From maternity to family, it is such an honor to be chosen as the motherhood photographer to document the love and growth. There are endless benefits to a long-term relationship with your family photographer. Not only do I know what those real smiles look like before we even get started, but my clients know what to expect…and that is to let loose and have fun. Those families who come to me every year, always tell me how excited their kids are to see me. And you’d better believe that puts a huge smile on my face, too!
For this family, most of the photo sessions featured the youngest child, Oak. But, I also have some fantastic empowerment photos of this beautiful mama as well as sweet couples photos with her husband who passed away in 2020. You’ll certainly need some Kleenex when you feel the photos of this amazing Mommy and Daddy duo in their birth video. But, let’s start with a few maternity pictures…Oak-themed.
Motherhood photographer from the beginning.
Lisa reached out to me for maternity and birth photography in 2015. Being part of someone’s birth team tends to create an incredible bond. But, at the time, I couldn’t have imagined just how many amazing photo opportunities I would get. Lisa and her husband Mickey had already been through so much as a couple and as parents. And they knew exactly how they wanted this birth story to play out. Lisa referred to it as her “Princess Birth”. She was going to feel in control, relaxed, and beautiful from start to finish. And she did.
Here is Lisa’s birth story as written a year later in November 2016:
10 years ago our marriage began and full of love and hopes and dreams. We bought our first home and each worked on continuing our education. We also decided to start a family. Our family grew and our lives continued to move forward through different job and states and homes. After nearly losing our fourth child, we made a fresh start in the state of Kansas. Within month of our move to Wildcat Country, Mickey was diagnosed with colorectal cancer and another long journey began. It was an emotional and empowering journey and when it ended, we decided to celebrate by bringing a new fifth life into our family. We were not sure if it would happen, but God answered our request and we immediately found we were pregnant with a fifth child and a third son. This life brought with it hope.
Our Kansas baby, the calm after our storms.
It was not a seamless pregnancy, but Oak was brought into the world on a lovely November morning. He is a beautiful blessing from God. He is perfect in every way and every morning I tell Mickey how happy I am that he talked me into one more child. Less than two months after Oak’s birth, his father’s cancer returned. Once again we are on a long journey. However, each of our children bring us so much joy and we know that God knew we needed this precious little boy to brighten our mornings with his smile. This past year hasn’t been easy, but this little baby has graced every day with laughs and smiles and hugs and kisses. He is such a happy little boy. He is a precious gift that reminds us of God’s love for us.
Motherhood at its finest.
Oak is baby number five for this beautiful family. This family was BUSY. When I showed up for their newborn pictures, the house was pretty dark and there was evidence of a hectic and exhausted life being lived. That was beautiful (and very normal) in its own right. But, I had another vision for their newborn photos. I found this perfect beam of light shining onto the master bed and that is where I took all of their pictures. These are still some of my very favorite newborn images I’ve ever created.
By mid-November, it was getting chilly out. We had to move quickly with all of these cuties, but we got fantastic pictures. Here are a few favorites of the full family.
My next opportunity to get my camera on them was for Oak’s one year old portraits and cake smash photos!
Too cute, little guy!
And here he is again for his four year old pictures.
Seriously, what a privilege. Some day when I can take on more birth clients, maybe I’ll start calling myself a motherhood photographer and focus on maternity, birth, and newborn sessions exclusively. My own motherhood journey isn’t allowing that at the moment. But, my heart is definitely still where it needs to be.
After the loss of their dad in 2020, the family moved to Florida, but I’m doing my best to keep up with them on Facebook. I’m not sure Manhattan, KS, had a more loved and more missed family. I’m so glad I got to feel like part of it!
See more Maternity, Birth, and Newborn sessions on my blog!
