Pregnancy and Maternity Photography

Pregnancy photography is a beautiful time in a women’s life where a skilled photojournalist can capture the timeless beauty of maternity photography in Boulder, Denver, and throughout the Mountains of Colorado.

Baby’s First Year Collection: Beau Thumel

Most of the time I write blog posts featuring images from every photo shoot that I do, but today I thought I would do it a little differently and show some of the best images from all of one families “baby’s first year” photo shoots.  I photographed Meagan and Bob Thumel’s engagement and wedding several years ago and more recently we have been working together over the last year and a half capturing their darling son, Beau, at all the various stages of his baby-hood.  The babies first year collection includes a maternity photo shoot, a newborn photo session, photos at 3 months, again at 6 months, 9 months, and finally at one year.  Beau wasn’t quite walking at his 12 month session and his mom and dad wanted to do a final session to go into his album when he was, so we actually added another session at 18 months.

I love being able to put all the images together like this to show what it looks like to capture one child at all these key baby stages.  Children change and grow so much in such a short amount of time and I am convinced that if these wonderful times are not captured often over the course of the first year, the memories will fade away into the past along with all the darling faces and chubby cheeks that make up so many wonderful days for parents when their baby is little.  Most of my clients that decide to do the babies first year collection do not do so without a little bit of hesitation as it is a definite expense at a time in their lives where everything is changing.  But I haven’t ever had one client even slightly regret it!  The memories  we create and capture together are truly priceless.  And once the first year is said and done, the album we design with the images from all of the various photo shoots is the most amazing way to look back on your babies first year of life and to remember what they looked like all along the way as they grew and matured from a little peanut into a big boy or girl.

Meagan and Bob, I have absolutely loved all the time we have spent together and I hope that I will continue to see you as Beau continues to grow up and change into a wonderful young man.  You have been absolutely fantastic to work with and to get to know more intimately as friends as well.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for inviting me into your lives at yet another amazing and monumentally important time for you.  I love you and I love your baby boy more than you know and I appreciate your undying loyalty to my artistic evolution as a PHOTOGRAPHER FOR LIFE!

Maternity & Newborn Photography in Denver: Ava Valentine Gregorek

I met Christine and Mike in 2010 when they booked me to photograph their drop dead gorgeous wedding at The Ritz-Carlton Denver in the summer of 2011.  We had an easy and warm connection right off the bat and their wedding was one of the most gorgeous I have ever had the honor to be a part of.  After the wedding was over Christine and I stayed in touch and of course I was thrilled for her when I found out she and Mike were expecting.  I love it when my wedding clients turn into portrait clients, especially when it means I get to help them document the first year of their child’s life.  I’ve come to the conclusion that being booked for my babies first year collection by one of my wedding couples is the biggest compliment I can possibly get.  To me, it means they love their wedding photos so much that they want me back for more!

It was absolutely wonderful to see Christine and Mike together at the maternity photo shoot.  They were both so happy and so excited about the next chapter in their lives!  Baby Ava was born on December 6, 2012 weighing in at 7 pounds and 2 ounces and is absolute perfection. I can’t wait to get to know this darling baby girl and watch her grow up over the next year and beyond.  At our newborn photo shoot Ava was so calm and so sweet and I loved seeing her beautiful nursery too.  It was also fantastic to see Christine taking to motherhood like an old pro. She was so easy and natural with baby Ava, it was as if Ava had always been there.  Newborns always melt my heart and Ava was no exception.  We dressed her up in darling outfits and even got a few photos with her pup, already protecting his baby sis. That or he was merely expressing his dissatisfaction at getting knocked down a rung on the priority ladder.  ;-)   Thank you Christine and Mike for inviting me into your lives for another year of friendship and creating beautiful memories together.  We are on our way!

Maternity Photography in Denver: Sarah & JP

Sarah is a wedding and portrait photographer friend of mine here in Denver and is one of my favorite second shooters I’ve ever had.  Her artistic eye and her technical skills are as sharp as anyone I’ve ever worked with.  And even more than that, she is an absolute joy to have around.  She was originally referred to me by a wedding coordinator when she was starting her own business in Denver and wanted to work with me to get more experience.  After meeting her and looking over her portfolio I started bringing her along to a few of my weddings and it very quickly became clear that not only was she going to have a successful business, but that soon she wouldn’t be available to work with me for long because she would be booked with her own jobs.  And I was right!  It’s a rare occasion now that I am able to snap her up as a second shooter and I miss her.

When I found out Sarah and JP were pregnant with twins I jumped at the opportunity to do something special for them since Sarah has been so generous with her time and attention at my weddings over the past couple of years.  I love maternity photography in general, but I especially love it when I know the mama-to-be.  It was hard to believe that someone so tiny could possibly be pregnant with twins & I was amazed when I saw her and the only thing different about her was her belly.  Wow!  She was absolutely glowing and I could feel how excited she and JP were for their little boy and girl to arrive.

Sarah, you are as beautiful of a person as I have ever known and I am thrilled for you and your entire family.  I can’t wait to meet Ana and Patrick!  Not that you need another photographer around, but if you ever want more photos that you don’t have to take or that you are IN, I’m your girl.  :-)   Congratulations again!!  You and JP are sure to be amazing and loving parents and your children are VERY lucky to have you.  Love and Hugs to you all!

Maternity & Newborn Photography Denver: Keri, Ken & Stella Blair

One of my favorite things to photograph these days are newborns!  There is something so amazing and pure and perfect about a newborn baby.  It never gets old.  And no matter how many times I meet one, I am always surprised and fascinated by how tiny they are.  I especially love to photograph a newborn if I’ve also gotten to take maternity photos, like I did recently with Keri and Ken.  Generally I don’t do the maternity photos until near the end of the pregnancy, so I get so see and feel the sheer excitement of the expecting parents and take part in their last few days before baby.  It’s such a beautiful time and I haven’t met a pregnant woman yet that hasn’t been glowing and radiant and SO excited to welcome their child into this world. One look at Keri and Ken’s maternity images and you can see exactly what I mean.

Keri and Ken told me that Stella is their miracle baby because it wasn’t until they finally stopped trying to force the issue that Keri finally became pregnant with her.   It’s not the first time I’ve heard that.  Sometimes we humans have our own “agendas” that nature/the universe/God doesn’t fulfill in a timely matter. And the harder we press, the further away that desired outcome can seem.  I personally think it’s a matter of relaxing into the unknown and accepting that we are not “in control” as much as we would like to think we are.  Baby Stella is a prime example.  She wasn’t coming until she was good and ready, no matter what!  And trust me, she has presence!  I predict a powerful and amazing woman in that little tiny child for sure.

I am thrilled to have met another fantastic couple at a brand new beginning in their lives.  I can only hope that they love the photos as much as I do and that I will be invited back again and again to capture them and Stella as she grows into her big spirit.  Congratulations Keri and Ken! I am so happy for you.  Stella could not have chosen a more loving mom and dad.  You are all in for a wonderful adventure together! XO