It’s a small business shout out kind of day! I want to celebrate the small local St. Louis businesses that all had a hand in crushing it this Mother’s Day for me and my family! Small businesses are struggling HARD through this Covid-19 pandemic. As a St. Louis Motherhood and Family Photographer, I'm a small business owner myself, and I love supporting other small businesses in their mission! So let's get right down to it.
Turnberry Designs is a local crafter who does a lot of woodworking and home decor signs. I've ordered from them many times over and have been so happy every single time. My parents had 8 kids, so personalized gifts for them can get pretty big, pretty fast. This board has the birthdays of all 8 kids as well as “Hoffmann”. Did you know that’s my maiden name? Check out the board above my parent's mantle and just below the last big family photo we all had together of my parents with all 8 kids (taken by Lisa Hessel Photography).
iPhone image: credit to my Mom
Dear Diva Desserts is a small bakery shop in Columbia, IL who has been *giving away* free breakfast to kids in need during the Covid-19 pandemic. Let me say that again, they are closed to the general public to help do their part to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but have offered free breakfast to anyone who may need it. My point is, they haven't been making money off what they're doing and they're still continuing on their mission. They offered a special Mother’s Day pop up and my smart husband jumped on it. We had delicious scones, a cupcake “bouquet”, and a brownie that was literally the best brownie I’ve ever eaten (which says a lot because I’m a brownie fanatic). I may be dreaming of the next time they're open and have those brownies available.
White Box Catering is a local catering business that also does individual boxed lunch delivery. I ordered this for my brother and his wife when my brother was unable to due to having had his appendix removed just days prior. Their menu is superb and their Mother’s Day offering was on point not to mention they took my last minute order in stride. Side note, I also ordered from them for my sister's birthday lunch a couple weeks ago since we couldn't celebrate together. Both times, they nailed it.
iPhone image: credit to my sister-in-law, Mara
McArthur's Bakery is a local South St. Louis County bakery who offered Mother’s Day specials all boxed up with a card and ribbon! My mom was the lucky recipient of some chocolate covered strawberries and a personal cheesecake delivered right to her door. My grandma also got a personal sized cheesecake that I picked up on Mother's Day to bring to her. It made Mother's Day gifting so much easier especially since we couldn't actually get together and celebrate with delicious desserts like we normally would.
iPhone image: credit to my Mom
iPhone image: credit to my Mom
LeGrand's Market & Catering is a local South St. Louis City sandwich shop and meat market that also offers catering. My in-laws know the way to my heart and gifted me a LeGrand’s gift card this year. I can’t wait to use it for some sandwiches! LeGrand's has been doing no contact pickup of groceries and sandwiches. They're family owned and operated and are a community staple, so I am a strong supporter of their business and their work ethic.
Bear, Belle, + Bean is a local boutique online retail shop that made matching shirts for me and the kiddos. Their clothes are always adorable and they run some awesome sales with great little pieces especially for younger kiddos. I recommend joining their Facebook group to see their current sales.
Photo Credit: my husband, Tony
That was Mother's Day in a nutshell and I'm so thankful for small businesses shifting what they normally do to accommodate their customers, old and new. Supporting small businesses during this time is a small gesture for the customer, but a monumental one for the business. From my small St. Louis business as a one woman show supporting motherhood and families to your small business, I hope you had a great Mother's Day!
If there’s one thing I know, it’s that people look at companies, business owners, and people in times of crisis and watch how they pivot. They watch the ways people help, how people react, the ways they change and adapt their business. For my business, I’m taking this as an opportunity to restructure and offer what I still can. I still have 5 kids to feed and a responsibility to my family and community. I am and always have been a storyteller and a writer. I’m now available to write blogs, emails, and social media posts for other companies and businesses. Time and again I see small business owners who struggle with what to say or how to say it to their clients and customers, and that’s where I come in. I make you shine like the rock star business owner and awesome company you are. For those unfamiliar with "industry" terms, a copywriter is someone who writes copy to promote or market a business. As your copywriter, you can expect fresh, compelling, creative, and descriptive writing from me for nearly any aspect of your business. Another way to think of a copywriter is a ghost writer. I'm your copywriter and you are the business.
The struggle I often see is business owners don’t have the time or energy to dedicate to their online presence. Maybe as a business owner, you’re the best at social media posts, but you draw a blank when it comes to writing copy for your blogs. Maybe the struggle comes in the form of not having a clue what to say on social media to engage your audience. Are you the type of person with an idea of what you want to say, but you can’t find the time to post or to engage your customers or clients? Perhaps online engagement isn’t an issue at all for you, but you struggle with finding the right words when it comes to emailing customers.
Let’s face it, writing isn’t everyone’s forte. Some of you have great stories and content, but writing isn’t your strong suit. You struggle with spelling, grammatical errors, sentence structure, and being concise. Of course, some people have no interest in writing. I’m here to tell you, it’s ok! I’m here to proofread, to guide, and to write it all for you while you sit back and actually enjoy that fabulous cup of coffee in the morning that you've worked so hard to have.
