Pigtails + Pampers: Kate is One! | Mandeville Family Photographer
One of my favorite things about seeing sweet Kate grow throughout this year has been to see the wonder in her parents' eyes as they soak in every little thing about her that adds beauty to their world. From the moment I walked into their home for Kate's newborn session over a year ago, I felt overwhelmingly grateful to document her first year into a beautifully curated time capsule.
Here's a peek into Kate at one-year-old...
"I had no idea it would be this much.
I had no idea I could handle it.
I had no idea how BEAUTIFUL it all actually is."
- Typewriter Series #634 by Tyler Knott Gregson
One of my favorite things about seeing sweet Kate grow throughout this year has been to see the wonder in her parents' eyes as they soak in every little thing about her that adds beauty to their world. From the moment I walked into their home for Kate's newborn session over a year ago, I felt overwhelmingly grateful to document her first year into a beautifully curated time capsule. You can see her first days in this world, here.
Here's a peek into Kate at one-year-old...
Demi | Baton Rouge Birth + Motherhood Photography
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.
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...
“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
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...
Layrisson Family Generational Session | Northshore, Louisiana Family Photographer
After the births of both of her boys, Brandie had me over to photograph generational sessions with the littles, their parents, and grandparents. This year, we did a photojournalistic generational session at Parker's parents' house, where we gardened, laughed, had the best morning kicking off the beginning days of Summer and soaking in the best homegrown memories with family.
"There are only two lasting things we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other wings."
- Henry Ward Beecher
I've been photographing Brandie + Parker's growing family for a while now. Brandie's thoughtfulness for capturing intentional moments, ages, and seasons in her children's lives always leaves me with that gooey heart-in-a-puddle-on-the-floor feeling in the ways that I soak in something new and lovely about life, love, or family from each time I spend with them.
After the births of both of her boys, Brandie had me over to photograph generational sessions with the littles, their parents, and grandparents. This year, we did a photojournalistic generational session at Parker's parents' house, where we gardened, laughed, had the best morning kicking off the beginning days of Summer and soaking in the best homegrown memories with family.
If you're reading this far down in the post, you probably know my writing style enough by now to know that it's sentimental all over the place up in here. If that's not your jam so much, just keep scrollin' on through to the pretty photographs. No offense taken!
Growing up, my grandfather always had a lush garden in which he carefully tended. This morning session made me think of the memories with my own grandparents of picking, cooking, and serving all of that homegrown goodness that was cultivated with love and patience.
I know I say it enough to sound like a broken record, but documenting the tiny littles of my clients interactively as they grow, develop, and change is a job that constantly leaves me gaining wisdom and insight that I'd never even known I'd needed. Essentially, some days my job description involves playing with toddlers, and let's just say, I never leave those days without their innocent, engaging minds unintentionally teaching me a thing or two.
These are the types of moments that make me feel inherently blessed to be able to make a living cultivating + capturing the things that make us feel.
After time in the garden, Parker's mother Mrs. Celeste showed me her serene studio where she creates artwork. Mrs. Celeste has such a warm persona and an impressive eye for beautiful things, but seeing the space where she relaxes, engages her creative mind, and creates meaningful artwork was such a wonderful way to end that morning. I left dreaming of my next home and working from the sun porch with warm sunshine beating in.
Until then, I'll keep it real and inform you that my current workspace is much less glamorous than that sounds, looking more like dirty hair and a "makeshift" desk located in the same location on my bed. All just humbly reminding me to soak in the transition, messy, and the now, because those seasons contribute to the pretty in life just the same.
Jennie + Brandon | New Orleans French Quarter Elopement
Jennie and Brandon had an intimate Friday afternoon elopement in the French Quarter. No guests, no appointments or timelines, just the two of them, an officiant, Jennie's mom, and I as they committed to spending the rest of their lives with one another. I've photographed so many different types of weddings over the years, loving unique aspects about each of my couples and their special day, and elopements have certainly captured my heart as of late.
I hope you enjoy their elopement at Audubon Cottages in the French Quarter as much as I loved photographing it and hanging with them on that beautiful Spring afternoon.
Welcoming Rodge | Baton Rouge Birth Photographer
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...
“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...
Party of Four: Welcoming Parker | Mandeville Birth Photographer
Erin is one of the most humble and graceful women I've had the pleasure of becoming friends with. Childbirth is golden and breathtaking and the most natural of human experiences, and I cannot believe that I'm invited to document all that encompasses it.
Here's a little bit of Parker's birth + newborn journey...
“A single day, or even a handful of days, when you aren’t mom of the century won’t make or break your kids. It’s the intention to do well that will see them through. It’s the lessons in grace and self-care and realistic expectations, where you teach them about what you’re capable of, that will truly serve them later on.”
Girl, Wash Your Face - Rachel Hollis
Erin is one of the most humble and graceful women I've had the pleasure of becoming friends with. We first met when she contacted me to photograph her new family of three a few years ago. As I've photographed Erin's family, I've gotten to peer into a little more of the heart, soul, ups, and downs of their day-to-day, as we keep up with one another via social media, our shared love for artistic outlets, and much of those girly feelings-forward things I blab about on my Instagram regularly.
Knowing what mundane life looks like or the passions or experiences of those I'm photographing allows me to approach their session with a particular authenticity. Photographing births, as you can imagine, has taken that authenticity and connection to a whole new level.
Watching a woman labor and then sit starstruck at that new life.
Watching marriages exhibit teamwork, love, and support in such a raw + natural way.
Watching baby become familiar with mama.
It's golden and breathtaking and the most natural of human experiences, and I cannot believe that I'm invited to document all that encompasses it.
Here's a little bit of Parker's birth + newborn journey...
