Waiting for Baby Hazel: Danielle’s Maternity Session

Outdoor maternity sessions have such a relaxed, natural quality to them. They are the perfect way to document the special time waiting for baby. We traveled out to Merrill, Wisconsin for Danielle’s maternity session where I got the opportunity to help her select outfits and accessories as we prepared for the afternoon session.  It was a gorgeous spring day (even with 18 inches of snow to contend with) and we had beautiful, bright light for our downtown locations.

Baby Hazel is expected memorial day weekend, which is an incredible blessing with both Danielle and Reggie being teachers.  They will have a whole wonderful summer to spend just the three of them creating their own little family, and starting summer traditions to build on in the years to come.  Congratulations to you both; I can’t wait to meet baby Hazel!

Personal Post: Danielle’s Baby Shower

Last weekend, my family and I threw my cousin Danielle a baby shower for what will be the first great-grandchild in the family. We didn’t know the baby’s gender, so we decided on a soft pastel, handmade theme (with plenty of inspiration from Pinterest of course!).  Weeks ahead Danielle’s dad brought over fresh fish for a little family dinner, and as we finished eating, we all gathered around for baby shower crafting.  Everyone got into it: grandpa, and fathers, and husbands all making pom-pons and tag banners - their hardworking precision applied to something so sweet and feminine.

We wanted the decorations to be a surprise for Danielle, but little did we know she had a surprise for us.  For months she had been so sneaky, keeping the baby’s gender an absolute secret - it was all we could do to keep from gossiping wildly about what we thought it would be.  As we set up for the shower, Danielle pulled out a beautiful cake made by the same bakery who did her wedding three years ago. The cake was to be a gender reveal!  After patiently waiting through games, gifts and food, I had the honor of cutting the cake and announcing to all the guests that there would be a baby Hazel entering our family in May.  Many congratulations to Danielle and Reggie!  We are looking forward to your maternity photos this weekend and baby Hazel’s arrival in a few months! :)

Waiting for Baby { L }

It’s so wonderful for us when clients whose weddings we have shot come back to us years later as they start their families.  Such is the case with Katrina and Dennis.  We photographed their stunning wedding in 2011, and now, two years later we got to celebrate with them as they waited for little baby Ryan.  Katrina and Dennis chose to do outdoor maternity, which we love because it creates images that look relaxed and natural (plus who can resist October color in Wisconsin!)  Maternity is such a special session because it celebrates the beginning of something new, and all the wonderful preparations loving families make while waiting for their new babies to arrive.  Baby Ryan made his debut early so we have already gotten to meet the little guy and can’t wait to share those photos with you as well.

Meagan and Adam are Expecting!

Meagan and Adam were one of our very first weddings to photograph years ago.  Their wedding day was intimate, stylish and fun and it was so obvious to both Ben and I what a connected and strong couple they were.  Since then, many things in their lives have changed, but those core values have not, and their relationship has only grown stronger.  Today, it is such a pleasure for us to to be a part of their maternity photos and to join them in the anticipation of their first child!  I can't explain how special it feels for us to see them return years later and to be a part of this milestone as well.  Congratulations to you both!