Harry // newborn session
I say this a lot, but so many of my clients have been with me since the very beginning and when their family grows - either with the addition of a family member or the kids themselves grow like weeds! - it makes my heart swell with gratitude that they just KEEP COMING BACK.
For this family, I've known them since 2011 and with each season, they keep getting cuter and sweeter and make my heart flutter even faster! Charlie and Arthur are the kindest five year olds my world has ever known and I watch them with wonder whenever we're together. Maybe it's a personal fascination with twins thing, but I'm just drawn to them! And no matter how much time or how many miles have separated us since the last meeting, they still crawl up on my lap and we have the best conversations.
Mama Kate photographed my 30th pizza birthday party and told me that night in 2015 that they would be moving to Denver - INSERT ALL THE CRYING HERE. I knew it was for the best for their family but it didn't stop me from secretly praying our paths would cross again.
Fast forward to 2016 and she announced she was pregnant - surprise! - with baby #3. In Denver! I immediately started my unashamed proclamations of "PLEASE CHOOSE ME FOR THE NEWBORN SESSION!" only every other day. I eventually wore her down (kidding - she told me I was her first choice - YAAAAS!) and we made the plans.
I combined a trip to Denver onto my yearly Visit the Grandparents in Phoenix trip and Luis met me at the airport to start an adventure that would lead to our engagement, a stay in a Tiny House and one of the best weeks of my entire life.
Baby Harry arrived a few days late to an anxious set of parents and older brothers who were waiting on pins and needles to meet him ... and best of all, we didn't know Harry was Harry until he was born! BEST SURPRISE EVER!
Luis and I had just finished hiking the Flatirons in Boulder, CO when Kate texted: boy baby is here. Happy. Healthy. More later! HALLELUJAH! Talk about that Rocky Mountain high <3 We made plans to do the session a couple days later.
Our engagement took place less than 24 hours before this session and friends, this will forever be the most memorable session of my career. It was pure euphoria: sweet newborn baby smells, puppy ear scratches, 5 year old cuddles, strong & brave mama, the kindest papa ... I couldn't ask for more!
These nearly five year old twins Charlie and Arthur are two of my favorite humans in the world and no matter the time we are apart, they always curl their growing limbs into my lap and we have the best conversations.
"Do you need those glasses to see?" "I have my fingernails painted! Why aren't yours painted?" "I have a camera too! Let me take your picture!" "I'm asking for a new Batman book for my birthday!" "Did you know XYZ about these super heroes?" "OH! Did you know we have a new baby here?!"
And this, folks, is the next most amazing human in the world: Lil Harry Sommers.
You'll thank me when he's ruling the world in about five years, just like his brothers ;)
Next life goal? Move to Colorado and photograph these kids for the rest of their lives.
Sommers family: you have my heart forever. The bliss and love I feel in your home is unmatched and I know in my heart this won't be the last time. Thank you for always choosing me, supporting me and being the kind of parents Luis and I hope to be someday. All the love in the world to you!
Brooks // the first year
Ten of the longest fingers I've seen on a newborn. One sweet button nose. Two long skinny legs. A squeaky baby voice that sounds only when he's hungry or his parents & photographer want him to wear too-big Nike shoes (see the end of the slideshow below for proof!).
Brooks Robert is a handsome guy who showed his big personality during the newborn studio session - from his want to have a hand under his chin, to kicking his legs out of the swaddle. This guy takes up space (tall and skinny, just like Dad!) and I was worried he wouldn't fit in my baskets! But he curled up quite well and took direction ... as much as you can give a not yet week old baby.
I love documenting these first few weeks of life - all the details that as they grow, might become foggy memories. I hear babies grow quickly and they don't keep ... so all the more reason to have these precious days captured!
brooks // fresh session
Rachel & Brian welcomed Brooks Robert just a few days past his due date on the 9th anniversary of my business, the anniversaries of some dear clients, the birthdays of a few others ... needless to say, it was a big day!
In my network of photographer friends, there are a few who offer a Fresh Session, or a session within 48 hours after birth wherever the family has delivered - hospital, home, birth center. In my life as a person and friend (not photographer), I have only seen a newborn that NEW maybe twice in my life, so I was a little anxious about offering this option to clients without trying it out first. Brian & Rachel were more than gracious and said "YES!" right away, which eased my nerves just a bit.
When I walked into their hospital room, it was a flurry of Grandmas, a new Dad and a new Mom trying to figure things out. I was missing one key person: the new baby! Turns out, he was sleeping soundly in his bassinet right next to me :)
I shared the following text on my Instagram for Father's Day, which happened to be right after Brooks' arrival, and it's one of my favorite captions to date, so I'll share it here too:
“It often feels like every time I turn on the radio or the TV or log into Facebook that the world is such a strange place. I don’t want to make any kind of political or news-worthy statement here, other than to say that there are days I look out the window and wonder what crazy thing will come next.