Erin entertained my idea to do a Skin-to-Skin Newborn Session, and I just find the images we got from that day to be so enchanting and peaceful to look at.
Speaking of peaceful, I joke with Erin and tell her that her delivery room was like a yoga studio.
Every birth is different and inherently beautiful, and hers couldn't have fit the calm, nurturing energy she exudes more. I arrived to the hosipital in the very early morning, and when I left a few hours later, I remember stepping into my car, taking in a big, deep breath, and thinking that I'd felt as if I'd just left yoga class. I'm sure I sound super crunchy saying it, but I left thinking, "Geesh, that baby just entered into such a calm, peaceful, loving environment."
This was among one of my first births. Still, a few births later, I've left every one of them, no matter how different the experience, feeling so at peace with what I'd just witnessed. Anyone is welcomed to come pick my sappy pile of hormones up off of the floor now...
A few more snapshots of my favorites from Parker's Skin-to-Skin Newborn Session...
Erin, thank you for inviting me to document such a monumental experience for your family.
New Orleans Elopement at Race + Religious | Alison + Scott
Alison and Scott got married at Race + Religious, a wedding and events venue in New Orleans, culturally rich in decor and ambiance that exudes an eclectic expression of the city. Though they currently reside in Los Angeles, Alison and Scott are both akin to our ole' girl Nola, as they lived seasons of life here that forever imprinted on their hearts.
In my initial phone conversation with Alison, she was so intentional communicating her desire that the person she chose to document the day understand and connect with her and Scott enough to capture their essence. I immediately appreciated her hopes for more than just a pretty collection of photographs, but also, hiring a person to connect with the emotion, aesthetic, and happenings of the day in a way that would most accurately depict their world together.
Even then, I hadn't but a small inkling of just how aligned our visions of purpose, connection, and culture actually are to one another. It wasn't until I spent the entirety of the quiet, joyful minutes of the wedding day with Alison and Scott that I fully grasped a hearty dose of who they are and a little glimpse into what life, love, and joy mean to them.
Here's a little peek into the Spring day in which they vowed to spend the rest of entirety encouraging, loving and forgiving, learning and laughing with one another...
Alison and Scott got married at Race + Religious, a wedding and events venue in New Orleans, culturally rich in decor and ambiance that exudes an eclectic expression of the city. The roots of New Orleans run deep through the venue, from the bricks dried out of clay from the Mississippi River to the and uniquely pieced together artwork and furnishings .
As Alison was getting ready, Scott was enjoying the afternoon relaxing in the side cottage on the grounds of the venue with their son, Oscar.
As I arrived to start photographing that day, Alison pulled me to the side. She told me that she would be taking a few moments of quiet time before she slipped into her dress to nurse Oscar. She asked if I would snap a shot or two for her to remember. In that moment, a feeling so beautifully intense, yet calming came over me, as I knew I had just been tasked the opportunity to artistically and authentically document Alison's ambience that day in such a breathtaking way.
There were several moments during the day when I really got to quietly observe Alison in such an organic way. Without the hustle of anyone needing to primp, prime, curl, or ask anything of her at all, Alison took a few moments to sit with her baby boy and soak in the big, genuine emotion of her world on that day in March.
During this time I learned that Alison runs a company where she serves as a postpartum doula, where she nurtures families and helps them transition during postpartum. Naturally, with all of the mamas and different journies that have been finding their way in front of my camera lately, I was fascinated. If you too find this fascinating, you should hop on over to Alison's site to read more of how she left her role as a public relations executive in the entertainment industry to tend to new mamas postpartum.
Alison lost her mother about 13 years ago. In our initial conversation, she shared with me how important photographs that she still has, both formal and candid, of her mother are to her. Although her mother was not physically present on that day, the ways she was spoken about and intertwined throughout made me feel like I knew a little about the person she was. From Alison to her sister to her nieces, there was no shortage of genuine, educated, and compassionate ladies around; undoubtedly some qualities inherited from their mother. After Alison was dressed, her sister pinned a pin on her dress as they shared a moment together in remembrance of her that day.
Another component of Alison + Scott's day that I found to be so authentic was the Ketubah they signed prior to the ceremony. A Ketubah is a Jewish marital contract that outlines the commitment a couple shares to honor one another. I find it to be an eloquently worded document that serves as a reminder of the commitment being entered into during a nuptial ceremony.
The words from the Ketubah were so beautiful to me that I asked Alison if it would be ok for me to share them here:
"We hereby pledge to trust, respect and support each other throughout our married life together.
We shall always endeavor to be open and honest, understanding and accepting, loving and forgiving, and loyal to one another.
We hereby promise to work together to build a harmonious relationship of equality.
We shall respect each other's uniqueness and help one another to grow to our fullest potential.
We will comfort and support each other through life's sorrows and joys.
Together, we shall create a home filled with learning, laughter, and compassion, a home wherein we will honor each other's cherished family traditions and values.
Our promise to each other, in the presence of loving family and friends, is valid and binding."
Though they currently reside in Los Angeles, Alison and Scott are both akin to our ole' girl Nola, as they lived seasons of life here that forever imprinted on their hearts. From frequent visits to Jazz Fest or just to catch up with family, New Orleans is very much a part of their lives. And because no New Orleans wedding feels authentic without a celebratory Second Line and brass band, The Storyville Stompers led Alison, Scott, and guests ceremony with some classic New Orleans tunes.
Alison and Scott, thank you for connecting with and entrusting me to capture the spirit your world.
Parenthood Firsts: Welcoming Greyson | New Orleans Birth Photographer
"All those cliches, those things you hear about having a baby and motherhood - all of them are true. And all of them are the most beautiful things you will ever experience."
