The Making of a Family
There is much more to birth photography than the actual moment of birth. It’s mom squeezing dads hand in pain, the OB talking softly preparing her to push. It’s the baby placed on the moms bare skin for the first time. The cutting of the cord, the start of a journey. It’s the making of a family.
I received a text message from Jessica giving me a heads up! She was having contractions and tonight was the night! That evening I went to bed with my phone on my chest. I was about to witness a freaking baby being born! My emotions were jumping out of my chest. Finally, at 3am my phone buzzed! I kissed my snoring hubby goodbye and was out the door in a flash!
The lighting of the room was beautiful, dimly lit and cozy. I thought to myself CRAP, Mom better hold off giving birth because this lighting stinks for photos! Just kidding! The perfect moments don’t pause to wait for perfect lighting, sometimes dark scenes make for amazing images. I came prepared for this light, I was actually looking forward to it! When I looked at Jessica, the pain was evident. At first, it felt uncomfortable taking pictures of another human being experiencing so much agony. I sat down in a chair in the back corner of the room. I noticed Jessica’s mom watching her daughter close. Jessica’s mother was quiet and she was smiling . A bit odd right? Why is she smiling while her daughter yells out in pain. It took me a second but then I felt it. A wave of pure joy. That smile then put my heart at ease. The pain Jessica was feeling was no longer hard to watch, this pain had purpose. And the purpose was shown in her mother's smile. A smile expressed with love only a mother knows. Jessica’s Mom knew she was witnessing a new little soul being brought into the world. This was it, a sacred moment that will change all of their lives forever.
Gary, I watched you throughout this. You were so strong and you supported Jess every step of the way. You my friend, are a kick-ass husband. And Jessica, where do I start? It was all happening so fast. No time for an epidural or heck even a Tylenol for that matter. The nurses discouraged you from pushing at first, they needed you to wait for the doctor. Well little Quinn was't going to wait for anyone! Your body began to push. The doctor came in just in time for baby Quinn to be born. How in the hell you got through that so gracefully with zero pain meds still blows my mind. Jess and Gary, you guys love hard and it shows. You have a beautiful family and I’m forever grateful for this incredible night. To have captured your birth story was capturing what felt like the pinnacle of human strength and so much beauty. Life is beautiful.
Welcome to the world baby girl!
Jessica + Gary + Nixon + Quinn
