Being a witness to new parenthood

Being the photographer during the firsts of a baby’s life means being invited to the most intimate of spaces and moments of a growing family’s life. Whether I meet a mom with her newborn baby or a family that grew from five to six, the shift of energy is clear. It shows in the softness on a mother’s face, in the tenderness of a dad’s touch, and the big curious eyes of an older sibling. It lives in the fumbling hands swaddling up the newness, in the dad’s loving squeeze of mom’s shoulder, and most definitely in the burst of laughter when baby’s hairy back is discovered.

There is no pose or prop that can showcase these magical shifts that happen a growing family, which is why the documentary approach works so well for Fresh 48 at the hospital and newborn sessions at home.

"We were looking for a photographer that would be easy to be around and non-intrusive.  I am not good with posing for photos and putting on fake smiles. I wanted to be captured doing "us" rather than doing what we were directed to do..." - Julie

The first time I really got a sense of just how powerful the shift is, when people become parents, was in February 2017 when friends of mine had a baby. All my preconceptions of how they would be as parents went out the window as I stepped into their hospital room. The tenderness, protectiveness, and nervous exchanges of looks– a whole new world had opened up to them and I had the privilege to be documenting all of it.

"The best part about the session was that we didn't have to do anything other than love our son." - Matt

"I'm reminded how beautiful motherhood is just by looking at the pics everyday." - Lauren

My friend had told me that she was nervous about bringing in anyone to take pictures on the birthday of their daughter, but as I was her friend she figured she'd feel more comfortable. It really is a great responsibility not only to deliver pictures that the family will cherish, but to be a person a family can trust and feel comfortable with during this major life shift.

"She had us go about our regular day (which we were still figuring out!!) and took beautiful photos of moments I didn't even know would be photo worthy." - Rachel

Observing and contemplating what goes on comes naturally to me – the camera is just my chosen instrument to try and translate the magic onto "paper". I’m too impatient to paint 😅