- Penelope Cruz
Last year after feeling really compelled to document motherhood experiences in a more hands-on, organic way, I announced that I’d be adding birth photojournalism to my service offerings. Having not ever experienced childbirth myself, I was both excited and nervous to embark on this new endeavor. After witnessing quite a few babies come into the world over the past few months, I’ve found the experience to be so enlightening and beautiful.
Each woman, family, and birth experience is so different from the last and it’s so incredible to watch! Epidurals to inductions to natural births, breastfeeding to bottle feeding, dads who wanna be in the middle of the action to dads who want to quietly support their wives with hand holding and soft kisses -- ALL such raw and breathtaking exhibitions of the strength each and every woman has within them.
Each by their own unique journey, listening to the needs of their individual mind + body -- it’s nothing short of breathtaking. Every single time. Victoria and Josh are in the throes of their first run at parenthood and documenting the steps of their journey has been such a cool experience. World, meet Greyson James!
It's always so fun to visit my clients for a newborn session in the week following the birth. Seeing them settled and finding their new "normal" always gives me the feels. Recently, I've been inviting my mamas to get as comfortable and natural as they'd like in sessions--less posing, more real life. Wanna nurse? Let's do it! Wanna take a nap with baby? I'm down. A more timeless, photojournalistic approach. All the yes.
The photos above were taken a few days after I had the privilege of watching Victoria bring Greyson into the world. Watching my mama clients in the midst of such a range of raw emotion and physical feeling while giving birth is such a unique experience. I am truly mind blown by women and the things our bodies can do.
Here's a peek into Victoria's birth journey...
Grace, Giggles, + Full Hearts: Simpson Family Home Session | Fairhope Family Photographer
"We may not have chosen our situation but we have the power to choose our perspective, and perspective is everything." - Barbara Hill
I've known Jess for quite a few years now and one trait, in particular, has always left me inspired by her: her grace. There's something to be said about the pricelessness of a graceful woman, and more than near any soul I’ve ever met, Jess exhibits grace and strength in her life journey in a way that leaves me ever-inspired.
When she was a teenager, Jess was involved in a car accident that left the lower portion of her body paralyzed, leaving her unable to walk, much less participate in many experiences in life involving the use of her legs. I met Jess long after this accident occurred; however, as I have watched her endure several other life struggles and transitions, including a season of life as a single mother to two boys, I've always been profoundly inspired by her positive attitude, her encouraging words towards the growth and journey of those who may have slighted her, and her exhibition of sheer grace.
A while back when she'd told me about the gentleman she'd met and the ways his personality, love, and lifestyle seeped into and filled the vacant pieces of her own heart, I knew she'd likely found her match. After meeting Cameron and his two littles and seeing the bountiful ways in which their families have blended, I know without a shadow of a doubt that my girl is living her best life.
After many years of feeling compelled to photograph Jess and that graceful spirit, I'm so grateful that I was approached about doing so recently. I hope you enjoy viewing their session as much as I loved documenting it.
Cameron came into the marriage with two beautiful littles, as did Jess. They recently welcomed sweet Mila into the world, completing their perfectly blended family. I love how much all four of Mila's older siblings adore her in their own ways. While the two younger boys, Orion and Anthony, are best at being little boys and playing amongst themselves at this age, I loved watching Mila's eldest siblings, Geof and June, as they each requested a little alone time to love on her.
As you can imagine, a house of five littles contains A LOT of energy. This is another reason I love in-home sessions. These boys were having a ball and playing the entire time, making it so fun for me to capture their natural personalities and ages.
Jess also has impeccable taste in both style and home decor, as you can see. Head on over to my Insta, where I've tagged all of the cute boutiques she shopped at for the session!
I asked Jess to share with me a little about her sentiments towards her motherhood journey. This is what she had to say:
"Motherhood has been pure beautiful messy chaos. I am so thankful that these little ones chose me to be their mama in this life time. Watching them organically growing into the adults that they will one day become is such an honor. My heart is so full."
As expected for any little boy, taking photos was not the most entertaining of things on Anthony's agenda that day; nonetheless, it never fails that I get my most favorite photos of a session from the child most disinterested in participating. Perhaps it's that I pay more attention to them in fear that I won't get enough content, or perhaps its just that their natural, spunky personality shining through feels so organic -- either way, I'll take it.
Jess, thank you for allowing me to document + share a little of your home, heart, and story, and more so, all of the ways your existence brings light into this world. Here’s to the women around us that lift one another up, push them to test their boundaries, and create the legacies they want for themselves...
Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
“Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.” While I know it's a little cliche to use a sappy quote from Eat, Pray, Love in a blog post about my travels, as I'm currently reading Big Magic, I suppose I just can't get enough of Elizabeth Gilbert's relatable and comforting words to this ever-feminine heart of mine. More so, as you probably know if you keep up with this little blog o' mine, a girls' trip to California after an immensely busy end of 2017 + some major life transitions was just what the doctor ordered. If I'm being completely honest, my gal pal Lauren and I planned this little getaway spontaneously whilst enjoying copious amounts of giggles and red wine. When I woke up to an AirBnb "Welcome" email from Sarah + Rich at the Joshua Tree House, I'd immediately decided all of my future travel planning might need to be done among fellow friends who love food, travel, and wine. Kiiiiiidding. But really...
Lauren is an immensely creative friend of mine who spends her days running her own business, homeschooling her daughter, and traveling to as many places as possible. She and I have been wanting to take a trip together, as we knew our shared love for great food, beautiful places, and soulful life experiences would make us great travel buddies. This trip came at such a perfect time and I'm ever grateful for the entire experience. Both Palm Springs and Joshua Tree captivated my heart in the way that California always seems to do.
