I have had a lot of extended family sessions lately. I’ve always known what you post is what you shoot, so bring them on! I love them! It may seem like chaos in the moment while we are shooting. There are so many wonderful personalities mingling & people wandering everywhere but it’s my kind of crazy.

Last nights session was no different! There were 3 families coming together and over half of the 14 children between them were under 3. Seeing the cousins playing and laughing together reminds me of my big family and it’s the best. Whenever I shoot at the beach we always somehow end up in the water. I’m not complaining either, the water makes such a fantastic, playful backdrop, I’m usually at least knees deep in there too! 

We always start with the individual family photos, then group photos and end with some in-the-moment candid shots (which happen to be my favorite) If this sounds like something your interested in I’d love to talk more!

I have the BEST kind of story to share with you all. It’s about overcoming infertility and the of power social media, mixed with prayer and the good people that still exist. 

Last fall I saw a post on facebook from my friend Becky & her husband Jake. I hadn’t seen Becky in years but her story immediately brought me to tears. She was struggling with infertility and looking for a surrogate. I was 7 months pregnant at the time after a 6 year trial of secondary infertility and my heart was just breaking for what they were going through. This is what they shared as they searched;

I am a private person, and this is difficult for me to share but I am doing so because my family is dependent on it. So here goes nothing… 

We have been trying to conceive for over 5 years. I have taken every fertility drug available (even experimental ones), had multiple surgeries, have done multiple rounds of IVF, FETs, IUI- basically everything that modern medicine has to offer. I have also tried Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic recommendations, diet and lifestyle changes, etc. all to no avail. The times that we have been able to achieve pregnancy all have ended in miscarriage which has been completely heartbreaking for us. Yet we have always continued, one treatment after another, because I know deep in my being that we were meant to be parents and I feel a pull to continue on this path. 

It has become evident (and our doctor has advised us) that the likelihood of me carrying a baby is slim to none and the best chances of us having a healthy baby are to use a gestational carrier (surrogate), which is why I am writing this post. I am hoping that someone will see this post and perhaps be called upon or know someone who may do this for us. I am available to talk with anyone about the process. A gestational carrier does not have any genetic ties to the baby, just more of a “40-week babysitter” 😊 The State of Michigan makes it illegal to pay anyone for this, and it would be something that would be impossible to repay someone for anyways. That person would forever have a special place in our heart. Feel free to like and share this post, I hope that a lot of people see it. Love and God Bless.

I thought about Becky and Jake for days, knowing just the struggle they were facing. I wanted to help, but knew there was nothing I could do for them-except maybe send their story to my best friend who was going through a different kind of struggle. 

My best friend Theresa & her husband Philip had just decided their family was complete. After 5 children all under 6 and their baby Sammy still under a year they were happy with their decision. Theresa was made to be a mom and although her heart knew she was done with babies, she had loved being pregnant. We had many tearful conversations about the sadness that comes when you know something you’ve done for so long is over. Last pregnancy test, last first flutters of movement, the kicks, rolls and movement. Watching your body do amazing things to accommodate a growing baby. It was done for Theresa & Philip. Although some people won’t understand, it was a mourning period for Theresa because she loved her pregnancies. I sent her Becky & Jake’s story and said something along the lines of ‘one last pregnancy?’ We talked about it but I never knew it went any further. She is excellent at keeping secrets.

Fast forward to early this Spring. Theresa asked me to stop over and I could tell she had something big to tell me but I had NO idea what it was. When I got there she showed me an ultrasound-but it wasn’t her baby. 

Theresa and her husband Philip had reached out to Becky and Jake & fate was on their side. They decided to move forward and here we are today. Theresa is almost half way through her pregnancy, carrying  Becky & Jake’s little girl. There is no one better for this role. Theresa has said many times that God granted her the ability to have healthy pregnancies and she wanted to use that gift to help others. She is an incredible woman with a supportive husband and I’m so happy for the match they made and the family that they are helping create for Becky and Jake.

The session tonight was much anticipated. The gender reveal! Becky let Theresa plan the surprise and the quote was perfect for the pink onesie that she had made for the reveal. “We never gave up -due- December 2019”

I am just beyond excited to be able to share this incredible story, it is hard to articulate just how much joy I have for Becky & Jake to finally become parents. Congratulations all around!

You guys! My baby sister is going to be 30 next month. She’s been revealing (gloating) in the fact that she’s the last sister in her 20’s so we are all excited for her to hit this big milestone! We figured we’d put our own spin on the cake-smash trend and celebrate with champagne, ponies & cake! It really was as fun as it looks. If your approaching a big milestone in your life I’d love to help you celebrate too! Ashley-welcome to the thirty club!!

For the past year I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this adorable little man named Riley. From his newborn photos all the way through his first year we’ve had countless memorable sessions. The Watch Me Grow package that his mom chose is a favorite of mine because I get to watch your baby change, grow, develop personalities and hit all kinds of fun milestones. I always feel a little sad when the year is up after working so closely with the family, but I’m happy for the time we had. Wagner family, it was the best year with you!

