The Pelletier Family
I'll admit it; not all newborn sessions are seamless. I mean, it's completely understandable since these little ones are not so certain how they feel about the big world around them quite yet. I have had newborn sessions where just simply moving a finger on the babe has made them irritable.
However, Chase did not disappoint. I was so fortunate to work with Rachel and Justin for their maternity session at Viles Arboretum in Augusta Maine. We worked together for a fall maternity session where they even brought along their two dogs.
When discussing with Rachel what her vision was for her newborn session, she wanted to bring in all the Maine vibes.
Justin brought in some beaver pelts to incorporate his hobby of trapping - which was the perfect touch for the Maine aesthetic. With the help of some antlers borrowed from some of their chosen family, we accomplished the perfect Maine newborn photos.
Building Relationships Through Photography
During Rachel and Justin's ordering appointment, we went through dozens of photos to narrow down their favorites. However, the best part was the conversation at the end.
When I first started working as as photographer, I was so excited to just simply capture the perfect image. I wanted to nail the shot that would wow my clients.
What I didn't realize when I first started, was how much I was going to enjoy creating friendships with my clients. Each time Rachel and Justin came into the studio, we ended up chatting for at least an hour afterward.
The Journey
Rachel and I went to the same high school and have been friends on social media for years and years. Over this time, Rachel was courageous enough to share their journey of trying to grow a family. Keyword: trying.
As many of us mothers know, pregnancy is not something that just happens. This is a process that can take years just to get that positive pregnancy test.
After finally seeing the positive results, 1 of 4 women will have a miscarriage.
Being 1 of the 4 women myself, I remember feeling so alone. I was young, I didn't know of anyone else who had experienced this, and I wasn't even sure how to express how I felt to the others around me. For a time, the world kinda just moved around me and I felt stuck. I knew a miracle was now just simply gone.
Rachel bravely expressed on social media the journey she went through. As I was seeing her share her story, I thought over and over again about how included she was making other mothers who had been in her shoes feel. So many women experience it but don't speak out. After seeing Rachel share her story, I finally felt comfortable enough to share mine as well.
As I started to share, I realized some of the people closest to me had experienced this as well. However, years went by and we never said a word to each other. We all dealt in silence. I am so appreciative of Rachel sharing her story with us. Because of her, conversations were able to happen around me that allowed other women to have a little bit of closure and feel heard and connected.
