Love, Me Blog

I loved this session from before we headed to Colorado!  Harper was BRAND new, at only 6 days old I believe when these were taken.  She slept and curled like a little champ.

*As a side note, if you are wanting to book a newborn session, please call me while you are pregnant to book! We’ll pencil in your due date work around your new little ones arrival. The sooner you get in to see me the better because they grow so fast and stay awake much longer as each day goes by …

OK, anyway, I really loved this family!  Such great people who are so in love with their first child.  Isn’t she just gorgeous?!  I loved the few things mom brought along for her first session … isn’t that headband and tiny bracelet so cute?!

the first family photo! some parents opt to be in the newborn shoot, others dont … its really totally up to you! I love both!!

There is nothing quite like the feeling of being a new mom!

If you’ve followed my blog for any amount of time, you’re aware of my loooove for baby yawns. Seriously, is there anything cuter?

Well, maybe baby smiles …

One of favorite newborn shots of all time.  Love this.

Jill and Shaun, thank you SO much for choosing me to photograph such a special time in your lives! You were both a complete joy to work with and I am eager to watch little Harper grow into the amazing little girl I know she will be.

And, to share what mom and dad chose for their art piece from the session.  A 30×30 Gallery Wrapped Canvas Collage.  These are completely custom designed to match your images!  Here were the final two. Mom chose the last one and these mock ups do the final product NO justice!!!  I cannot decide which to print for the studio!! That’s how in love with these I am!!  What do you think?

And, as a little sells pitch to prospective clients   This is just a taste of what separates a custom portrait studio from all the choices out there!  We realize what an investment custom photography is and that is why we take the ordering process seriously!  We want to love what you go home with more than you do   My philosophy is to spend your budget on something unique and invest in artwork of your family to decorate your home!  Of all the money I have personally spent over the years, the images of my family and especially my little girl (yes, I have HIRED and PAID a professional!) that are hanging on my wall have grown in value over time for me! All the 5x7s and 8x10s I’ve printed and spent money on are sadly stuffed away in drawers, etc.

Plus, seriously … what would be cuter in your newborns nursery than a huge canvas like this one on their wall??

While I always am 100% involved with the final outcome of what clients take home, I often don’t get to see the final product on the wall (and it KILLS me)!  For a limited time, I will be offering a $75 portrait credit to any past client who can send me some images of my work on their walls!  I want to see YOUR life as Art on YOUR wall … and of course, I want to share a few!

I was loading images from this mornings session and just fell in love with this one. Can you see why?  Is he not the most precious thing you’ve ever seen!  Let’s just say I have a serious case of Baby BOY fever! I almost wouldn’t let his parents take him home …

Miracle is one of those words, like awesome and amazing, that is used so often that its meaning gets diluted over time. So, just to refresh your memory here is the definition of the word “miracle”.

- An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.

- Such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.

Every birth is a miracle. Each one so unique in the process, yet the outcome is mostly the same.  This time for me, documenting the amazing birth of Logan, I was struck with the realization that not all births end the same, and the word and meaning of miracle kept coming to mind.  Life was quickly put into perspective for me as I watched the miracle that took place on March 3rd.

Kalie labored all day and into the night until Logan made his grand entrance. She pushed for hours as her epidural wore off and fought, with the intense support and compassion of Matthew,  to push Logan out naturally.  I’ve witnessed several births now, and I must say that under any other circumstance, Logan’s delivery would have been very different. The combination of a super supportive husband, a rock star nurse with 40 years experience, and sheer will power created a moment I will never forget. And I truly believe it was that energy that gave little Logan the power he needed to fight for his first breath.

You will see in the video what seems to be a hole in the story.  It’s against hospital policy for me to document what takes place when things don’t go according to plan.  I guess its for liability purposes and to protect the doctor and staff.  I truly wish I could have documented those few minutes, which felt like a lifetime, because they truly are a testament to people working together, under extreme pressure, to give a family the miracle they had hoped for.  Logan’s arrival was very different than every other birth I’ve documented.  After hours of pushing, he came out limp and blue and not breathing.  This left me completely terrified. I had hoped that Kalie and Matthew were unaware that there was a problem because it was their first child, but as any parent can attest, you just know when something isn’t right.  Matthew was the first to say “Why isn’t he crying?”, which was quickly answered by “Don’t worry, he will”. As I stood in the corner, fervently praying for a miracle, I witnessed what appeared to be a lifeless blue baby laying limp, while focused nurses and doctors jostled him back and forth, pounding on his back, with the background echo of a young new father coaching his baby boy to “Come on”.

“Come on Logan, Come on”, “Come on Logan”, “Come on Buddy, you can do it”  ” Come on Logan”. Over and over he yelled, crouched down on Logan’s level, with a voice filled with  intense hope that all would be okay.

Then, suddenly, a half cry, a breathe.  Then a full cry.  Then screams.  The sound of a baby screaming will forever have new meaning for me. It will forever remind me of the miracle I witnessed on March 3rd, 2010. The awesome and amazing birth of Logan Bean.  I’m honored to share it with you.

Thank you Kalie and Matthew for allowing me to be a part of your miracle! It was such a pleasure meeting your family and witnessing little Logan’s grand entrance. I see big big plans in his future. You can’t enter the world that way and not have incredible purpose.

Ever since I shot this session I’ve been losing sleep over whether or not this baby is loved at all by her parents, especially her daddy …

haha.  I don’t usually like sarcasm too much, but seriously, is there anything cuter than a little girl with her daddy??  I think not!

You may remember Miss CJ “Campbell Jane” from a while back when it was her and her mommy’s turn in front of the camera.  I know you remember … everybody always brings up the baby in “yellow”!

I couldn’t resist just shooting CJ with her daddy with her beautiful Momma right there (in town from the great state of Colorado no less) so we grabbed a few family pics as well.

This next one made momma cry … and me too So much meaning to this next one for this special little girl.  What a blessing to grow up in a home with two parents who prayed and prayed and prayed for you, who love you more than anything, AND love each other.

Love you guys!

Oh, and some of you may notice that blue … well, this was my first shoot AT the studio.  Fun, huh?  I love having a great little spot right out the door!

You also might recognize that cute cute dress Miss CJ is wearing, and the answer is YES, it too is a COURTNEYCOURTNEY original. Her momma has lots of style and is a HUGE CC fan!  IF you are too and have been having trouble getting your hands on one (they sell in less than 60 seconds these days) stay tuned for a super fun little surprise I’m going to unveil in the next few days.  It involves lots of CC originals AND money for some pretty specials orphans I know over in Africa!  I can’t think of a better win win!

If you didn’t already see Miss Aurora Grace enter this world, you should definitely take a minute to witness the miracle of her birth HERE.

I was so excited to get to see this little cutie again.  She did NOT want to sleep. I promise, we tried EVERYTHING … but hey, what’s wrong with an adorable wide awake newborn anyway   She’s wearing her great-grandmother’s pearls and laying on her fur coat! How wonderfully nostalgic and cute all at the same time … She will cherish these forever I am sure. Isn’t she beautiful?

than a naked baby hiney???

…. oh wait, there is! TWO naked baby hineys

am I lucky or what?