I’ve been extremely excited to share this maternity session from Coral Gables. This is one of my closest friends and her children mean everything to me. It’s always neat to photograph families as they grow, but it is especially moving when it’s a family so dear to your heart.
Krysten and her family live in West Virginia, but she is from South Florida. She knew that she wanted to do a maternity session that would incorporate where she came from and showcase part of her (and her children’s) culture. When she asked if I would be up for photographing around Calle Ocho and grabbing some pastelitos, it was an easy “yes”!
This session was going to be different than the one Krysten did when she was pregnant with her first (Vada, seen pictured). Andrew, her husband, wasn’t going to be able to take part in these. While she really wanted him there, I love that it gave us the opportunity to focus on her. We made plans for Vada to be in some of the photographs, but I told Krysten that I really wanted most of the session to be about her and the new baby. Here is my reasoning:
This is a time where Krysten is focusing each day on making sure that her family and her growing baby are healthy and taken care of. I wanted to make sure that she had some moments that focused all that she has been giving back on her. It was a way to make sure she felt special and loved.
Vada is going to grow up with photos of her in her mother’s belly, with no other kids in the photographs. I think it’s truly important to have each child have photographs of them in mother’s stomach. It’s a wonderful way to say, “You are loved, you are wanted, and you are special.”
It’s so easy, after having your first child(ren) to get lazy and tell yourself that you already have maternity photos. But, each pregnancy is so different and that’s a completely different child that is growing inside of you.
It’s a great way to get family photos of everyone before everything changes. You’re about to grow as a family and while wonderful, it will be a different dynamic.
I’m so glad that we were able to capture these last weeks before baby Grimes #2 is here. Looking at these photos, I am trying to prepare myself for how much my heart is about to grow.