There’s no reason to over think this any longer. If there’s one common trait of a successful business owner, it’s that you are BUSY. There are always things to get done on the back end of a business. If you find you just don’t have the time to spend on social media, crafting emails, blogging, or amping up the copy on your website, then there’s no need to continue riding the struggle bus. It’s time to pass the torch to the pro (me, obviously!) and focus on the rest of your business whether that’s your day to day or the big picture.
The best part is this is our “dirty little secret”! ;) Your audience, clients, and customers will never have to know you didn’t do all your own writing, blogging, or About Me section on your website. We’ll have them believing it was you all along, because all the writing I’ll do for you will have your personality, flavor, and style worked in flawlessly. Let’s do this thing! Hit me up here and never draw a blank in your writing again!
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Remember that line from Timon in the Lion King II? It might seem juvenile in times like these to be quoting a children's movie, yet here I am. My point is, things are tough, but we can get through the tough times together. What am I doing in regards to safety for my clients in regards to Covid-19? I am taking precautions and have them listed below.
I have been sitting back rather quietly taking in all of the information about Coronavirus. At first, I, like many, assumed it would blow over. I naively chalked it up as something that would likely not hit the United States or even my local community. Clearly I was wrong. In the past week, the articles started to flood in, the Facebook posts became more ominous, and everywhere I turned became another source of information or misinformation about the virus. It has started to feel heavy on my heart and as I look at my family each night, I am thankful for our current health and we continue to take caution as the days go on. In one of my birth photography groups, this is a HOT topic. As birth photographers, a lot of our work is done in hospitals and birth centers. Around the country, some have severely limited visitors for birthing people which greatly limits our abilities to attend births.
I felt quite refreshed when someone linked to a blog post by photographer, Katy Weaver, out of Portland, Oregon . She did a stellar job informing her clients of how, as a photographer, she's handling this situation. I was so inspired that I wanted to write my own blog about this to tweak it for my own business, but all in all, I give her major credit for this idea. I love when people come together as a community, can think clearly, and share their ideas for the greater good. So, from one Katie to another Katy, thank you. And if you have time in these next few weeks to be perusing the internets for something other than news about the virus, visit Katy's IG over at @KatyWeaverPhotography or her Facebook page. She has some delectable photography out there for you to see! Go give her a shout out for being so amazing!
Now, on to my list of what I'm doing for my clients, for sessions, and in general moving forward to the foreseeable future.
Absolute #1: Hand washing. And more hand washing. Yes, hand washing is *always* important and dealing with babies, birth, and newborns, I am always diligent about it.
#2 Exercising caution. If you are feeling apprehensive about going through with your scheduled session, we can reschedule for a later date.
#3 Distancing myself. Depending on the type of session, I can usually keep a safe distance from my clients if needed. If you're concerned about closeness during a session, I'll keep my distance, avoid touching you or your family, and shoot with a lens that allows for quality photos from farther away. Instead of hugs or handshakes, we can opt for a wave and hello and we'll get down to business to reduce the time it takes to document your story and your memories.
#4 Redirecting payment towards a different session or product. Have a birth planned and nervous I won't be let in by your hospital, birth center, or provider? We can transfer your payment to another session if you no longer wish to have me in attendance at your birth. If you have a regular session planned and want to reschedule that, we can do that too. If you have a session planned but would rather just put that money towards buying prints from a previous session, we can also do that instead.
#5 Heeding the advice of the CDC and the WHO. I will be closely monitoring and following recommendations put forth by these health organizations. My priority is client safety, health, and well being. Until directed otherwise, all scheduled sessions will continue as usual and new sessions can be booked.
#6 Choosing locations. I am still offering client sessions especially in outdoor spaces as well as in your homes. In home sessions are some of my favorites because your own environment is where your whole family tends to be more comfortable and natural. I love shooting these sessions regularly, so this is something I'm well versed in with lighting, how to get the best angles, and how to set these sessions up for success! These can be anything I normally photograph from maternity, birth prep, early labor, newborn, day in the life documentary, birthday, milestone, breastfeeding, and beyond.
#7 Booking wisely. If you are wanting to book for something like a Fresh 48 or birth, we can still do that. If you've chosen a home birth, this is still an accessible situation. At this current juncture, we are still being allowed in St. Louis hospitals to photograph births and Fresh 48 sessions. Of course, I always encourage clients to keep an open line of communication with their providers. This is a time where it is extremely important to continue doing so. Should the hospital or birth center's policies change, I have always and will continue to offer Fresh 48/newborn documentary sessions in client's homes which provides the approach of me documenting your new life with your baby and doesn't require me to physically handle you, your baby, or your family. This can also be a great reason to do a pre-birth session, baby prepping/nesting, or maternity in-home session. Alternatives to birth photography would be laboring at home as long as possible and then a session at home in the fresh, raw, postpartum time frame. Bringing home a baby is a very exciting time for new families and would be an amazing piece to have captured as it is often a piece missing from the big story of baby being born.
