Sneak Peek of BirthStories in the Works

Sometimes I stay up too late working......but on nights like tonight, it is understandable.  I have been piecing together not one, not two. but three LeLe BirthStories.  I couldn't work this hard this late and not share a little sneak peek with you all.......

1st.  Meet Ashley and Jake.   I can NOT wait to share their story with you.   I felt like Ashley had been my long lost best friend within talking to her for hmmm....about 30 seconds!  :)   I am blessed because this couple came into my life.  

2. I would not have met Jake and Ashley with out Diane.   If this family looks familiar, that is because we captured their first BirthStory with Marni and her 1st Birthday Pictures.  Oh....and she happens to be Ashley's doctor who also happens to be a doctor herself.   :)

 3rd: Meet Jessii and Steve.   I knew I would love them the moment Jessii let me know she was totally down with my idea for a sunrise Maternity session.  That's right, we woke up this summer and met up at 6:30am, and captured the entire sunrise for their Ripe Belly Session.  

So much more to come.....Get excited. :)   Please excuse the typos.....Me and Zoey are off to bed now!  :)   Night!   xo

A Moment 9 Months in the Making: Baby Ryder

Just a little tease of the BirthStory I am currently piecing together.   I am absolutely in love with everything about this couple.   What is not to love?  

This may be one of my fav. pics I have ever taken.   

We were there for the biggest moment that these two have shared as a husband and wife.  For nine months, they waited, dreamed, anticipated, and talked about this one single moment........

  And it all came down to this one single moment.  A moment they will never forget.  This is the kind of stuff you can not get back again.  This is the kind of stuff you can not re-inact.  Real. Pure. Raw Emotion.

 My favorite picture of the day.  Ryder meet your mom.  Mom meet your baby boy.  

Same pouty lips.  Same shared tears.   

This is one BirthStory I can NOT wait to share with you guys!!!!  Coming on Monday..........    :)

The Best Kind of Surprise

Elisabeth and Joe had booked their Ripe Belly Session months in advance. The date was set, and they were ready to go. The weather was not our friend that day, and we had to reschedule. I ended up getting REALLY sick on our rescheduled day, and so yet again, we were forced to reschedule. Later that week, I was feeling as good as new, and knew that the third time would be a charm. As soon as I pulled into the driveway of their beautiful home, I was welcomed with big smiles and lots of excitement. :) I learned a little bit more about the two of them. Elisabeth is an OB/GYN and Joe is a High School Photography Teacher! I truly admire Joe's profession, because my high school photography class helped me discover the first thing I had a true passion for, the art of photography. I wish I could get a hold of my old photog teacher today. I would take the time to thank him and make sure that he realizes that his class changed, shaped, and molded my life and future.

Within the first ten minutes of meeting Joe and Elisabeth, I also realized they love surprises. They are having the best kind of surprise by waiting to find out if their baby on the way is a boy or girl. I absolutely LOVE surprises. Growing up, Alicea was always the one who would sneak into the Christmas presents to find out what Santa was bringing her. Not me! I wanted the surprise. I wanted the anticipation and excitement. After being present in several Labor and Delivery rooms, there is such an element of sheer joy when the father calls out "It's a boy!" or "It's a girl!" Joe and Elisabeth are also not sharing their name choices with anyone! They want that to be a surprise also. Trust me, I tried to pry it out of them.....I was all, "Come on...you can tell the photographer, right?!!" :) Wrong...they are keeping that between the two of them! I have been known to be right a couple times here and there when it comes to guessing the sex of the baby. My guess this time.....Girl. :) We will find out in about two weeks!

Boy or Girl?

Michael adores Erin. I can see it when I hear him talk about her. I can hear it in his words. The way his eyes lights up when he talks about how excited they have been since the moment they found out they had a baby on the way. They are waiting to find out if they are having a boy or girl. I love when the parents wait to find out the sex of their baby! It is so rockstar esque to me. I know the anticipation would kill most people, but to me it would be like Christmas morning and totally worth the wait. We will be capturing that moment when they call out "It's a boy!! or "It's a girl!!!", because Michael and Erin are going to have a BirthStory. They will have the tears, the moments, excitement, anticipation, and joy documented in a BirthStory that tells their own story. So.....what do you all think they will be having....boy or girl? My guess ....well you have to read all they way until the end for that.....

Here are a few of my favorites from the Ripe Belly session....
ERIN!!! AYKM!!!??? You are SOOOOOO beautiful! Those eyes! Love them! You rock out those poses as well as you rock out that bump!!
They <3 each other, and I <3 them!


Thank you guys for being such good sports!! I found this beautiful field with tall grass and amazing lighting.....one slight setback.....Erin had 3 inch heels on. Thank you guys for trusting me.....these turned out to be my favorites of the day....


Fun facts about Michael and Erin: (There were so many things that I had in common with this couple!!!!)

1.) They LOVE to travel. As soon as I walked in their home, I was naming the destinations they had pictures of on their walls. We looked through their photo books together, and they even gave me some pointers on places I would like to visit and my upcoming trips.
2. They love wine! We talked vino. We bonded.
3. They love KU.......I love Mizzou. Okay....so we did not have everything in common....but I love that is where they met. :)
4. They LOVE pictures. I can always tell how important pictures are to someone when I walk into their home. I am extremely observant. I love to peruse around, and see what I can learn about a person. Their walls were covered with pictures. Pictures from their wedding, pictures from their travels, pictures of friends and family, and pictures of moments. I am so proud to know that the moments that I am capturing for your family will (hopefully :)) be part of the picture collection on your wall to tell your story. 5. They love their dog. I love my dog. :)
Drumroll please..................................................................................................................................
I think that Michael and Erin will be having a sweet baby girl.

Katy and Ricky: Ripe Belly!

I met Katy way back in the 4th grade when I played basketball for St. Ferdinand and I met Ricky in junior high. They met in high school and fell in love. Fast forward and the high school sweethearts are awaiting their firstborn... and second! That's right TWINS!! One boy and one girl. I am SOOOO happy for the two of them, their anxious excitement to meet their babies makes my heart smile. I can tell you I am so excited to meet them too and we can't wait to take their pictures!