I’m sitting here trying to figure out what to say about this amazing couple that really expresses how I feel about these photos. this won’t sound as polished as I would like or do justice to des & jay but it’s what I’m feeling.

at first it was a pretty regular start, des emailed me after talking with her friend jodi. after a few emails she discovered that we’re in the process of starting ivf treatments and that’s how their little miracle made it’s way into their life. she had some really encouraging words and I was looking forward to our session.

they mentioned they were a little shy so we booked some extra time in the studio in case they had a little trouble getting comfortable in front of the camera. is it just me or do they look like they’ve done this before?

it was one of those great sessions where we spent our entire time together chatting away. we talked about our marriages, weddings, honeymoons and then moved into our experiences with infertility. where becky and I are just starting out in this process, they have had several years filled with hope, heartbreak, tears and then finally the joy of finding out that their dreams were about to come true. we face so much uncertainty and it’s so inspiring to spend some time with such a gracious and positive couple.

every book I’ve read says that you need to surround yourselves with people who know what you’re going through and I’m so blessed to have so many clients who encourage us this way.

I could go on for so much longer but we should get to the photos.

so des & jay….

thank you for coming to the studio looking like a million bucks. couples who still dress up for their photos are the best!

thanks for stepping out of your comfort zone, you should be so proud of the beautiful images you have created.

know that you are an inspiration to at least one person in this world, and you probably didn’t even know how much you were helping someone else!

thank you for reminding everyone around you that every day of pregnancy is a gift worth more than anything else in this world.

we wanted to get some belly shots but des mentioned several times that this was a little out of her comfort zone. since she did prenatal yoga for the past few months she changed into her workout gear and showed off her skills.

mad skills as becky would say.

I couldn’t believe some of the poses she got into and it was a blast to watch!

I asked her to show me a really serious meditation pose and after 5 minutes of trying to keep a straight face, this is the closest we got….

jodi emailed me a few months ago with the exciting news that they were expecting again! we did family photos last summer and this time she wanted to remember the wonderful time as they are anticipating the arrival of the new baby brother or sister for their son.

she saw this beautiful mom’s photos and decided to do something a little different than the traditional maternity photos.

I’ll never stop saying this, when people decide to move out of their comfort zone just a little, when they take a chance and let their true selves come out in front of the camera the results are stunning.

and jodi is no exception.

it’s not easy to just let yourself go in front of a photographer, to ignore those little voices in your head that say you might look a little silly or that you can’t look absolutely fantastic in front of the camera. at first you’re not sure where to put your hands, or just how to smile or look at the lens. that usually fades after a few minutes and then you can just relax and have some fun!

her husband couldn’t make it to the shoot but I think he’ll be thrilled with the shots and be reminded that he is a lucky man.

jodi, I know the doctors have told you to stay put until the little one arrives. I hope your photos provide a little distraction and I can’t wait to come over and meet the little one later this month…..

people always ask me what my favorite part of being a photographer is. I have trouble answering this because I’m one of those lucky people who loves pretty much everything about their job.

but one thing that is at the top of the list is when I really get to know my clients better and that usually happens in their home before our shoot. I love how every home and family has a different feeling….

the quiet joy in a house that has a new baby in it

the energy at the bride’s home as she gets ready for her walk down the aisle

but my favorite would probably be the anticipation that you feel when you get to photograph a couple that is expecting a child. tara and james’ home had a sense of quiet anticipation in it when I arrived a few weeks ago. we talked about how they were getting ready, how their son was feeling about his new little brother and just some general kids chit chat.

we headed out after that……tara said she was a little nervous but she really wanted to remember this special time and was going to take the plunge and get some really great creative photos.

I think it took about five minutes and she seemed to get over her jitters and it turns out she’s a natural in front of the camera! we had such a great time and I couldn’t have asked for a better model!

we found two great cars in an alley downtown…..as we were debating on whether or not the owner would mind if we used them he actually walked around the corner and told us to help ourselves. I’m not a car guy so I couldn’t begin to tell you what kind of cars they were but it’s obvious he spent alot of time restoring them and we were happy to use them!