#8 Self care. I'll be taking precautions to keep myself and my family safe and healthy and I ask the same of my clients. If at any point, my family or I am sick, I will be upfront and honest about this and we can reschedule. If you or anyone in your family is sick, we can reschedule.
#9 Open to suggestions. If you have suggestions you'd like to give me regarding how I can further help you or the community, how I can be of assistance, or how I can continue to show up for you, I'm all ears.
#10 Staying positive. I'll continue with my regularly scheduled program on my social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, and the blog)
I value you, your families, and your well being. Having physical memories to touch, see, and hold and documenting your families are literally my life's passion. Let's work together to remain safe and healthy and we will be able to cherish your story for generations to come.
Hakuna Matata, friends and clients! <3
I'm certain we're still in the honey moon phase with these two sweet things, because we are still smitten with them at three months old. Ha! I'm only kidding. Things are wild, and loud and crazy in our house, but it's doable, and we've found our way. While I was pregnant, I said I think having twins first would be easier, but I think in my case, I was wrong. The Universe knew what we needed when we needed it and that meant twins as babies number four and number five instead of first and second. I had a *rough* go of things when I entered parenthood. Becoming a mom for the first time was a challenge for me. I thought having twins was going to be my biggest challenge yet. And it still might be. But at this juncture, I stand by my statement that going from 0 to 1 baby was exponentially harder than any other additional baby/babies thereafter -- yes, even twins being babies number four and number five. I'll say that again, going from zero to one was harder for me than going from three kids to five.
Our twins are three months old today and we've found our current groove with life. We know the difference in their cries and coos without seeing them (for the most part, although, admittedly, our older kids are way better at distinguishing them apart by their sounds). They're super easy to tell apart since they look nothing alike although people who aren't around them every day still mix them up occasionally. Emma (our two year old) has been able to tell them apart since day one and literally never gets it wrong. She could see the back of a head from across the house and know exactly who I'm holding. Alli continues to favor my Mom's side of the family and Max favors Tony's Dad's side of the family.
Alli does a lot of happy squeaking and kicking. Max is usually cool as a cucumber and will happily lay on the floor on a mat smiling and playing for an impressive amount of time if we let him. Both of them have rolled from their belly to their backs though not with any consistency yet. Max has been trying very hard to master rolling from his back to his belly. Alli isn't super fond of tummy time while Max will tolerate it longer. When I tandem feed them (which is almost always), Max is almost always in the football hold to nurse and Alli goes cross cradle. I switch sides every morning and that baby stays on that side for the entirety of that day (unless I randomly get mom brain and forget). Alli is a bit more snuggly than Max. Max does a lot of stiff body and head bobbing, but he may be slightly ahead of her on head control.
Happy three months of life to Alli and Max!
Undoubtedly, St. Louis has its fair share of photographers - some brand new, some just dabbling/hobbyists, and many, many talented professionals. It's easy to compare myself to other family, birth, or motherhood photographers and those who do lifestyle or documentary work as well. Ladies and gents, there is some serious competition out there! Find the right people in this industry and you might just find building a community among your competition is actually better than comparing yourself and your own business to them. Sure, we're competing against each other, but maintaining an abundance mindset is where it's at (in case you didn't know, we have approximately 2.85 MILLION people in the St. Louis Metropolitan area, so there is PLENTY to go around). And that's how I plan to continue going forward. An intentional ally, a supportive peer for others, and a cheerleader for myself.
That cheerleading involves setting my brand apart from others. Some of my goals this year included a new logo and look for my business. Today I'm happy to share that just 15 days into the new year, I've smashed out one of my goals! I have a new logo and I'm so excited to share! I still love my old logo, but I felt like it was time for a refresh, a new beginning; a rebirth, if you will. Mmm hmm, that's a birth photographer telling birth jokes. Hilarious, right? ;)
I told the graphic designer I wanted the logo to be clean, simple, minimalistic. I didn't want to look like "everyone else". I say that lovingly and not at all in a jerk-face way. If you're in the industry or follow a lot of photographers through their blogs or social media outlets, you probably know what I mean. My goal was just to stand out amongst the noise. In addition to my stipulations regarding the simple look, I wanted colors that speak to me and embody my personality and style because, after all, when you break it all down, I am the brand. This is also the reason my business is my name. Name recognition = brand recognition, thank you very much. I love the beach, I love blues and grays, and I love them all together (hello, colors of my living room ha ha).
