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DeNelle’s breastfeeding portrait session took place on a gorgeous late August morning. The flowers were in bloom and her son Sebastian was a doll. Look at his expressive little eyebrow furl! He was enamored by the colorful flowers surrounding him and didn’t quite know if he liked touching them.
Every nursing experience is different. Honor yours with a portrait session anytime during your breastfeeding journey.
This is a session from September 2019.
Yes, I’m that behind on blogging but trying to catch up by posting my favorite sessions.
What makes a successful day in the life session?
A glimpse of the absolutely normal everyday stuff and a family that invites me in to see it. That’s it. And it’s magic.
I arrived right when their girls were waking up. I was there for the early morning snuggles in bed bathed in early morning light. Most families think, oh we need to get ourselves ready before you come over. No you don’t.
Next it was onto a bit of dress up, breakfast, and getting ready for the day. Finally one quick impromptu dance party before the girls were off to their own Saturday morning dance classes. (Did I mention both Gen and Alain are dancers too?)
After dance classes were over they walked down to a corner cafe grabbed a snack and joined some friends at a neighborhood park.
Then a quick stop at a little free library and back home to relax. That’s it!
A normal Saturday routine captured in a way they’ll be able to relive for years to come.
Thanks to Alain and Gen who graciously welcomed me in and trusted me completely to be there for all the little moments.
The stars were aligned when Alissa and I found each other only a few weeks before she was due.
As a mother of three, this home birth was not her first. Alissa amazed me. Not only was she so in tune to her body to predict the exact day she’d be having her son, she also seemed to know exactly what she needed to do the entire time she was in labor. She gracefully walked the fine line of being in complete control and surrendering to everything her body was telling her. Such a strong woman and mother. Her children were in awe of their mother.
Prior to her birth she told me she wanted make sure to have photos of her husband supporting her. Turned out not only did her husband do a fantastic job supporting her, but her two youngest children barely left their mother’s side all night and morning, except to sleep.
Her youngest son outlast the rest of his siblings, staying awake into the wee hours of the morning with excitement as his mother labored. Which is also why you’ll see in the slideshow his sister holding him up half asleep right before the birth of his baby brother. Both he and his sister were the best mini-doulas to their mother, constantly offering encouraging words and support. After an evening and morning of labor, their little baby brother David was greeted by so much love when he finally arrived at 11:17 a.m. on March 21st.
In the height of the pandemic and lockdown, Tricia Price reached out to her Woodinville neighbors on facebook asking to borrow a prom dress. Her daughter had her heart set on prom and was devastated that it wasn’t going to happen. She wanted to give her daughter a prom experience, even if it was just getting dressed up for a day and taking some photos. Offers of dresses to borrow soon emerged from neighbors. When the county moved into the next opening phase, the green light was there for a small home prom for her daughter Jayna Price and her best friend Allie Krech and their boyfriends, Aldo and Jacob, respectively. Jayna’s younger siblings also got to join in on the prom night fun. It was an unforgettable and fun night for two beautiful graduating seniors, in that way, not to different from any other prom.
Preface: When we moved to Woodinville, Wa, a few months ago, I began exploring our new community via the local facebook groups. I wanted to see what was happening and what to expect from our new small town and our neighbors. What I found was this wonderful story of a boy on the autism spectrum, his love and talent for photographing miniature cars, and an amazing community that supported him. I knew his story had to be shared and reached out to his mother to see if I could help tell his and their story.
This past Sunday, members of the Woodinville community gathered, cruised their cars, held a small car show, and presented (local-celebrity) Anthony Schmidt with, what can only be described as a dream car for a 12-year-old, a 1957 Ford Custom 300 named “Betty.”
As we waited in the parking lot of Leota Middle School for the cruising cars to arrive, the rain was coming down off and on, and suddenly the cars began to appear. I’m pretty sure Anthony heard them before the rest of us saw them. He took off down the street to watch as they rolled in. More and more cars were coming, for a brief moment I didn’t know if they were all going to fit in the parking lot. After the cars all rolled in, we waited for the grand entrance and reveal of Anthony’s car. Finally she came rolling down the street and Anthony greeted her by running towards her, his arms in the air in excitement.
As his car rolled into the parking lot it was surrounding by people who cared about Anthony and his family. Anthony climbed in and could just see over the wheel, obviously a few years away from driving Betty on his own. As the trio of him, his little brother, and his friend, climbed in and out of the car countless times I could only stand there and imagine the memories the car has already witnessed and the new memories that will be made with her as well.
It takes a community to pull off what I witnessed on Sunday. A few of those community members that must be mentioned: Greg Wilkinson (donated the Ford to Anthony); NAPA Auto Parts Woodinville employees; APC Auto Spa Woodinville; Bob & Jeanie Rash; Woodinville Cruisers Car Club members; and Rich McKee who organized the event. I know I’m new here but thank you to this wonderful community for the love and support I witnessed and photographed on Sunday. I hope to continue telling Anthony’s story through photos again in the future.
Please check out Anthony’s photography:
Instagram: @anthony_ryan_schmidt
Website: www.anthonyryanschmidt.com
Facebook fan group: Friends of Anthony Schmidt Photography
