Michelle and Bill were one of the first couples to have me shoot their wedding after I started my own business. They were married at the Biltmore, and ever since I have been photographing them and their family.
Here they are on their wedding day.
Bill, you set the bar for Coolest.Groom.EVER
Michelle at 8 months Pregnant
And Bill, joking around, about being behind bars....
Brooke at 3 weeks
Even Buddy gets in on our shoots!
Brooke's Baptism
Brooke at 4 Months
Brooke at 9 months
Brooke at 1 year
I was even asked to photograph Brooke's Brithday Party
While Michelle was pregnant with baby #2 we contemplated having me photograph the birth. I think we were all a bit hesitant, me included, at having such a personal moment being photographed, but at the last minute, Michelle and Bill called me to let me know they had thought about it long and hard and really wanted me there.
Michelle gave birth at the same hospital I did about a year prior, and it's about 2 miles from my house. We also have the same Doctor, so that gave me some pretty amazing access to her during the entire process. I showed up at the hospital at 5, with Dunkin Donuts coffee for Bill and I, brought comfortable clothes, laptop, ready to settle in for a long night. I was beyond excited. These are the images I felt comfortable sharing, even though Michelle said I could use any of them.
I had just gone though pretty much the same thing a year ago so I was kind of re-living my experience through her.
About an hour after I arrived it seemed like everything started to speed up. She was being prepped for delivery.
Bill takes a moment to pray
Will is Born.
I sneak out to go pick up some food food for them, smuggle it back in after visiting hours and leave them to themselves for the night. I get the worlds most intense headache on the drive home, I think it was the adrenaline. My husband is aware that I'd just been through some pretty intense hours. I felt euphoric.
The next day I got tothe hospital to get some shots of Will in his first day alive.
Check out how similar their long nails are, these are Brookes nails at 3 weeks..
I get to witness Brooke meeting her brother for the first time, she was a bit apprehensive.
I just wanted to take the time to thank Michelle and Bill for allowing me to be such a big part of their lives, and their family.
Love
Love
Love
"Wow. I just got teary eyed looking at and reading this. Thank YOU for being such an important part of our lives and helping us preserve our most important memories in such a beautiful and perfect way. When Bill and I are old folks we will be so lucky to have these to remember our life by and to pass on to Brooke and Will and to our grandchildren. Heck, you'll probably be photographing our daughter's wedding!!! (you better be...can I officially hire you now?)
I can honestly say I love you. No one else could have been there at our most important times and made it so comfortable, easy and even enjoyable!
Xoxoxo"
