We havent blogged a birth in quite some time! Oh my goodness! Honestly we had to take a break last year and didnt get half as much blogged as we wanted to but we have been trying to catch up the last few weeks before the busyness of wedding season takes over!

Do you know what your husbands face looked like when he saw your babies for the first time? Do you remember how you felt? Do you know what I would give for this? Just about anything. Births are intimate, raw, real, emotional, scary and honest. And to be in the room when this beautiful moment takes place is one that we hold in such high regard. Even after photographing around 60 births between the three of us- it is still exhilarating and emotional EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

I photographed Kim and Gerrons engagement, bridal, and wedding day back in 2008 (man I am old). I witnessed the tears streaming down Kims face when she sat with Gerron to pray before the ceremony and Gerrons tears when he saw his bride for the first time. I watched Kims dad kiss her on the cheek before she walked down the aisle, and saw it again when he walked into the room to meet his newest grandbaby. These are the moments that I live for folks. The beauty in the stories. Sweet Smith family… the gift of continually documenting your families big moments is such a treasure to me! I love you guys!

Note for clients : We love shooting births… they are so real and beautiful… but difficult at the same time to be on call and have to drop everything you have going to get to the hospital on time. We have decided to only be on call for one birth per month. Luckily there are three of us so it makes it a bit easier to have three people on call when a client goes in to labor but it is still difficult since they can happen at often unplanned times. If you are looking for someone to photograph your birth and we are booked up for the month we have several photographer friends who we can refer you to. We think the moments before, during, and after your children are born are just as important as your wedding day. The truth and emotion are a treasure that every parent deserves to have documented!

We have permission to post Kims birth slideshow (each client can choose whether or not to share or keep it private) HERE. You will need to view it from an actual computer as it is flash based.

Taylor Tuesday is back again, finally.

We had the privilege again this month to photograph the birth of another beautiful baby girl. Miss Madelyn was absolutely perfect and her parents were smitten over her. It is always so exciting for us when we are invited into the delivery room, especially when the delivery becomes a c-section. Mom and dad were great and we loved meeting them and all of their family. Thanks again and let us know when number two comes along ;)

TAYLOR TUESDAY…

Happy 2 months to this sweet guy. We got the call in the middle of the night and rushed to the hospital. Jenna and Josh decided not to find out what gender they were having, so it was really special when their son arrived! Mommy was a rockstar and had such an amazing delivery. I am so proud of her.

We say it often, but we really do have the best jobs! And it is so fun when we get to photograph our clients in each new phase of their lives. We love our clients and are so honored that they allow us to be a part of some of the most memorable days of their lives. Can’t wait to see this little man all grown up in a couple of months at your family photos!

Our very own, Taylor Forester, had her baby this weekend!! I am sure she will give her own introduction as well but I was too excited to not blog about her!

After 24 hours of natural childbirth we finally got to meet Ms. Ellie Joyce! I am SO SO proud of Taylor…. in every way she was amazing! I was so blessed to be able to be a part of her birth. I was supposed to be the birth photographer but ended up helping her and her sweet husband David in breathing, coaching, photographing and so much more! I can honestly say that it will be one of the best experiences of my life. I have photographed a LOT of births and I LOVE every single one of them but to be in the room when one of your very best friends delivers their baby is a whole new story.
Just a quick photo to introduce her until we get around to doing her newborn session!

We love you, Ellie!!

SARAH SATURDAY?!?
Today is Halle Hartsocks one year birthday and we thought it would be fun to reminisce about the special day of her birth!
I have not been in a ton of birth’s where the parent’s haven’t found out if they are having a boy or a girl, but the ones I have photographed have been so much fun! I don’t know if I could ever wait, but the people I know that have waited have LOVED the surprise! And this one was extremely fun because not only did Brian and Sarah not know but their other sweet kiddos didn’t know either. And the really really fun part was they had all the kids come in before anyone else and then they are the ones that announced to the crowd, and I mean CROWD, of people waiting outside in unbelievable anticipation that they had a sweet baby girl Halle! I don’t know if I have ever seen so many people out in a hospital waiting room! It was so much fun welcoming sweet baby Halle into the world with all the Hartsock’s friends and family….