It is the best feeling when your friends trust you to capture all the milestones for their babies. They are practically family and I love these guys and appreciate that they come from Chicago for their sessions. For Elaina's 1 year cake smash session, it was a family reunion with the whole Cunningham clan in tow.  She did amazing for her photos, maybe because she had everyone she loves there, cheering her on. All the girls in the family (and all cousins are girls) are so much fun and such cuties.  Courtney's favorite color is purple and each girl has a special animal that they get when they are born and Elaina's is monkey so we incorporated both of those in the cake smash and it turned out amazing.  One of my favorite set ups for sure. 

The other girls were not big fans of the cake smash part but Elaina wanted to outdo her sisters and had so much fun with it. I wish she dug in there a bit more, she was very gentle but it was a success. After the session and cake we finished the festivities with lunch at a favorite mexican restaurant, El Molcajete across the street from the studio.  I just love my job. 

Isn't this family gorgeous. I had a hard time narrowing down the pics so I am sharing almost all. 

Elaina 1 year sessionChicago family session downtown Belvidere with a monkey cake smash Elaina 1 year sessionChicago family session downtown Belvidere with a monkey cake smash Elaina 1 year sessionChicago family session downtown Belvidere with a monkey cake smash Elaina 1 year sessionChicago family session downtown Belvidere with a monkey cake smash