Thierry and Marisa - Newborn Day in the Life Session

There’s nothing so sweet, tiring, and fleeting as those first newborn days. Marisa and Thierry welcomed beautiful little Ella and about two weeks later I swung by their home to document their life as a family of three.

As I was documenting their sweet family and watching them take in every little moment with Ella I was transported back to the hazy newborn days with my son. I have a million pictures of my son but very few of our family and myself with our new family member in our new daily routine. I so wish I could look back on some photos and see how beautiful those moments were, because as most parents will tell you, those first days and weeks are hard but amazing.

The joy of having a documentary session of those first few days with a new baby really comes later. When the baby has grown and is crawling or walking or talking and you view those photos with a new set of parent eyes and see how glorious those days were when you were just meeting this perfect sweet little family member. The secret all parents know is that those days are numbered and never last long enough.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the few hours I spent with newborn Ella and her parents. Scroll down to see their slideshow.

Full Slideshow

Thurber Family - Day in the Life Session - Family Documentary Photography

Because they won’t stay little very long…

I met Claudia pretty soon after moving to Montreal. Almost two years ago now, she was the first fellow mom to welcome me to the city. I remember my son was so little and her youngest was so much smaller too when we met up for coffee.

Two years later, a winding road of exploring my photography passions and here we are. Family documentary photography has captivated me for years now. I’ve been actively documenting my own family in the same journalistic manner since, well, my journalism days. Seems natural right? My kids have so many moments, everyday and milestones, captured by mom’s camera. As my own children age I can see more and more clearly the value of freezing these fast paced years in photographs. Our everyday lives are just as valuable to cherish as the yearly family portrait, if not more so. Now I am turning my camera on other families to document the fleeting and beautiful everyday moments for them to treasure as well.

After documenting just a regular Saturday morning at the Thurber house, Claudia and I again met for coffee (and tea) and I showed her the photos I had taken of their daily and weekly routines, and all the hidden beautiful real moments mixed in there. My goal was to capture their family in a way that was truly 100% them and tell their story. When she teared up watching the slideshow I knew I had accomplished just that. (And then I started to cry too.)

Below are just a few of my favorite photos from their session, scroll to the bottom to see their complete slideshow.

Thurber Family Day in the Life Slideshow

Interested in a family documentary session for your own family? Contact me here.

Mindful Moi - Montreal Postpartum Doula

I met Sara through one of the many mom facebook groups I’m part of. Yes, us modern mothers, we all belong to at least three of these mom groups it seems (or more I’ll confess). We are forever in search of answers and support from other mothers as we navigate this motherhood thing. When I moved to Montreal I had lost my circle of support and knew no one. I wish wish wish I had known Sara then. Sara is an amazing postpartum doula offering support and care to new mothers in Montreal during the fourth trimester. She hosts motherhood circles where new moms can come together, chat through any triumphs or problems, and really just meet other moms in the same stage of life. This would have been invaluable to me back when my son was a tiny baby. I went out to photograph one of her most recent motherhood circles and their time together. It was like watching and photographing a group of friends just getting together for the day. And of course the cute and squishy little babies were the icing on top. This was purely a documentary session, no moms were told to do anything. These photos were just them being awesome moms and sharing some laughs and smiles with each other along the way.

Enjoy!

If you are an expectant mother or new mom and would like more info on Sara and her services you can find her on instagram at @mindful.moi.

Personal Branding Photography // Family Documentary Photography // Montreal, QC


Eva & Aaron's Wedding - Corrales, New Mexico

It’s always an honor when a friend asks (er… insists) that I photograph their wedding. :) Eva was my dancing/choreographing partner in crime for so many years while we lived in Albuquerque so I was super excited for her and Aaron and their big day. They held a small intimate wedding at Rancho de Corrales, in Corrales, New Mexico on November 3, 2018. It was simply perfect.