Then there are moments like this, when new life bursts forth into the world and I’m stopped right in my tracks. New parents looking at this little wonder like they’re meeting someone they’ve always known for the very first time. Like your whole life is right there, all your hopes and dreams and visions for a perfect world are held inside that tiny person.
I’m abundantly grateful for these two who invited me into this corner of their world to capture this process and for the reminder that every day is a beautiful day when a baby is born.
And whatever is happening outside? No worry. Because right here? Life is infinitely perfect. ”
Welcome to the world, Brooks. I'm so grateful you're here and I can't wait to watch you grow this first year and then for decades and decades after that. You are so loved!
rachel // maternity
Is there anything sweeter than friends and beloved clients having their first baby? I've said it before, but I could talk about how much I endlessly love seeing clients go from engaged to married to first baby and second and ... ! Life is such a miracle and I'm blessed to be chosen to capture it for such dear people like Brian & Rachel.
I knew Brian in high school, when student council shenanigans ran high and the next thing I know, he's contacting me because he recently asked Rachel to marry him. From our first meeting at their save the date session, I had a gut feeling these two were something extraordinary. Their wedding day was nothing short of fabulous and actually, it was the final wedding I shot as a marketed wedding photographer. I'd say I ended on a high note ;)
Fast forward to fall 2015 and I'm offering studio mini sessions. Brian contacts me with a request to do an anniversary session. I jump at the chance to see these two again! They arrived at the studio with a secret surprise: they were expecting!! I will never forget the moment of standing in my old studio, these two beaming and we're all crying happy tears. It ended up that it wasn't an anniversary session after all, but a pregnancy announcement they were planning to share with the future grandparents in two weeks at Thanksgiving.
After a long winter, spring arrived and with it, a baby bump! We met at a park near my home to photograph this mystery baby - Brian & Rachel chose not to find out the gender until birth, so these photos mean that much more, at least to me. Little did we know there was a little ....
I'm not going to spoil the surprise until I share the "fresh" session we did at the hospital less than 24 hours after the little one arrived. If we thought we were all heart eyes over these maternity images, wait until I share the ones coming up ... grab a Kleenex! :)
Jacqua & Lolo // Personal
July 2015: I shot my first session on an island on the St. Croix River, the maternity session with Jacqua & Chris, big sister Beau and baby Lolo, who arrived fast and furious 12 days later. We were just in time!! This session was a first for me in a lot of ways; not only the location and the fact we took a boat there (!!) but that it was one of the first times I looked at everything and made the decision that I would not only make great images for this family but I would make art.
I started out in photography making art in the very classic of terms. Each time I picked up my camera, I was conscious of all the female photographers who came before me and I decided that I would keep them all at the forefront of my mind. To make decisions on placement and lighting and subjects and objects with the idea that I'd be fully engaged 100% of the time.
Over time, things become more second nature. I make conscious decisions, of course. But those photographers I studied in college became more of a distant memory.
When I stepped foot on that island, I looked at this scene and immediately saw a vision. One of motherhood, of vulnerability, of childhood, of wonder and magic. It was a dream.
I literally pinched myself with how blessed I was to be there as a witness to this moment between mother and daughter and future daughter and the culmination of 9 months of hard work - I mean, I've never done it, but I'm positive that growing a human is extremely challenging, especially when you're chasing an almost 2 year old ;)
And that's when I decided to make the journey back to where I started: making, creating and witnessing pure magic.
July 2016: Lolo is a year old exactly and we're back on this magical island, where the water level is lower than the year before and more trees have fallen. Big sister Beau is more adventurous and talkative and speaks her mind. She's swimming in the river while Lolo has her one year portraits.
Jacqua is a gracious and gorgeous mama, who loves her girls so fiercely and teaches them in big and small moments daily. Watching her from wife to mama to one to mama to two has shown me that really, we can all have it all, in whatever ways we want it. Her girls get their joy from her love and boy, I cannot wait to see how they grow. And Chris - honestly, hardest working guy ever. We captured some fabulous shots of him and Lolo during this session that remind me that the love being dads and daughters is unmatched.
Lolo is as adventurous as her sister, but also her determination and resilient nature is just as strong. This sweet girl was in a brace and later, a cast, to help her hips grow in the right way, which prohibited her movement until now. She may just be crawling now but this girl loves finding her way in the world. Picking up sand, sticks and grass, laughing and giggling. I am constantly stopped in my tracks with how wonderful and joyful she is.
I could go on and on for hours with how much I adore this family and this First Year package, but I'll sum it up with this: This shot and the journey between the two is one of infinite reasons why I love my job.
Why I choose to make and create every day.