Lastly, I wanted a logo that would be coherent across the various types of photography I offer - families, motherhood (maternity, birth, breastfeeding, babies), and real estate. The last one sort of stands out like a sore thumb. I've been advised that eventually I should just break it into two and offer real estate under an entirely different website, social media account, etc. But, uhhhh, I'm gonna go ahead and give a big no thank you on that for now. Once I master all of this under one account/brand/business, then maaaaaybe some day I'll split them out. For now, I'll work to just have real estate on one part of my website and families and motherhood on another. It makes sense but I stay plenty busy with real estate and people are still finding me. Time will tell how I'll handle this. For now, back to the brand. I needed it to make sense for use with all that I photograph. I wanted a bit of whimsy/fun, simplistic, easy to read, and easily used for my website and marketing materials. I love the wax seal look - it's as if to say, I'm here to seal your memories of this moment in time by documenting your story in photographs.
So this is what you'll be seeing on my new materials from this point on! Now it's time to order some new business cards and other marketing materials as well as update my website with the new logo (although, a full on new website is currently in the works)! Stay tuned for more fun updates!
As a St. Louis documentary photographer, when I go to a photo session to document families in their homes, I encourage them to be themselves. I am not a silent fly on the wall, but I try to not interact too much where it interferes with their planned activity. I want genuine emotions and interactions and I want the focus to be their families. When little kids are involved (which they usually are), I have to try to earn their trust. They're typically skeptical at first if they've never met me before. Once I have their trust but not their undivided attention, I can usually move about more freely to capture them in their truest form.
Day 1: New Year's Eve and New Year's Day was exhausting. They fell asleep within 2 minutes of laying their heads on their pillows.
Day 2: Our twin babies, Max (L) and Alli (R) hanging out on our bed before nap time
I often feel like those silly wildlife/safari jokes you see where someone says, "And here we have Katie in her natural habitat, photographing Johnny playing with toys," with a picture of me taking a picture of the kid. It sounds goofy, but it's pretty spot on regarding what I'm trying to do. My goal is always to capture the essence of a family. To document childhood. To photograph those tiny details that pass by in moments so fleeting you don't even think about them happening. The minute. The day to day. I document the things you will forget even though they're the things you tell yourself you could *never* forget. The dimples, the chubby "baby face" cheeks that you think disappear once the child turns 2 or 3, but really you look back when you have a teenager and realize your now teenager had a "baby face" right through 8th grade. I aim to photograph the session in a way that you look at it and say, "Oh that has *our* family written all over it," or "That is SO Tommy's personality!"
Day 9: That's me! I often hold the babies over my shoulder like that. This really captures what it's like to do my every day life currently. There's typically a baby in one arm and I'm trying to accomplish something with the other.
So being a documentary family photographer, I feel it's important that I do this with my own family as well. The huge difference of course is that my family is beyond used to me with a camera. Funny enough, though, lots of my own family memories are captured just like everyone else's in this day and age -- on my iPhone. This year is the year I change that slightly. I'll still have my phone on me more frequently than my camera, but I'm using my professional camera each and every day to do a Photo 365 project. This year, it's technically a photo 366 since it's a leap year, but for SEO purposes and hashtag purposes, I'm going to call it a Photo 365 Project. I want to capture my own family and my own day to day through one picture daily.
Day 3: Our sweet little guy, Max, chilling on the floor with an adorable llama outfit.
Day 4: My husband, Tony, taking the Christmas tree out of the house. Much like the New Year, out with the old, in with the new!
I've been debating on how I wanted to share this with you, dear Readers. I considered posting the photo every day on my Instagram account and I may post some there as well, but don't count on seeing those on there daily simply because I know myself. There is no way I will sit down at my computer daily once I've gotten my picture, edit it, caption it, and post it or at least definitely not before 10pm. The fact that I've decided to do a project where I have to take a picture every day for 366 days is a big commitment in itself. I figure this is a good way to force myself to share the photos, but also for you to see many at a given time. I intend to give a little background on the photos and my plan is to blog them about once per week (another challenge I've given myself for 2020 ha ha).
Day 5: One of our twin babies, Alli, sporting an adorable rainbow outfit.
Day 6: Our 2 year old, Emma, reaching into the sink playing with water. She's not supposed to do this, but since she's the middle child and we're often tending to the babies, she has learned to help herself which is both hilarious and frustrating.
Day 7: Our two year old, Emma, reading a book to our twins. Mostly Emma just likes to thumb through this book asking me about the baby animals in the book.
I've got a lot of big goals this year for both my personal life and my business. They say if you set goals but don't tell anyone about the, you are far less likely to accomplish them. So, I'll throw out a few of my 2020 goals and hope it will hold me accountable.
Day 8: Our 5 year old, Finn, working on some drawings and notes for his friends at school.
Among the photography business goals: Take one photo every day, blog every 1-2 weeks, revamp my business (and there's a lot that goes under this category, but I won't bore you with all the details beyond the fact that it involves a new look, a new website, and new ways to operate more efficiently and push me towards more successes), finish my videography course, clean off my computer (the struggle is real to have a computer not bogged down with pictures when you're a photographer -- hello better processes!!), and to be proactive rather than reactive.
