JACKSON // BIRTH STORY
HARPER // NEWBORNS
this is one of those sessions that i get teary looking at. this mama had two baby boys within 2 years of each other, and then couldn't get pregnant for another 7 years. her second son will turn 8 this april. she and her husband went through numerous tests and doctors couldn't figure out why they suddenly couldn't get pregnant. they felt strongly that they would have another baby, a daughter, but she wasn't coming. they considered IVF but it never felt right. they were beginning to accept the fact that their family may just be complete. and then, out of the blue, a miracle happened. they found out they were expecting. their daughter was born and their family is now complete. i cry just thinking about it. i cry seeing the way they look at the newest member of their family. i just couldn't be happier for them and am so glad i could document some of these precious moments for them.
the birth of a baby is always a hectic time. the days fly by, the babies grow up way too fast. i wanted to document for them a little slice of what life was like that first week of their baby's life. the way the leaves were just beginning to fall outside, the decidedly "boy" shoes blocking the front door, the older two passing the time by climbing on (and jumping off) everything, and all the sweet characteristics that make newborns so incredibly delicious.
TREY // FRESH 48
fresh 48's are sessions done (usually at the hospital) within the first 48 hours after a baby's birth. sometimes i do these along with the birth story- though they're a great option for those wanting photos at the hospital but not a full birth story. this mama had her birth story done by whitney of grey giraffe photography (highly recommend, btw). i couldn't do the birth story because, well, i was a little preoccupied... giving birth.
YES this is the fresh 48 session for my own (third) son. so i am in these photos. my husband and sons are in these photos. my nieces and nephews and assorted family members are in these photos. most of the ones i am in i either set up a timer or handed the camera to someone and gave instructions. the rest i took. and then edited and curated (obvs). but who am i kidding, no one is still reading this! you have all scrolled past my blabbing to see the PICS. i get it. don't blame ya. isn't he the sweetest?
CLEGGS // AT HOME
i took spanish immersion for 5 years in elementary school, so no, my spanish is not perfecto. but i do enjoy speaking spanglish, much to the amusement of this spanish-speaking familia. they wanted an at-home newborn/family session to document the newest addition to their family. we got a variety of candid, documentary shots as well as a few more formal portraits. i love how they turned out.
THEO // BIRTH STORY
I get so excited for every birth story I cover. The birth of little baby Theo was no exception! It has taken me MONTHS to get around to finally blogging some images from it, but here they are! These were taken just days before Christmas and it was a crazy, snowy day. This was also the first birth I have covered that the mother was unmedicated, and it was a really cool experience. So blessed I got to be there! And I'm not one to throw around exclamation points, but my obsession with birth stories warrants their use. Births are the best.
TAELYN // BIRTH STORY
this story is the essence of a "mini birth story" (is that even a thing?). my sweet sister chelsey was induced on the morning of december 26th, 2015. she wanted me there (with my camera, of course) as well as our older sister and our mom. she had been waiting around at the hospital for baby to come, and she was coming slowly. the last update i got was that she was dilated to a 2. apparently her nurses waited a long time to check her again (or weren't really paying attention, i'm not sure which) but out of the blue i get a call from her husband that she was at a NINE. mind you, i usually head to the hospital at the 5-6cm mark. so of course i grabbed my stuff and ran out the door. unfortunately i am about 25 minutes from her hospital and baby was born about 15-20 minutes after i got the call. my mom and sister missed it, too. emotions were HIGH given the circumstances, and i felt so bad that we weren't there for her. so, my documentation started a few minutes after baby was born, right as she was being handed to her momma for the first time.