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Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
If you don't currently travel by way of Airbnb, I highly suggest giving it a whirl. This is far from the first time I have; however, each experience in someone's carefully curated living space leaves me a little more smitten than the last. The Joshua Tree House and the Dome House we stayed in in Palm Springs were among some of the most breathtaking spaces I've ever slept. The energy that oozed from the meticulously crafted homes was the perfect environment for us to renew our creative energy, rest, and recharge.
Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
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Most mornings we woke up and sipped our coffee as we watched the sun rise and got a few hours of work and/or personal reflection in. From there, we would formulate our game plan for adventure that day. Discovering the best eateries in the area is something Lauren has a particular knack for, and every culinary experience left us our bellies more full and happy than the last.
If you find yourself visiting Joshua Tree, I highly recommend grabbing breakfast or lunch to go from The Natural Sisters Cafe'. We loved this fresh eatery so much that we had it three times while in JT. The rest of our meals here were spent cooking in and soaking up every inch of the beautiful house.
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Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
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While I was pretty confident that I would love Joshua Tree, I had no inclination of just how fun thrifting would be in this little desert town. Lauren and I spent one afternoon beep-bopping from shop-to-shop and finding the most unique treasures. I even found some fun clothes that we decided to play dress-up in during our sunset drive through Joshua Tree National Park.
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Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
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The End, Pioneer Crossing, and The Joshua Tree Gift Shop, believe it or not, were a couple of the many charming stores I stumbled upon. Don't let the generic name fool you, I actually found some of the coolest vintage clothing finds from there.
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Despite being only about 3o miles from one another, Joshua Tree and Palm Springs possess two very different, yet equally enchanting personalities. I plan on making a much longer trip out again to explore the many experiences time didn't allow for and to just soak in the rich creative vibe that both places cultivate so naturally.
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While Joshua Tree was fabulous for some low-key R+R, Palm Springs boasts the most amazing mid-century architecture, food, and a vibe that just left us continuously exclaiming, "This is so good I could cry."
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While our super-modern geocentric Dome House AirBnb exuded the absolute coolest furnishings, my favorite part of the space was the dome room of windows, which allowed for the most breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset. Lauren and I had a massage therapist come out to the house one morning as we started one of our days in Palm Springs with a relaxing massage. Throughout the trip with each splurge on a vintage item, delicious meal, or frivolous massage, I gently reminded myself, "This is what the first experience in a beautiful new place should be." No guilt over money spent or road poorly navigated, just some good soul-fulfilling self-love.
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Palm Springs + Joshua Tree
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In Palm Springs, we had fabulous meals at Trio, Farm, and Palm Greens Cafe, all of which I would visit again.
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Palm Springs + Joshua Tree, until we meet again...
Interested in visiting Joshua Tree? Check out this great guide about camping in Joshua Tree National Park!
These are the Good Days | Hammond Farmer's Market Lifestyle Session: Hammond Family Photographer
"Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things - they push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Steve Jobs
I've quoted this wildly popular quote from Steve Jobs before on my blog, and undoubtedly, this isn't the first time you've read it. Nonetheless, since the first time I came across it many years ago, it's always stood out as a beautiful mantra to me. If you asked my mother, she'd tell you that from the time I could speak I was always set on doing things in my own imaginative way. From clothing shopping to the way I wished my room decor to be, even before those treacherous pre-teen years, I had a vision for certain things and didn't let the opinions of others sway me from attacking my oftentimes out-of-the-box visions. When I've come across other imaginative, creative, independent-thinking souls throughout life, I always gravitate to them, so intrigued by their wildly beautiful minds. Shiloh is one of these people.
I'm sure you remember her from this session earlier this year, but if you missed that one, it's hands-down one of my favorites. As always, Shiloh brought her creative A-game when it came to the vision she wanted us to execute for Keane's one-year photos.
Shiloh's husband Daniel is a baseball coach for the university here, so he's often times working Saturday mornings during baseball season and traveling for recruiting. Shiloh and Keane have made Saturday morning traditions visiting the Farmer's Market in our cozy little town, so we thought it to be a perfect way to start out our morning session! My Saturday mornings off are also often spent going to yoga, followed by a trip to the Farmer's Market as well, so it was quite a treat!
Keane doesn't meet a stranger. Those two tiny front teeth, baby blues, and big smiles scored him all of the yummy samples.
After the Farmer's Market, we strolled down the street with breakfast in-hand for a little more fun. Keane was batting those crystal blue eyes and giving me the biggest smiles, so I was soaking in every bit of it.
I mentioned Keane is a social butterfly. When he saw his friend and local business owner, Mr. Benny, passing in his new car with the windows rolled down, he took it upon himself to send some friendly waves. This boy...
This town may be small, but it has some hidden gems that leave my little artistic heart thumping. Shiloh has begged me to execute some sort of laundromat shoot with her for years, so when my sweet, talented photographer friend Catherine came across this funky one, we had to pop in.
Don't worry, Keane didn't stop making sweet eyes and giggles to entertain everyone when they moved their clothes over to the tumble cycle.
Interested in an organic, fun lifestyle portrait session of you and your loved ones? Contact me at kali@kalinorton.com and let's make some memories!
PSA: I will be in the Pensacola/Fairhope area and offering a limited number of sessions on the following dates...
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20TH
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21ST
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22ND
If you or someone you know is interested in natural, organic family, maternity, newborn, motherhood, engagement, etc photography, please share with them!
No Rain, No Flowers: A Personal Announcement on Growth + Change
“If you’re brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue, and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher, and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you--or so I’ve come to believe.” - Elizabeth Gilbert
When I’ve mentioned 28 was my favorite year to date in several posts, I meant it. When my high school English teacher sat in front of the class and told us, “Ladies don’t reach maturity until their mid/late twenties and men, often times, their early thirties” I distinctly remember the know-it-all disdain my 17-year-old self had towards her comment.