Day 10: The kiddos just before bed with their books waiting for me to read to them. See? I'm keeping up with at least 2 of my goals - a daily photo and reading to the kids ;)
Day 11: Our oldest, Zoe, who is 7, reading a book to our 5 and 2 year olds as well as our baby, Alli. It was the sweetest little sibling moment and I knew I would be remiss if I didn't document this.
Among my personal goals: sit down to read a book at least 3 times a week, read more books to my kids, use and buy less, use mesh produce bags, use less plastic, use silicone baking mats in place of aluminum foil and parchment paper, aluminum straws instead of plastic, clean out my filing cabinet, don't go out to eat as much, spend less time on social media, not take things so seriously/be more care free, have more fun, edit my own personal photos in a timely manner (I'm literally years behind on this which is embarrassing!), and plan more date nights with my husband, Tony (I didn't tell him this one...let's see if he reads this blog ha ha).
Have you ever done a Photo 365 project? I'd love to hear tips, success stories, and what you got out of it!
If you're a St. Louis family interested in your family's story being documented, reach out and let's set it up!
November 6th was my due date with the twins and they've been here for 3 weeks already! I wanted to share my birth story and officially announce the arrival of our twins! Quickly, I'd like to remind you, dear reader, this is a blog that tells my birth story. Since it is a birth, there's some nudity (mostly my back side), there's some blood, there's placentas, breastfeeding, love, support, amazingness, tiny little newborn humans, laughter, and hospital stuff. Birth can be messy and there's bound to be some skin showing. If that's not your thing, this is likely not the place for you and you can probably just stop reading once you get to the first photo :)
Though it should be obvious that the photos I'm sharing here of myself giving birth are not mine (ha!), I want to be sure to give credit to Page Avenue Photography. All photos in this post are her amazing work and she has graciously agreed to me sharing them on my blog. So, go check out her photography page and work because, duh, she's a fabulous artist.
Side note: Why has it taken me 3 weeks to get this on my blog? Let's see, my days go a little something like this: 5am nurse babies, 6:30am, wake up for the day, nurse babies, babies fall asleep, get up, brush teeth, get dressed, change babies, nurse babies, eat if I'm lucky, make coffee if I'm lucky, nurse babies, babies sleep, change diapers, nurse babies that I thought were asleep, babies sleep, 7:40am take kids to school, come home, nurse babies, babies sleep, play with/entertain 2 year old, feed 2 year old 754 snacks, prevent toddler from harming babies, change toddler's diaper, change babies' diapers, nurse babies, babies sleep, 12pm feed toddler lunch, go pee for the first time all day, change toddler's diaper, get toddler down for a nap, change babies, nurse babies, possibly shovel copious amounts of food in my face, nurse babies, get toddler up from nap, deal with alligator toddler for a diaper change who was prematurely woken from nap and is crying, pack up babies in car seats, 3pm pick up 5 and 7 year olds from school, come home, and play the change babies, nurse babies, babies asleep, get snacks tag team game with my husband until 8pm when it's time for the older three to get ready for bed. 8:30pm, nurse babies, try to keep eyes peeled, put babies in bed, babies wake up because they aren't touching me (HELLLLOOOO 4TH TRIMESTER). Nurse babies to sleep, conk out myself, wake once an hour, every hour, and do it all again the next day. Anyway, that's newborn life with twins soo sometimes things like an official birth announcement take a *little bit* of time to complete.
On October 19th, my husband, Tony, and I went to a friend’s Halloween party and left to pick up our older kids around 8:00. We went home and the entire family was in bed by 9pm. The kids like to sleep in our room on special nights and they had somehow convinced Tony to let them sleep in our room that night (guess they knew it was going to be a special night). By some miracle, even our 2 year old, Emma, fell asleep quite soundly. We were all wiped out!
I woke up to go to the bathroom (as was routine for me at this point in my pregnancy) and on my way to the bathroom, my water broke with a small trickle at 12:37am. I was 37 weeks and 4 days pregnant. I sat on the toilet for a minute to see if it was truly my water or to see if contractions would start. When I could tell that I couldn’t control the flow, I knew it was for sure my water breaking. I went to wake Tony -- full well knowing he would jump out of bed in a fury when he heard the news. He had been so nervous about my water potentially being what started labor for me because he felt like if my water broke, that we would have very limited time to get to the hospital. If you aren’t familiar with my last birth story, read up on that - it will explain quite a bit about the interactions and commentary in this post! I woke him and he let out a good expletive and jumped out of bed like I thought he would. I quickly calmed him and let him know we had time since I wasn’t yet having contractions.
I called my Doula, Nicole, and asked her to come over since we knew my labors have a history of happening quickly. I also called my birth photographer, Page, to alert her that things were starting.
