Mom and Dad
I'm officially in that stage of life where everyone I went to high school with is getting married and having babies and I love it. I went to school with both Rae and Levi, but Rae and I spent hours together at cheerleading practices, football/basketball games, and competitions. So, watching her take on the role of motherhood has been nothing short of special.
The Maternity Session
I met up with Rae and Levi on a cool Sunday morning in March. It was a gorgeous morning shooting at The Oak Openings Preserve in Toledo, OH. Aside from their numerous hiking trails and parks, Oak Openings features towering Oaks and Pines that create the dreamiest backdrop for my wonderful clients. We drove/walked from spot to spot being sure to select the prettiest spots to capture Rae's pregnancy glow. By the time we were all done it started to rain and I just knew that the weather had held off for Levi and Raeanna. Now it was time to wait for the arrival of their sweet baby girl (which to me seemed to come so fast but, I'm sure to them those last few weeks drug on.)
The Newborn Session
On May 24th, I received an excited message from Rae and Levi with the wonderful news that their baby girl, Adelina Mae, had arrived! I always encourage parents to contact me within three days of delivery, allowing us to capture babies in that perfect “newborn sweet spot.” This timing, ideally within the first three weeks, means babies are still wonderfully sleepy and can be posed naturally for those peaceful, heart-melting shots.
We scheduled Adelina's session for Monday, June 3rd, just 10 days after her arrival, and Rae and Levi brought her to my Fostoria, OH studio. The session started with some precious family portraits. It’s always so beautiful to capture those first days of connection between parents and their new little one. Rae and Levi were radiant with pride as they snuggled up with Adelina, and the love in the room was absolutely contagious. After these family shots, we moved into the individual photos of Adelina, gently posing her to capture all the little details, from her tiny fingers to her squishy toes.
Each session like this reminds me of the magic in these first days, and I’m grateful to have the privilege of preserving these moments forever, especially for those that I know. It means so much to me that people trust me to capture their pride and joy. Thank you, Rae and Levi, for trusting me to capture Adelina’s first portraits!