I can confidently proclaim that 2017 has, thus far, been one of my most favorite years of life, to date. I’ve had years of anxiously awaiting the next season in life, years of many tears, years full of mistakes and learning curves, years of deliberate focus, just to name a few. This year though has been simply magical. Not for any particular life reason or situation, other than I truly feel that at 28 years old, I’m learning to own and love this skin, brain, and heart I have. The things that make me, ME, and simply embracing all that is here--the traits that make up who I am, the people who add value to my life, and the experiences I’m ever-so-lucky to soak in with all 5 of these humanly senses. I’m learning to be ok with not knowing what the future may bring or being afraid of change.
I know I’m an extra emotion-driven soul. For those of you that think it’s super sappy, apologies! Feel free to stop reading here. I’ve been meditating, focusing on personal growth in a way that I never before have in my life--a way that turns the mirror around on myself and takes responsibility for the good, bad, and ugly experiences that have found their way to me over the years.
At 28 years old and through much self-reflection, I’ve also come to make the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to consciously make: a decision to graciously appreciate the season, experiences, and beautiful growth my relationship with Preston has brought, but to honor ourselves and our capacity to grow as individuals by going our separate ways romantically.
These words come with a heavy heart and announcing this on social media is a decision I’ve reflected on how to do appropriately for quite some time. Social media is a tricky little thing, and how much of my personal life I share is always done with intention. Nonetheless, as writing, documenting, and sharing the moving stories of my clients is such an inherent part of what makes me passionate about this life, I felt that it would be a bit hypocritical to not expose some of the pieces of my own heart that have molded me and will undoubtedly continue to mold my future.
Break-ups are never easy, and in fact, I think cutting ties with anyone who has ever impacted my heart is an extremely difficult feat for me. An excerpt from one of my favorite books strings together how I feel that I love, perfectly. In If You Find This Letter, Hannah says:
“That’s always been my downfall, the thing my mother always calls me out on. I romanticize things...I feel things too deeply. I hold on much longer than I should. All of life has always been one big book of poems to me. I think every person is a living poem--from their hopeful heart to their ugly habits. Life is just too busy to ever stop and dwell on one thing for too long.”
Letting go of people and the role you are used to them playing in your life is N-E-V-E-R easy, but we all know more than we’d like to admit that the most difficult times are the ones that shake up our insides and mold them into the new form they must take for us to evolve. And well, evolution is ever-necessary for us to reach our full capacity in this one life experience we are given, my friends.
While this decision has, for obvious reasons, not been an easy one for me or Preston, it is one we are consciously trying to navigate through with love and respect for one another. As we have spent nearly a decade and our entire adult lives together, neither of us have the desire to part ways and never speak again. In fact, I feel that that behavior, at least for us, would be extremely silly and counterproductive to us evolving into better humans. We are closing the intimate, romantic chapter of life together, and moving towards our own paths of growth and self-awareness, honoring ourselves as individuals and what that means, fully.
Quote from Conscious Uncoupling by Katherine Woodward Thomas
This ending to our romantic relationship came at a time when both of us were more whole and healthy than not, as opposed to coming from a place of brokenness or hurt. I share this because, for me, that is particularly important. Important for the both of us moving forward into future, healthy relationships and without overhanging baggage, resentment, or hatred. While this process will undoubtedly bring about various levels of grief, sadness, and occasional negative passion, it would defeat the whole purpose of us growing as individuals if we left this season of life with one another angry, resentful, and broken. I truly wish the best for Preston in life, love, and well-being, as I know he does for me.
As Craig Hamilton puts it, “If we are willing to walk fearlessly and tenderly into the crucible of a painful ending, we will find gifts waiting for us there that we could never have seen had we continued clinging to the safety of the familiar.”
If you are going through your own life struggles and growth, whether it be from the impending end to a relationship or some other time of change, I encourage you to look within yourself and embrace the insight and beauty life is bringing into your life by shaking up and resituating some difficult emotions. If there’s one thing I know for a fact in life, it’s that we can find beauty in ANY situation we endure, it only requires us to look past the pain to find it.
PS. If this post resonated with your own heart and struggles and you’d like me to share with you some of the reading material, podcasts, and resources that have helped me navigate through difficult emotions, I’d be more than happy to share them with you. Send me a message or comment and I’d be happy to point you into the direction of those.
What I'm Loving: 2017 Summer Favorites
As I gear up for the busy Fall season of weddings, portraits, and all things leading up to the holidays, I thought it suitable to share about a few of the things that have made my life a little sweeter during the first half of 2017. From my current favorite fashion obsessions, recipes, and reads, here's a short list of a few of faves that have been on my list of loves this year! WRITING BY TYLER KNOTT GREGSON: If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably noticed many of my posts authored with his work linked. I don't get paid to sponsor his work, I just genuinely love it! As I love writing myself, I can always appreciate beautifully strewn together words. Like many of my current favorite reads, I came across Tyler's writing on Instagram, and was drawn to how palpable the feeling in the words he contrives. I truly never knew I had a love for poetry until I came across his work. Chasers of the Light and Wildly Into the Dark are two of his works that I own and currently read daily. If you're looking for an easy read that you can pick up on a crummy day to soothe your restless heart, I highly recommend grabbing one of his books--or even just following him on Insta! You can find his Instagram handle at @tylerknott.
FRINGE WITH BENEFITS JEWELRY: I love watching the journey of fellow entrepreneurs as they attack their passions. Callie, owner of Fringe With Benefits, has an eye for fashion and is constantly leaving me feeling inspired and refreshed by her outfits and accessory pairings. If you're looking for regular fashion inspiration or a fabulous pair of tassel earrings, Callie's Instagram accounts are refreshing follows! You can find them at Instagram handles @fringewithbenefitsjewelry and @bluejeanedblonde.