We agreed to go ahead and call his parents and have them come over rather than getting the kids out of bed. His parents were over shortly followed by Nicole around 1:25am. About 1:30am, I had my first contraction and they came on every few minutes lasting 30-45 seconds. Tony very calmly asked what our plan was and we decided it would be best to just get everything in the car and that way when we decided it was go time that we could just leave. Tony let on that he was nervous about us just waiting around so the decision was made that 2am would be our cut off time to leave regardless of the pattern of contractions. At 1:55am, we decided it was time to get moving. When we got in the car, contractions were a little less than 5 minutes apart, lasting 45 seconds to a minute. On the way there, I took two videos of myself giving a run down of the situation and how things were going. We laughed as we made it past where we had to pull over to have our last baby. As we made the 30 minute trek to the hospital, contractions steadily increased to the point where I could no longer talk through them and when we got there, they were 2-3 minutes apart lasting a minute. I had sent a text to Nicole and Page to let them know contractions were steadily increasing and we needed to hurry in to the hospital. Nicole parked right by us and Page was just a couple minutes away.
Once inside, I had to stop a few times in the hallways to work through contractions, swaying my hips and breathing/moaning through them. We got to the labor and delivery check in area around 2:30am, checked in with a nurse in one room and then they took us to a triage room to assess. Page arrived shortly thereafter. I had previously been nervous about the labor and delivery staff possibly having me go straight to the OR because they like to have twins delivered there as opposed to a regular labor and delivery room.
Once we got to triage, however, things were picking up rapidly. I declined the hospital gown and chose to stay in my own clothes, I declined cervical checks and declined the possibility of a speculum that was mentioned to verify my water broke. I handed them the towel I had between my legs catching all my water for the last hour. We all got a laugh when the nurse said “Yep, that smells like birth!” and the House OB smooshed the litmus strip onto the towel and said “definitely your water that broke.” They asked if they could do an ultrasound to verify the position of the babies which I quickly agreed to because I confident that they would be head down still since they had very snugly been positioned that way for weeks. Nicole and Tony were doing hip squeezes on me and helping me work through contractions.
The OB left to get the ultrasound machine, I had a couple more contractions and quickly and quietly let Tony and Nicole know I could feel that I was going to poop (classic tell tale sign that baby is about to make their appearance) and also that the baby was coming. The OB walked back in and said “Ok can we go ahead and do that ultrasound now?” To which I responded, “Yeah, no, that’s not going to happen because she’s coming out.” And with that, the all too familiar fetal ejection reflex kicked in and our baby girl, Alexandra Jordan, was born right into my shorts (it was then that I was super thankful I had shorts on as opposed to a skirt that I wasn't able to find at home when my water broke). I quickly said, "Someone catch my baby, someone catch my baby," and Nicole swooped in and caught her as Tony helped to get my shorts down. I wanted to hold her, but couldn't as I felt too weak and just needed a moment to breathe. Nicole handed Alli over to the nurse and I asked to hold her, but we realized her cord was far too short for me to reach and hold her. There was a nurse who wanted to get me down to labor and delivery immediately, but I declined and said, "Can I just have a moment to chill? I need a minute to breathe." It was around this time that I also asked if anyone got a time on when she was born and wouldn't ya know it, a whole room of people and not a single person recorded the time! When I asked, Tony check his watch and it was 2:58. Page checked the time stamp on her photos and it looked like 3:00am or so. The hospital recorded it as 3:03am. We split the difference and agreed it was some time around 3:00am - an hour and a half after active labor began.
At this point, they also wanted to cut the cord, but I let them know I wanted to see it and I wanted it to be completely white and drained before we cut it. Once it was white, Tony cut the cord and they had me get on the bed to be transported down to a regular labor and delivery room. I got on all fours to ride down there as I knew I wouldn't be comfortable laying down on my back. Once we got to labor and delivery, I had a couple more contractions on the bed and looked at Tony and said, "We have 4 kids. For this very short time, we have 4 kids..." And I said it because I wanted to remember that moment. Our lives were changing and I've learned in big moments of life to take it all in, to remember the details, and to look into the eyes of those we love and take mental pictures. We had a laugh that our time having "just" 4 kids would be so fleeting.
Moments later, my water broke a bit on the bed, and thanks to a suggestion by Nicole, I got off the bed to stand and let gravity help me again. Once on the floor, I had another contraction, and my water broke Hollywood style -- it was a huge gush that ran like a river all over the floor. A couple contractions and another fetal ejection reflex later, Max's head was out, followed by his shoulders and the rest of his body. 3:23am, Maximus Julian, was born. Another short cord that we let finish pulsing before cutting it. I wanted to hold the babies right then, but didn't feel like I had the strength until my placentas came out. It was a bizarre sensation after they came out of feeling like a fish out of water where I couldn't breathe. Thankfully, Nicole was there to calm me and helped me regulate my breathing. They told me it was an odd thing that occasionally happens with twins because there's such a drastic shift from all the weight of the babies, the water, and the placentas coming out that the body tries to quickly catch up. I was finally able to take a seat on the bed so they could assess any tearing. I yet again earned myself some second degree tears, but my awesome Midwife, Carolyn, was able to stitch me up while I worked through the adrenaline shakes.
