong, will go wrong. Still, a lot of the mean-mugs and so-over-it photos were priceless gems for her family and they really make me smile!

We took some photos on their porch and then took a stroll through their neighborhood during the peak fall colors on a gorgeous afternoon here in Chicago. I had so much fun trying to get this girl to giggle, even though I worked up a sweat like it was a hot summer day!

Much love, friends!