ZUCCHINI BROWNIES: Yes, you read that correctly. As I'm always trying to find at least slightly healthy alternatives to recipes, I sought out recently to find a recipe for the occasional sweet tooth that didn't leave me feeling guilty and sluggish. After trying a few that didn't turn out so well (ehem, black bean brownies), I came across and tweaked a brownie recipe that called for zucchini. While this recipe does contain wheat flour (which I typically try to avoid), it's still light and fairly guilt-free. Note: If you are a sweets lover, you may not find these sweet enough; however, I'm more of a "lightly sweetened" type of girl, so I find the level of sweetness to be pretty on point.
Total Time: 50 Minutes | Prep Time: 15 Minutes | Cook Time: 35-40 Minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup Sugar (I use organic cane sugar)
- 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 egg
- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour (I used whole wheat)
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 2 tsp Baking Soda
- 2 1/2 Cups Grated Zucchini, undrained (about 1 Large or 2 small)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a 9×13 pan.
- Combine oil, sugar, egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and stir well. (It will appear quite dry). Gently stir in the zucchini a little at a time and spread the mixture into your prepared pan.
- Bake 35-40 minutes. (Once it hits the 30 minute mark, I start checking them).
ESSENTIAL OILS: I know, I know. This is all the craze right now, but I have jumped on the bandwagon to start supplementing some of my daily household products, medicines, and just general daily practices with oils and it's been quite a pleasant journey for me. While I'm not sure I will ever try to supplement all possible things with oils, I have enjoyed gradually learning and supplementing certain aspects of life with them.
Essential oils have enhanced lives for thousands of years, offering a variety of benefits from cosmetic and dietary purposes to spiritual and religious use. The most common practices for using essential oils include aromatic diffusion, topical application, and dietary consumption. These methods bring the pure essence of health-promoting botanicals to your home, family, and life.
I personally first started really looking into oils for emotional support. As a woman, hormones are no freaking joke, and I sought out to educate myself on how I could clean up the practices in my life, from the products I use to the ways I react to situations with the assistance of more holistic approaches and oils.
Some of the health benefits of aromatherapy include its ability to reduce anxiety, ease depression, boost energy levels, speed up the healing process, eliminate headaches, boost cognitive performance, induce sleep, strengthen the immune system, reduce pain, improve digestion, and increase circulation. I've seen improvements in many of these areas of my life from the induction of oils into my regimen. I won't go into intense detail in this post; however, if you have more questions about this, please feel free to comment or message me, I'd love to share with you!
WINE SUBSCRIPTION: This is something I always got offers for in the mail, but never jumped on, as I figured it wouldn't be quality or cost-effective. However, after having a wine subscription with Naked Wines for over a year now, I can say it's been both fun and cost-effective!
What I love about this particular wine subscription is that Naked Wines invests directly in winemakers and much less on things like sales, marketing, fancy packaging and other things you can't taste. Which means you get more bang for your buck.
I also love that with this particular subscription, I pay $40 per month, which goes DIRECTLY into a tab on my account with them, thus, I don't generally ever pay outright when I order a case of wine. I order a case every 3 months or so when my tab is around $120, and receive what are often $20-30 bottles of wine for about $10 per bottle. As someone who enjoys trying out new wines and pairing it with a home-cooked meal, I love the ease and luxury of this subscription.
If you'd like to try them out, you can use this link for $100 OFF of your first case! I paid about $60 using this coupon for my first case of wine with them. Ehemm, that's about $5 per bottle for quality wine. I'll take it. (:
What have you been loving lately? If you think I'd like it, I'd love to hear!
Healthy Pesto-Avocado Shrimp Zucchini Pasta + DIY Slime | New Orleans Lifestyle Photographer
This weekend was one for the books in the littlest of ways. There weren't crazy adventures or breathtaking sights, but there was lots of genuine, soul-fulfilling girl time, big-bellied laughs, and the best food to fill these taste buds. I've truly been embracing this slow season of life, letting myself soak in the mundane moments, meditate on the why behind certain feelings, and cultivating a heart open to change and growth, even when it feels uncomfortable or scary. As this weekend was so fulfilling for me, I thought I'd share a few of the recipes that contributed to it. From healthy, delicious meals to crafts and educational events, it was a jam-packed, yet relaxing weekend. I always get lots of positive feedback from sharing healthy recipes on here, so I thought I'd share one of my recent favorites that we indulged in this weekend!
I try to stay away from pasta, so it's always fun to find alternatives that are both healthy and tasty. Friday night I made Pesto-Avocado Shrimp Zucchini Pasta and it was SO delicious! Here's the recipe...
HEALTHY PESTO-AVOCADO SHRIMP ZUCCHINI PASTA
3-4 Zucchini
3 lbs fresh shrimp
3 TBSP Grass Fed Butter
1 TBSP Olive Oil
1 Lemon
1 Jar Basil Pesto
2 Avocados
Feta crumbles (optional for topping)
Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder
DIRECTIONS: Peel fresh shrimp. Melt butter + olive oil in pan on med-high heat. Once butter is melted, add shrimp and seasonings. Saute until shrimp is fully cooked. Mash two avocados and add to pan along with jar of pesto. Squeeze lemon over all ingredients.
Clean off zucchini and cut off ends. Using a vegetable spiralizer (I use a VERY simple one similar to this), create veggie noodles with the zucchini. Simply add shrimp-pesto toppings and feta crumbles (if that's your thing) and enjoy!
I was recently introduced to the world of slime on Instagram by a friend and had NO IDEA of how viral the slime trend is right now. In efforts to get my hands dirty with a light-hearted and fun craft, I bought the ingredients and decided to give making slime a whirl. For those of you who aren't familiar with the slime craze, it's essentially what you may have played with if you ever partook in the Gak or Silly Putty phase as a child. As with all things in our Pinterest-driven 2017 though, slime has taken a whole new world compared to the simplistic nature it came in years ago. Now, people are adding tons of beautiful colors and textures to it to create an ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) aka "sounds that feel good" aspect to the fun. It's actually pretty cool!
