A Brand New Treasure: Newborn Photography in Park Rapids, MN

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -- Matthew 6:21

 

Gracelyn Mae is my sister's newest little treasure.
This "treasure chest" in our Mom's house has always been one of my favourite pieces of furniture. It became the perfect setting for a stylized shoot of sweet 3-week-old Gracie with her life verse-- Luke 2:40-- laid open in an old family bible. 

She really is an absolute treasure!

I just couldn't decide if I liked this better in full blast colour, or a soft, velvety black&white...
I just love that sweet sleeping baby!

"And the child grew and became strong: [she] was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on [her]." -- Luke 2:40

Baby Gracie's big brother thinks she's a treasure too. His Mommy has stopped counting how many times a day he can be heard to say, "Me love our baby!" :)

Newborn Portraiture in Park Rapids, MN

"And the child grew and became strong; [she] was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon [her]."

-- Luke 2:40

This is the life verse selected by the mother of this little one...

 

 Gracelyn Mae was named for her mother's dearly loved Grandma, who passed away when Gracie was still in the womb. This ring belonged to Grandma Delores Mae, and Gracie's mommy wore it to her birth to make Grandma feel closer...

There is just nothing like the squidgy softness of a newborn. Words fail in light of such gentle beauty!

(A huge thanks to Heiki Gross Photography for some of the set-up for this session!)

Newborn Photo Session in Park Rapids, MN

“How full can a heart be? How much of the precious presence of another can it take in without breaking apart and spilling over onto everything?” – Leigh McLeroy

 

 

I had the beautiful privilege of taking maternity and newborn pictures for this family. Hannah went overdue 2 weeks waiting for her darling baby Gracie to be born! But when she finally came, Mama's arms were ready and waiting....

These photos put a new spin on "before and afters" :)

(I can't help but notice the richness in the quality of the post-baby photo as opposed to the maternity one. Proof that it pays to practice!)

Mommy and Daddy's angel at 1 week old.

Congratulations, Hannah and Joel, on your beautiful new little miracle to love!
And thank you for letting me capture this precious and fleeting stage :)

Children's Photography: New Baby Sister Family Portraits in Park Rapids, MN

“Happiness is only in loving.” -- Leo Tolstoy

 

 And new baby makes 4. How can one family be so blessed with so much beauty as the one in this sesson's sneak peek?

Has it been awhile since your little ones have had their portraits taken? Get in touch with me! I'd love to come to you and see what we can capture of the little loves of your life :) 

Documentary-style Birth Photography in Detroit Lakes, MN

  

“There’s plenty of miracle for me to rest in now.”
– Anne Lamott

Last Sunday I had the privilege of documenting in photographs my first birth for my lovely sister Hannah and her wonderful husband Joel. And I can't tell you how much I loved the experience, and how much I look forward to shooting a birth again! It was, quite simply, breathing in air heavy with an unfolding miracle...

Mommy Hannah's water began to leak at 7:35pm on Sunday the 24th of February, and Daddy Joel raced us the 45 minutes to DL while her contractions came every 2 to 4 minutes. The doctors had scheduled an induction for the following morning, 2 weeks after the original due-date they calculated for her. Arriving at the hospital at 8:50pm, Baby Gracelyn was here at 10:18pm, after an all-natural birth, the only pain relief coming from the Young Living essential oil regimen that Hannah wrote out for her best friend and birth coach Kari to follow. Her midwife wasn't even fully gloved and Hannah hadn't even been instructed to push when little Gracie slipped into the world from a posterior position, slid down the bed, and clung to her Mommy's leg! All 10lbs and 1oz of sweet, little, breath-taking her :)

Being present at this birth was an AMAZING experience!

 
Here are a few photos to give you a glimpse of their story:
(Please click any photo to enlarge)

 

  

Tender moments clinging to her hubby to breathe through contractions.

This labour was such a beautiful and humbling thing to witness!

 My amazing sister Hannah has horrible back labour and Joel and friend Kari took turns supporting her and pushing into her back during contractions. This is basically how the whole labour went.

 A beautiful mama in the zone during Transition.
The only jewelry she wore that night was our Grandma's ring-- her baby girl was given the middle name Mae, for our Grandma whom we lost in July...

She had 2 contractions on the bed on her side...

... And then sweet baby Gracelyn was born (!!) -- before the midwife even had her gloves on to catch her....

She and her Mommy basically had an unassisted birth-- with a lot of helpful support from Daddy and Kari!

A BEAUTIFUL, healthy baby girl

Mommy's first snuggle, overwhelmed and relieved and still in shock that it all happened so quickly after waiting nearly 2 weeks after the doctors said she was due! 

 

 Daddy's first time holding his new little girl. Such precious moments!

Being weighed and measured and prodded and disturbed, and then soothed by Daddy afterwards :)

The next day her anxious big sisters and big brother FINALLY got to come and meet their baby Gracie!

 3-year-old Kenan's first look

 5-year-old Emmy's first look

 7-year-old Abby's first look

Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie were also eager to snuggle new baby Grace

Then her sweet little footprints were taken, and she was given her first bath, then wrapped up and given back to Mommy and Daddy to take home...

Gracelyn Mae
10lbs, 1oz of miracle