This is a special shoot for us...
...because it’s our family! Derek is Allison’s brother, so we were beyond honored when he and Kaitlyn asked us to take maternity photos for baby #2!
We were hoping to capture some golden hour photos, but at this time of year the sun doesn’t set until about 9:00 PM. Normally that wouldn’t be an issue – and would actually be amazing to have all that extra time to play around with – but we were also dealing with little Miss Emerson’s bedtime. We knew it would be a challenge going into it, but it actually turned out great thanks to some strategic planning!
Derek and Kaitlyn came prepared with charged phones for playing Emerson’s favorite smile-inducing songs as well as several packs of fruit snacks, which she loves. These ended up working wonders to keep her engaged while she was in the photos, as well as keeping her occupied while Mom and Dad got their photos taken! You can see Emerson being bribed with fruit snacks in a couple family photos below!
This was a situation I can’t imagine doing with a single photographer – it was so helpful to have an extra set of hands to entertain Emerson so we could get as many shots as possible while the light was extra-dreamy. Another thing I brought which ended up being quite helpful was a pack of wet wipes, which we used to clean off Emerson’s face (which dust clung to in the high humidity) as well as our necks (to keep us a bit cooler in the muggy weather). If you’re planning a maternity or family shoot in the near future, consider bringing these items with you to make it go more smoothly!
Kaitlyn looked stunning in her dark turquoise maxi dress. The solid color and delicate draping perfectly accentuated her bump and complemented the natural greenery surrounding them. Derek’s white button-down and Emerson’s white eyelet dress popped against Kaitlyn’s turquoise, and the solid color kept them from being distracting. We approached this photo shoot as a way to highlight Kaitlyn’s bump and capture some traditional maternity shots, but also to highlight the relationships in this family of three before the little one arrives. We love the little conversations Emerson had with each of her parents, the fun and goofy family photos, and the romantic couple shots we were luckily able to capture at golden hour.
Thank you so much to Kaitlyn, Derek, and Emerson for spending a fun evening with us, and for trusting us to capture these special moments for your family. We love you and can’t wait to meet the newest little princess once she arrives!