I had my good friend Lauren and her daughter Emma over for dinner Friday and Emma had endless fun with the slime and rainbow beads we added to it.
If you have children (or even if you don't) and want to try it out, here's the recipe I used:
EASY 3-INGREDIENT SLIME
1 cup Elmer's Glue (white)
1 cup Shaving Cream
1/2 cup Purex StaFlo Concentrated Liquid Starch
Food Coloring (optional)
Glitter (optional
Rainbow Foam Beads (to add in for fun after slime is made)
DIRECTIONS: Mix glue, shaving cream, and starch together in a large mixing bowl. The shaving cream makes the slime fluffier. You can also add food coloring + glitter to get different colors.
If you add too much liquid starch to your slime it gets a little stiff. If this happens, just add a little water – a tablespoon at a time, until the slime puffs up again. Knead and mold the slime until it's the consistency you like. That's it!
You can store it in jars, plastic bags, or lidded containers to keep it from drying out.
What new projects or recipes have you tried recently that have enriched your life? I'd love to hear about them!
Happy Tuesday, friends!
Now Offering Birth Photography! | New Orleans Motherhood Photographer
For anyone who keeps up with my posts regularly, you know the strong pull my heart has always had towards capturing the essence and experience of women. I cannot fully explain it, only that I know in the depths of my soul when I photograph a woman who opens up to me or lets me peer a little into her vulnerability, that there is no other place in the Universe I'm supposed to be more in that moment. Whether it's a high school senior, a bride, a boss girl, or an expecting mama, the women and stories that have found themselves in front of my lens over the course of my career have left me impacted in the most unusual and profound ways. For much of my career, I'd never had any stronger pull to any particular type of womanly experience--and while I still very much love photographing ALL types of milestones, I've noticed an ever-growing tug in my gut over the past year or so. During this time, I've noticed a particular and welcomed shift to clients desiring me to document their journey through motherhood. (This is in addition to weddings, of course, which I still very much photograph). Perhaps, and likely, this has to do with my age and place in my own life (no, I'm not quite ready to be a mama just yet), but, this particularly strong pull towards motherhood portraiture and the intensity of emotion captured through the experience is something I know I'm meant to delve into deeper.
After years of inquiries, pleas, and suggestions that I fearfully turned down, I have now decided it's time for me and this camera of mine to extend my services to include birth photography and/or hospital photography. 
Motherhood photography encompasses a wide scope of experiences. Currently, I document many mama moments from maternity, newborn, to growth and regular family lifestyle portraiture sessions and have many clients who purchase my Motherhood Collective which allows comprehensive documentation of these. With this, I'll now be offering the option to add birth photography or the option to hire me exclusively for your birth experience or time in the hospital with new baby.
Many families are interested in documenting their birth experience; however, some instead prefer to have the experience documented during the first few moments of life after the birth. Whether you'd like me to document the pushes, tears, and intense emotion of your birth or the tender moments together within the first 48 hours following, I am available for either form of documentation.
As this is a brand new venture for me, I'm offering introductory pricing to the first 5 bookings for Birth Photography or "Fresh 48" After-Birth Photography. If you are interested in having me document this part of life for you, please contact me at kali@kalinorton.com for more detailed information + pricing.
Summer Elopement in Cancun | Alli + Steve: Mexico Wedding Photographer
"Now that I can talk to you from age forty, I can tell you--don't worry, it's all good. Life is the same, only better. Never perfect, never settled, never figured out, but ever beautifully flowing." - Garance Dore, Love Style Life
As I spent the week in Mexico laughing, dancing, and conversing with Alli and Steve's nearest and dearest friends, it filled me with so much joy to be able to spend so much genuine time getting to know and love those who support them the most. I've known Alli since college, and without a shadow of a doubt, she's deserving of the abundance of love and joy that is present in this season of her life. Alli is one of the most thoughtful, selfless, and positive humans I've ever had the pleasure of calling a friend, and after spending the week watching Steve completely and utterly dote on her and speak on the qualities he adores in her, I felt just how genuine the respect the two of them carry for one another is.
Alli and Steve eloped for a destination wedding in Cancun at Dreams Playa Mujeres Resort. This was my first time in Cancun and from the resort to the locals, food to the gorgeous sights, it was one of my most favorite trips, to date. In a blog post soon, I'll post about the trip and personal adventures, specifically, so stay tuned! For now, enjoy these dreamy photos of their elopement!
Alli and Steve, thank you for not only asking me to document this time for you, but also, inviting me to connect with and soak in the genuine personalities of those who love and support the two of you the most. Spending the week documenting the two of you enter into this next chapter is something I’ll never forget.
Milk Bath Maternity | Awaiting Ivy: New Orleans Maternity Photographer
"I guess I always believed the moments that would one day end up defining me would be loud. They'd be noticeable. I pictured fireworks. I thought I would definitely be able to point the moment out from all the rest if you put them side-by-side in a lineup. I'd be able to stand there, on the other side of the glass and say, 'That one. That one was loud and big and mammoth and I knew it would change my life.' But you can't put moments in a box. You can't keep people forever. Those moments are meant to happen and disappear." Excerpt from If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher.
How eerily true is this? I think it's so easy for us to be ready for what's next in life, that we so often don't take the time to fully embrace the seasons we reside in in the present. Whether the season be happy or sad, it's a natural part of the human experience to wonder, plan, or anticipate what's ahead. When I first read these words when reading Hannah's book, they stopped me in my tracks. Umm, hello reality check. Moments, seasons, experiences exist for us to feel what we feel from them in those moments and mold us into the future human we evolve to.