Why I want to start looking at this business in new and fresh ways.
Why I feel grateful to meet amazing families who choose me to witness their magic and capture the moments that will tell the story of their life.
Calvin // Newborn
Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body // Elizabeth Stone
I've known Nate & Laura since college and I photographed their five year anniversary session in 2012 here: part 1 & here: part 2.
When I heard they were expecting a little one, I jumped at the chance to document this new guy in town - Calvin! He was so calm and relaxed during their in-home session in the middle of winter. We actually took most of these adorable images in their dining room with the great even light from the patio doors :) Insider tricks, right?!
I loved seeing these long-time friends as new parents after more than a decade together - they are total naturals! Calvin is so blessed to have them as his parents. And I hope to see this little guy grow up!
Samuel // First Year
Baby Samuel's arrival was highly anticipated - especially since I had first met these two lovebirds about two years before, photographed their wedding and an extended family session! I just KNEW Holly and Brian would be the very best parents to their little guy and was so grateful when they asked me to photograph the three of them together in their home a few weeks after Sam had arrived.
I love meeting the babies of my favorite couples and seeing their personalities come out, even in those first few weeks. Baby Sam has Holly's "don't want to miss a thing" attitude and Brian's kind eyes - and even though Sam was awake most of the night before his session, he never quite fell asleep! He didn't want to miss anything and even muscled his way out of the wraps and blankets we tried to put him in. His coos and smiles were breath-taking and I loved spending time in the morning light with these three :)
Newborn sessions are so fabulous at home - new parents are the most comfortable here, they have all the things they might need to soothe and feed and change baby within arm's reach. Plus, it's so great to have these images to look back on as baby grows. Your family may not live in this first home forever and these memories are ones you'll cherish forever!
Hugs and cuddles to baby Sam and his family - I can't wait to see him for his 6 month photos, right around Mother's Day :) *hint hint, Dad!* XOXO!
Lolo, 6 months // First Year
Suddenly, Lolo is six months old! I say this often about my tiny clients, but even though we know babies grow, it's amazing to see them from belly to brand new to 6 months and then to walking, jabbering little humans! Life is such a miracle and these healthy, happy babies make my world go 'round.
Lolo flaunted her smile and her smooshable baby rolls like no lady I've ever known and I hope she never loses that sweetness and confidence. When we laid her on the sheepskin, she wouldn't stop laughing and reaching for those toes - I had this thought - "what if all women showed love to themselves and their bodies like Lolo is in this moment?" How beautiful and full life would be!
I'm taking that "what if" with me daily into 2016 - and I can't wait to snuggle a one year old Lolo and her big sis Beau in a few more months!
Lolo, Newborn // First Year
Baby Lolo arrived VERY SOON after Mama Jacqua's maternity session on the boat - we were all so grateful we had those images because if we would have waited, baby Lolo would have beat us to it!
This sweet baby slept right through her newborn session, even with big sis Beau hanging around closely, watching and making sure "Yoyo" was doing okay. Their bond is already so strong and it will be such a treasure to watch them grow up together! Beau is so sweet with Lolo, with kisses and hugs and being a good helper to Mama.
We did this session at the family's home in St Paul - their sunroom light was too good to be true! A lot of these props and baskets were used for Beau's newborn session, so keeping the family ties was really important.
These first images keep so simple and easy - capturing those moments of interaction, baby sleeping, shots with Mama - it all reminds me that sessions don't have to be so elaborate and lengthy. Sometimes the best images happen when you're just there, fully present and capturing whatever happens in front of you.
It's such a blessing watching these little ones grow - stay tuned to watch baby Lolo grow! Her 6 month photos will totally break your heart in the very best way :)
Jacqua // Maternity
2015 was a year of many firsts for SBP - one of which was a maternity session ... on a boat ... and an island!
Jacqueline and husband Chris purchased a family boat they keep on the St. Croix River last year and when Jacqua was expecting baby #2, they knew they had to incorporate the boat into the maternity session ... I was so glad they picked me to continue documenting their family! They spend so much time on the water that big sis Beau probably feels like she's part fish :)
My boyfriend Luis and I traveled over to Stillwater on a warm Sunday night in late June to spend a few hours on the boat. As always, Jacqua had some amazing pieces to work with - her style is so stunning and makes my job so easy! It was so special to capture the three of them together, filled with such expectation for this little one to arrive.
The black and white image above is probably one of my most favorite images of 2015: as soon as I saw it happening through my lens, I knew it was pure magic. So many metaphors happening here - the expectation of pending motherhood, the strength and femininity of the posing, the reflection in the water and the creeping roots. So vulnerable but also so strong.
I loved every minute of this session and can't wait to get back on this boat for baby's one year session! Baby Lolo will make her big debut on the blog soon - come back to see this sweet girl and her big sis :)