Shortly thereafter, I got to hold my sweet babies I had felt inside of me for the last 37 weeks and 4 days. I latched them both on to nurse and though it was a bit challenging holding two newborns to nurse immediately after birth, it felt like I was made for this. TWO newborns. Unbelievably surreal. So there we were...parents to TWO more newborns in the blink of an eye. A labor that began at 12:37am, turned into active labor at 1:30am, a baby born at 3:00am, and a second baby born at 3:23am. Just like that, we had become a family of 7. SEVEN.
We were so proud we made it to the hospital this time! And I was beyond thrilled to not be in the OR to deliver my babies. I didn't have a bed that I was confined to, didn't have an IV, had very little monitoring, and didn't even get my hospital bracelet until both babies were born. I had my husband there, I had my Doula, Nicole, there, I had my photographer, Page, there, and I had my Midwife, Carolyn there. The OB in attendance for Alli's birth *asked* me if I was ok with things like having an ultrasound done. He didn't flinch when I said I didn't want to have a cervical check and gladly took the wet amniotic fluid soaked towel I handed him. It was like it was meant to happen at that time with that staff. I wasn't pressured into things I didn't want to do and I held my ground when presented with things I preferred not to have (cervical checks, hospital gown, speculum). I could not have asked for my birth to go any better, and I'm so proud of my birth team for being so amazing, calming, and supportive. I had the physiological (unmedicated, without intervention) birth I wanted, hoped for, and prepared for. I am a huge advocate for informed choice regarding prepping for birth and I think it's important to plan for the birth you envision. I envisioned not being in an OR. I envisioned my support team being present. I envisioned no emergencies. I envisioned a full term pregnancy with healthy babies who didn't need NICU time. I practiced Hypnobabies. I did my research. I stayed active, kept a positive mindset, and surrounded myself with supportive people. Or they surrounded me -- I'm not really sure which is accurate, but holy cow did the support come out in droves this pregnancy and I will forever be grateful for it. I am sharing my birth story not just in words, but in photos because I think it's extremely important to normalize birth, to show what birth CAN look like, and to show people you have choices, you have a voice, and birth can be challenging, beautiful, exhausting, fast, and wonderful.
I'm often told that I'm "lucky" for my circumstances regarding my pregnancies and my deliveries of my 5 kids, but I don't fully agree. Perseverance, patience, education, health -- all of those play a huge role. Sure, genetics helps (my mom and sisters all had relatively quick labors as well). Also, that I had access to quality healthcare, that I am not a minority, and that I had a hefty amount of support -- it is not lost on me that *all* of those factors matter. All of those factors combined are things I'm thankful for, but above all, I'm thankful for the opportunity I've been given in this life to grow a large family, to have my mental and physical health where it is, to practice and practice and practice patience all day every day (HA!) and to continue this crazy adventure as a mama to five beautiful children and a wife to one loving, patient, doting, high-fiving, high-kicking, stud-muffin husband.
I’ve seen several posts in mom groups that I’m a part of and have had several people ask me personally what they *actually* need for when their babies arrive. Not only am I a local St. Louis mom of 3 with 2 on the way, I photograph families in their homes all the time after they’ve had babies, and I photograph them through all their stages of babyhood. I have 11 nieces and nephews, 3 great niece/nephews as well and I babysat kids for years. Does this make me an expert on the topic? Uh duh. Ha!! No, I’m kidding. I really don’t consider myself an expert, but I do have a lot of experience from all my years of having and being around babies.
Everyone, and I mean *everyone*, will have a list that specifically works for them. That’s the beauty of this big world we live in. We are all different and unique. But for some of us, there are universal things that tend to work well in the phase of baby and toddler life and I intend to give you our list of what worked/didn’t!
Parents-to-be want to know which items to put on their registry. It’s a fabulous day and age we live in. [Read this next part using your best Grandma voice] “Back in MY day, we didn’t have the internets with your new fangled way of asking thousands of people what you need for a baby. Back in MY day, you bought or used what your mom used (cue the cringes from current parents who realize the importance of expiration dates and keeping up to date with safety standards on baby gear). We passed things down for generations. Kids just don’t know how good they have it.” Amiright? Ok, so “back in my day” was actually the year 2012 when I was having my first and the internet was most definitely around, but it really felt like a crapshoot going in to the big box stores to start a registry for baby stuff and we had NO CLUE what we would actually use. We just walked in bright eyed and bewildered.
These days, I think back to that time and am blown away by the things we THOUGHT we needed. Holy cow we could’ve saved people from buying us so much unnecessary STUFF. I am a big proponent of decluttering and keeping the things in my house to a minimum. I can’t claim to be a minimalist by any stretch, but I just don’t care to have things just to have…things. I like clean spaces and my brain does a much better job functioning in that realm. I also want to make the point that a lot of what we consider “needs” these days are actually more along the lines of creature comforts. Babies need to be fed, changed, loved, clothed, and have a safe space to sleep. Cover those things and you could easily bring baby home without all the creature comforts!