As Danielle got out of her car and greeted me, it was the first time I'd ever met her. It only took a few sentences of dialogue between us for me to notice the calm, peaceful personality she emanated. After spending that afternoon with her and looking through her photographs, I was able to put my finger on what was so alluringly tranquil about her--she embraces the now of this beautiful season of life she is in, awaiting her daughters, Ivy and Lily.
It wasn't until after her session that Danielle shared with me the news that she learned weeks ago that she lost one of her girls, Lily. She is currently still carrying both girls. I had no clue of this while photographing her, and now looking at these photographs radiates her strength during this season in a whole new light.
I cannot begin to fathom both the fear and excitement she has for her delivery next week. Observing the contentment and love for that beautiful belly and the spectacular ability her body possesses during these months was so incredibly empowering. Nine months, a "moment" so inherently special to her, Lily, and Ivy alone, that she can never replicate in this exact way again.
The morning of Danielle's session, there was a stirring in me to do something more than just dreamy, creamy photographs of her in a field. We'd never spoken other than through email before, but as she picked up the phone and I introduced myself, the conversation went a little something like this, "I know we've never met, but umm, are you down for a milk bath?"
I'm incredibly glad she was open to the idea, because the way they display the beauty and strength of her body during this season of life is so profoundly breathtaking to me.
Danielle, I have no doubt that you will execute motherhood just as gracefully as you do the road leading to it. Thank you for allowing me to capture your strength and beauty during this stage of life for you, Lily, and Ivy.
Fort Pickens Summer Family Portraits | Lawson Family: Pensacola Family Photographer
"There comes a day when you're gonna look around and realize happiness is where you are." It's no secret that I covet the women who have come into my life throughout the years with souls full of sunshine. Stripping down the hippie-leaning adjectives, what I mean is, I have a massive appreciation for positive, uplifting women who exude a warm persona. I suppose it's the confidence of a lady being joyful in her own skin that I find so absolutely breathtaking, or perhaps it's the fact that I truly believe that there is next to nothing more enchanting in this world than a happy woman. Either way, it moves me.
Kady is one of those women.
Our paths crossed seven or eight years ago through mutual friends and we instantly clicked. I knew from the moment I met Kady that she possessed character traits that uplift and inspire those around her. To put it simply, she glows from the inside out.
Kady and Brandon are high-school sweethearts, together for eleven years. When I first started my business, Kady was the first bride to ever book me for a wedding. A Santa Rosa Beach outdoor wedding in front of a beautiful historic home--basically a photographer's dream. These types of weddings are almost NEVER the weddings new photographers get hired to photograph. I was both completely honored and baffled at her unwavering trust in my abilities. At the time, despite me being scared shitless to actually call myself a wedding photographer, I knew that she was exactly the type of client I hoped to attract--I just assumed it would take me years of establishing myself before I came across work of this aesthetic.
Kady's trust in me stuck with me and her radiant personality still inspires me daily.
She and Brandon now have a daughter, Stella, whom I got the pleasure of meeting for the first time during their shoot. Here are a few favorites from the Summer afternoon we spent together at Fort Pickens in Pensacola...
Sunset Session on Navarre Beach | Dougherty Family: Navarre Family Photographer
“Here’s the thing, effective parenting and, more specifically, effective discipline, don’t require punishment. Equating discipline with punishment is an unfortunate, but common misconception. The root word in discipline is actually disciple which in the verb form means to guide, lead, teach, model, and encourage. In the noun form disciple means one who embraces the teaching of, follows the example of, and models their life after.”
― L.R. Knost, The Gentle Parent
It may seem strange that I'm quoting from a parenting book when I am not even yet a parent myself, but after coming across a quote from one of L.R. Knost's books on Instagram a few weeks ago, I was instantly drawn to read more of the words she'd strewn together about parenting, love, adulthood, and life. I have not yet actually read these books, but after perusing through and bookmarking much of her work online, I know that I will find her book in hand when the season of parenting arrives for me.
Nonetheless, the above quote does have everything to do with the intricately woven hearts and ever-developing personalities of our dear friends Brooke and Shane and the family they are rearing together. I have known Shane for almost a decade, as he is one of Preston's longest and dearest friends from 3rd Force in the Marine Corps. As with most long friendships, we've experienced quite a bit of life with Shane over the past decade. He recently returned home from a deployment and this past week we got to spend some genuine, quality time in Navarre, FL with him, Brooke, and the kids. From getting all of my baby cuddles and coos in with Miss Maggie, to spending some genuine girl time with Brooke, I felt like I got to truly soak in the love, life, and discipline that make up their little family.
From watching Shane discipline the boys with friendly wall squats and sit-down talks about "why" a reprimand occurred, to observing Brooke gently work at relinquishing the reigns of parenting three children alone for nine months, Preston and I both left with observant, full hearts at how beautiful the two of them execute parenting together.
“Our children are children for such a small season of life. Let their laughter ring out, their imaginations soar, their feet stomp in puddles, their hands clap for joy. Too soon they will grow up and out of their youthful exuberance and zest and settle into the life and routine of adulthood.”
Welcome to the World, Sweet Girl | Kate: Mandeville Newborn Photographer
“Life is amazing.And then it's awful. And then it's amazing again. And in between the amazing and awful, it's ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing, hold on through the awful, and relax and exhale during the ordinary. That's just living heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it's breathtakingly beautiful.” ― L.R. Knost
Clean, unadulterated, beautiful new life. This is absolutely my favorite part of documenting these moments, especially for first-time mamas. I hope you enjoy a peek into Allison's life as a new mama as much as I enjoyed documenting it.
