Ledge | Northshore Louisiana Newborn Photographer

“Who would have thought that when we were 8 years old going swimming, spending Halloweens together, eating snowballs, and going to yard sales with our parents that we would end up together?

I kinda did, because if you remember, I told you I was going to marry you the day I was chasing you around the tree in my mom’s backyard. I was nine years old that day. Here we are over twenty five years later driving to Florida with our baby in the backseat. “

Terry shared this post recently to Vanessa on his sentiments about life with her, and well, it’s far better than anything I could articulate about the team they are

Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, I know that his little guy here has a mama and daddy with intentions in teaching him about the world, possibility, hard work, and success. You see, Ledge’s dad Terry is quite a familiar face in the BMX world, and his dedication for his craft and family alike shine forth in his warm persona, achievements over the past two decades, and admiration from his peers.

As I photograph families, I love to observe the little nuances in personality that create their dynamic. From the first encounter I had with Vanessa and Terry and with each since, I’ve watched how seamlessly they flow as a team, and more so, the respectful admiration they share for one another.

From a warm welcome to impeccable home decor, that morning spent with Vanessa and Terry allowed me to observe and capture their biggest joys during this season of lif.

“Watching you smile everyday with him makes my life complete.

Happy anniversary. I’m so excited to have you and Ledge in my life forever. I am far from perfect, but I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to be the best person I can be fore you and our little buddy. I love you.”

(Terry in aforementioned anniversary note to Vanessa)

In addition to impeccable taste in home decor, Vanessa has an eye for creating pretty things. I couldn’t help but to appreciate the chic geo design of these coasters she’d made.

As Vanessa and Ledge took a nursing break, Terry showed me the front room of their home, which holds a giant wall mural with over a decade of Red Bull portraits done of Terry by the ever-talented Robby Klien. Terry expressed to me that he thought it’d be cool to incorporate Ledge into that somehow, so we had some fun styling him up in a little Red Bull gear alongside Robby’s artwork.

Vanessa and Terry, thank you for entrusting me with the task of capturing such a fleeting era of life for your family.

Demi | Baton Rouge Birth + Motherhood Photography

“If time has taught me anything, it’s that our differences are what makes this life unique.  None of us are exactly like the other, and that is a good thing because there’s no right way to be.  The room mom, the working mother, the woman without children, the retired grandma, the mom who co-sleeps, the mama who bottle -fed her baby, the strict mom, the hipster mom, the one who lets her kid go shoeless, or the one who enrolls her baby in music enrichment classes at birth--whoever, whatever, you are, you’re adding spice and texture and nuance into this big beautiful soup of modern-day parenting.”

Girl, Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis

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I could sit here and blab in a multitude of pieced together words about the scope of emotion I've felt over the past few months, learning so much about myself, life, love, family, and entrepreneurship, but no words could truly articulate how overwhelmingly beautiful the learning experience has been. 

Demi's birth day was full of beautiful human connection, support, and love.  As Duston held Deirdre's hand through every painful contraction and kissed her forehead every-so-often for supporting reassurance, I found myself watching from the other side of the room with the most content grin painted on my face.  There's something about the various ways that partners show support for one another during births that sends a reminder to the core of what life's about.  Similar to the ethereal feeling that comes over me when couples recite custom-written vows to one another, it's just one of those moments where I feel like I have to pinch myself and ask if it's real life that I make my living documenting moments that make people feel in such monumental ways.  I could not be happier than to be where I am right now, in this moment.

I hope you enjoy a glimpse into some of the intense, quiet, and love-filled moments captured during Demi's first few days in this world...

Welcoming Rodge | Baton Rouge Birth Photographer

“Good news!  Tomorrow is a new day.  Tomorrow you’ll count to ten before you lose your temper, and maybe they’ll eat every bite of the dinner you made and say something so hilarious you’ll think, Man people without kids are totally missing out!  You will experience every kind of day as a mama, and you will need to accept the grab bag of good, bad, ugly, awesome, magical, and miserable days as a parent. You don’t have to get it right all the time. You don’t have to do things like anybody else’s mom.

You only have to care.”

Girl, Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis

As I've taken on a new realm of photography with birth photojournalism, it's been such an exhilarating journey.  From the hours of connection, quiet, and vulnerable moments during laboring, to the sleepless and unsure first days of parenting, we have several weeks of fairly consistent communication and time spent together. By my clients keeping in such contact with me about their unique journey, feelings, and even struggles during this time, it allows me to truly enter into their lives, hospital rooms, and homes with my role as a quiet observer. 

Before contacting me to document their birth, I knew Sarah and Justin only as acquaintances and sibling-in-laws to a close friend of mine.  After the weeks leading up to Rodge's birth, the moments scaling in emotion in the hospital room, and spending a few hours hanging with them when they were settled back home after his birth, I left feeling like I truly connected with them as a family, documenting this beautiful budding season of life with raw authenticity.

Here are those days...