FROM BLUEBERRY CRAVINGS TO NEWBORN LOVE | MARYLAND NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER

This session with Taylor, Brandon, and baby Michael felt warm and real from the very beginning. It was quiet but full. The kind of calm that only comes when you are deep in a new chapter and still figuring things out together.

Michael’s name carries so much meaning. He was named after Taylor’s late father, which gives it a depth you can feel when she says it. His middle name follows a family tradition and matches Brandon’s first name. The sweet twist is that Brandon’s middle name is Michael, so their names are flipped. It feels like one of those small details that makes a family story feel complete.

During pregnancy, Taylor craved fruit nonstop. She said she could eat all the fruit in the world and went through a pack of blueberries a day at one point. That image feels so familiar to so many parents including me!

Sharing the news with family was tender and emotional. Taylor sat next to her mom on the couch when she shared the news and started crying she was so nervous. Her mom just held her until they were both okay. I had the pleasure of meeting Taylor's mother before I met Taylor and could feel her pride of being a grandmother. She was so caring and thoughtful telling me how special this moment is. That moment Taylor shared the news set the tone for so much of what followed. A family that loves and supports her during this new stage in her life.

Michael made his entrance after 24 hours of labor, with only 20 minutes of pushing. Go Taylor! Contractions started three minutes apart, so there was no easing into it. It was time to go. It was intense and powerful, and now it is part of the story that brought him here.

What stood out most during the session was Taylor and Brandon together. They joked with each other easily, even in those early, tired days. There was laughter mixed into the quiet moments. You could feel the love and friendship between them without it needing to be said out loud. Watching Brandon step into fatherhood has been one of the best parts for Taylor. She shared that he is the happiest she has ever seen him, and that happiness gives her a deep sense of security in their family. I could feel this during their session. Brandon is a doting father coming up with sweet poses in the session. I work with a lot of families and that's a wonderful sign of a caring father!

Parenthood has surprised Taylor. The mental work of it all is heavier than she expected. Planning ahead. Preparing to leave the house. Running through the day in her head before it even begins. She is tired from the lack of sleep, but even more tired from the constant thinking. Still, when she looks at Michael, she feels completely calm. Holding him quiets her anxiety. That peace showed up so clearly in the way she held him and looked at him.

And they really looked at him when I was there. Not just quick glances, but long pauses and smiles taking him in. You can tell how special this moment is in their lives, and how still Michael makes them.

Michael looks like Brandon in the face, but he has Taylor’s lips and her dad’s cheeky grin. His expressions were endlessly entertaining. In the photos, you can already see his little sass coming through. Tiny smirks. Serious stares. Faces that make you laugh without even realizing it. He already has so much personality packed into such a small human.

One of their favorite early memories happened in the hospital. Taylor and Brandon were exhausted when the nurses brought them to a room and said, “here’s your baby, good luck.” During the first diaper change, Michael let it rip and black goo was everywhere which is one of those things they don't warn ya about! They both just laughed. It was shocking and funny and felt like the official start of parenthood.

Taylor and Brandon, thank you for trusting me with this season. These are the days that feel long but pass quickly. I'm so honored I could capture it for you and preserve sweet Michael in his earliest days.

If you are in the DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia area and looking for an experienced newborn photographer who values real life over perfection, I would love to document this chapter for your family.