I've been thinking a lot about my life's work. What in the world is God's purpose for me here on earth? I'm sure I probably still have new mom hormones running through me like crazy, but having a new baby has made me feel even more anxious about the future than I already was. And if that's not a crappy double edged sword...because all I really want to do is sit at home and hold her and not think about having to do anything else ever. But I know that's entirely unrealistic, so I'm all of a sudden feeling this pressure to do something. Something different, something meaningful. And I think I've taken the first step towards that by staying home with our baby girl for awhile. Which may not seem like a big deal, but was a huge decision for us. Because what is more meaningful than caring for your children?
Beyond that though, I know I can't just stay at home and stare at her forever…she'll probably not find me so entertaining in a couple years. Plus, I do have talents and passions that were built in to me by my Creator…I just hadn't, up until recently, figured out what exactly to do with them.
But I think I'm finally getting somewhere.
Though I became a mom 4 years ago through the process of adoption, giving birth to our second child was another completely new experience. Tons and tons of firsts that I didn't get to experience with our son. And I have just been completely enamored with the role of newborn momma. The entire past year…the pregnancy, her birth, and all those firsts I mentioned earlier…they are things I have never experienced before and will probably never experience again (my husband said he's done at 2) :)
And yet, I can look back through photographs and be instantly transported to the time when I looked and felt like I was carrying around a beach ball and she was still dancing around in my tummy; to the time when Benjamin met his daughter for the first time; to the time when Ian met his sister for the first time, etc.
I've always said the one possession I would save in a fire would be my photos, because of the incredible gift they give us. So to hopefully end this brain dump quickly….what I'm trying to get to is that I think I may, may have found a bit of direction in my life's work. Maybe I can give other moms and dads photos that will conjour up distinct and profound memories of those first days of their children's lives. Because I know for me, those are moments I never want to forget.
I know I can "do" photography. I grew up with a camera in my hand and got a degree in the field. But I've never been extremely confident, and I've never felt truly inspired. If I've taken your photos in the past, I don't mean to say they were uninspiring, or that I didn't enjoy it; I just always stressed so much about the logistics, and the technical side of things (posing, lighting, location, etc.). I focused way more on the photographs than on the emotions in them, and it sucked the joy out of what I was doing.
In birth photography, you don't really even have that option. You have hospital light, and completely unromantic and uninspiring settings, and messy hair and un made-up moms. But those moms are such beautiful of subjects as they prepare to bring a sweet soul into the world.
In birth photography you have the most brilliant of experiences taking place, and that, as a photographer, is something I have found a heart for. SO, as I transition from family photography to maternity/birth/newborn photography, I ask that you pray that I have confidence, that I don't give up, and that I serve these moms and families well.
Finally…here are the images. Ideally, these First 48 (typically the birth shoot will take place over a period of 48 hours in the hospital) sessions will include a maternity, or a "Pre" session where I get some images of the mom or family before the baby arrives, and then a Newborn session, after the baby arrives. With this sweet family, I got/get to do all three parts, and it has been so wonderful. Here are some from exactly a week before (almost to the hour) their baby boy #2 arrived:
Here's another quick easy Christmas activity for you! This was something we did during the ice storm last year when we were walled in by white and kept inside for a glorious 5 days straight. I had, fortunately, already bought the sugar cones and icing for this activity, but the decorations were just random bags of baking stuff I found in the pantry! Use what you have!
Here's another quick easy Christmas activity for you! This was something we did during the ice storm last year when we were walled in by white and kept inside for a glorious 5 days straight. I had, fortunately, already bought the sugar cones and icing for this activity, but the decorations were just random bags of baking stuff I found in the pantry! Use what you have!