Sometimes when your in the mix of your babies first year it’s easy to brush off these milestone photos. Trust me, I completely get it as I’m in the mix of it with my 7 month old. Time goes by so fast and it’s something you will never regret. The best time to book your Watch Me Grow package is during your pregnancy. I’d love to talk more. Message me for more information!

Lindsie first mentioned the idea of an extended family session while she was doing my hair one day & I’ve been looking forward to her session for months!

Extended family sessions are always a great idea in my opinion. How often do you get photos of your whole family in a relaxed setting? Plus, I love the different dynamics in a family, seeing the personalities while i’m shooting and it continues while editing to find similar features. Genetics have always intrigued me and its so fun to see what genes gets passed on to children and grandchildren. You can definitely see the similarities, especially in the eyes of Lindsie & her sister, even Henry that they must have got from her mom. 

Speaking of her mom, she was looking to focus a little on her and her husband. I love that she did. They have been together over 40 years and they were still flirting like teenagers and I think that is really something to admire. 

I hope you enjoy this sneak peek into the Lewis extended family session. If your looking for new hair stylist I fully recommend Lindsie! She is so great to work with. You can visit her at Beje Salon http://bejesalon.com/

 

Meet Miss Eliza Mae! She was born June 6th. Megan & Eli didn’t find out the gender and it was such a great surprise. I was one of the only ones who said girl all along, it’s nice to be right. Ha!

It’s a good thing she’s so beautiful because her arrival wasn’t so smooth. Megan went in to see her Doctor because she knew something was off. The baby wasn’t moving as much as she had been. Her instincts were right and baby was in distress. Eliza was born by emergency C-Section and not only was the cord wrapped around her neck but she was also having trouble breathing on her own. Within a few hours her lung collapsed. She was transferred down to the NICU at Children’s Hospital in Detroit. They discovered she had a small hole in her lung. Megan was recovering at home while Eli stayed with Eliza. I just loved what she wrote below; 

He has spent every single moment with Eliza at the NICU in Detroit since day 1, so I could recover at home & rest from surgery. He slept on a janky pull out recliner for 4 nights & then would drive up to Port Huron and bring me down here every day during the day.  Eliza hit the Daddy jackpot with this guy. 

Happily they are now home and all is well! Eliza is doing perfectly. Big sister and brother are just in awe of her and love watching her every move. She is the perfect addition to the Brewer family. 

I’m so happy to introduce you to my new niece Lainey Paige! I’m not sure if it’s the possibility that this is the last newborn in our family or the fact that I think she looks like a mini Katie but I am in LOVE with this baby.

She was born yesterday, June 10th at 8:17am. Funny story, my business partner Megan at Mulberry & Sage was supposed to have the 8am time for a C-section but she decided to have her baby early. Katie just snatched that up! We’ve been so excited to meet this little girl, I’m glad we didn’t have to wait any longer. She has the sweetest chunky cheeks and was 7.5 lbs and 22 inches long. She has a pretty full head of dark hair and I can’t wait to see if she keeps it or if turns blonde like all the rest of the cousins (minus Colton!) 

Big sister Emerson is beyond excited for her new role and she has been asking everyone around her if they’ve seen her cute baby sister yet. It’s pretty adorable and I can’t wait to see if it lasts when baby comes home! Those two are going to be best friends and I’m so happy for the whole Jezierski Family!

Are you interested in a fresh 48 session at the hospital instead of a traditional newborn session? I’d love to talk more! 

 

It seems when I do one sister’s photos another makes a request. Since I shared Katie’s earlier I figured it’s best to share Megans as well so she doesn’t get mad (hehe) The Naplin crew is growing! Keegan is almost 5. She’s starting Kindergarten this fall. I’m not sure how that happened but we are all so excited for her. Levi is 3 going on 20. His favorite things to talk about is farming, tractors and cows. Seriously, have a conversation with him. It’s pretty entertaining. Austyn is 7 months now & is finally sleeping through the night. (so jealous) This was just one half of the session. We have to wait for dad to get done with planting for some new updated family photos coming soon!

Are you celebrating any milestones? Let’s document them!

 Sunshine is in order on this rainy day & the Sobol family had a gorgeous morning with me last week. I’ve been so lucky to photograph them through the years. Easton just turned 5 and Ensley is now 2. They are so sweet with each other & was so fun to see them grow. Here are just a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy!

 

I am so excited to share a few of my favorite images from the Jezierski Family maternity session. You may remember that Katie is my little sister. We’ve been bugging her to have another baby for about 4 years now! Emerson was made to be a big sister. She has had some practice as a big cousin but is so ready to meet her baby sister. Lucky for her, today is the big day. Baby Jezierski is on her way. I’ll be sharing those images soon as well 🙂

If your looking for a photographer to capture your baby bump I’d love to talk more! I recommend not waiting until last minute like Katie did though. Generally 28-34 weeks is ideal. Let’s talk soon!