Without further adieu, here is my sacred list of what we have learned to add to the baby registry and what to skip! Want to download these lists? to receive these lists as simple downloadable PDF documents!
46 Must Have Baby Items:
Feeding
-Burp clothes (the old school cloth diaper ones or the muslin ones that also double as bibs are our favorites)
-Haakaa breast pump (got this on our third baby and holy hell! What a lifesaver...er...milk saver 🤣)
-Electric breast pump (if you will be leaving your baby to work outside of the home)
-Hands free pumping bra for you
-Boppy pillow for breastfeeding especially in those early months
-Bottles (if you’re going to work away from your baby, I would have at least 6-8 bottles on hand. If you’ll be home and breastfeeding, 4-6 is probably plenty).
-Some sort of nipple cream/butter (Lansinoh, coconut oil, nipple butter)
-Glider/comfy chair to feed baby in when baby gets a little older especially if you nurse them to sleep or nurse them back to sleep
-Joovy foldable high chair (saved sooo much space with this thing and it’s more than worth the money)
-Baby spoons, bowls, and cups
Sleeping
-Pack N Play or portable play pen
-Pack n play and sheets
-Summer Infant co-sleeper or bassinet (this is personal preference. Just know we had a rock n play, but those have been recalled)
-Crib
-Crib sheets
-Mattress pad for crib
-Velcro sleep swaddles and sleep sacks for when they’re older
Diapering
-Changing pad (this can go on top of a dresser or even on the floor. It’s most useful for me when I’ve just had a baby and can’t do a lot of bending and moving especially in the middle of the night)
-Portable changing pad (to keep in your diaper bag or around the house if your changing pad is far from where you may be)
-Cloth and/or disposable diapers
-Wipes
Gear
-Wubbanub pacifiers (these are great bc they’re hard to lose and totally worth the money)
-Baby Piano Mat (My husband bought this when our oldest was a baby and I thought he was nuts. Turns out every single baby to ever grace that mat LOVED it)
-Stroller you can clip your car seat in to
-Umbrella stroller
-Optional: running stroller or stroller with bike tire wheels for easier “off-roading”
-Infant car seat
-Tula Carrier or some type of baby carrier (we have an Ergobaby and a Moby too. The Ergo was ok, but the Tula is more breathable. Moby was good for itty bitty babies for us. Whatever you get, make sure the baby’s knees stay above the hips when facing you. They should never be dangling by their crotch.)
-Newborn Boppy Lounger
-Swing - we have a foldable, lightweight one and it was on the lower end of the price points for these and we love it. Easy storage, not a lot of bells and whistles.
-Grooming kit (nail clipper, nose sucker, thermometer, hair brush, etc)
-Humidifier (this doesn’t get used often but when we need it, I felt like we realllly needed it)
-Teething toys
-Mirror for the car. Our favorite plays music and we can control it with a remote from the front seat.
-Electric booger sucker. This is the goofiest thing I thought I would never use and now I swear by it!
-Video Monitor
-Box fan (I think it does waaaaay better than a sound machine)
-Backpack diaper bag
-Baby sunscreen (though no sunscreen should be put on baby before 6 months of age)
-Baby friendly bug spray
-Children’s Tylenol
Clothing
-Onesies - both plain white as well as fun patterned ones. Long sleeve and short sleeve.
-Zipper sleepers
-Sock Ons (they go over socks to keep baby’s socks on because they pull them off a lot)
-Sunhat
-Swim Shirt
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And now, here are the things we thought we needed and eventually just got rid of because we rarely, if ever, used them:
24 Baby Items to Skip:
FEEDING
-Bottle warmer
-Baby food maker or blender (we wound up doing baby led weaning- which is fancy speak for “we let our kids eat the food we eat instead of purées).
SLEEPING
-Crib bumpers (these are advised against using at all whether they’re the puffy ones or “breathable” mesh. They create a risk of suffocation and aren’t safe)
-Mobile
DIAPERING
-Wipe Warmer
-Changing Table
-Diaper Genie
-Toilet Seat or Potty Chair (I found it was easier to just train them on the regular toilet seat to eliminate any fears of going when we weren’t home. Also, the potty chairs that are portable are pretty gross when you think about it because you’re just transporting germs from one potentially public toilet to yours at home. Yuck!)
GEAR
-Exersaucer/baby gym. My own babies as well as allllll of the kids I babysat would sit in it for like 5-10 minutes max and just never really did like it and these things take up soooo much space)
-Baby Bathtub (we found baths in the kitchen sink for our babies worked quite well and when they were super little, we used a small towel in the water so they didn’t slip too much)
-Bumbo (my issue with this is that babies are often propped in these well before the age they’re supposed to be in them and it is bad on their hips and backs.)
-Walker
-Boogie Wipes
-Pacifier Wipes
-Pacifier holder
-Baby Powder (Although we have used this to de-sand kids at the beach, there are a lot of studies now that say not to use this stuff at all because it’s terrible for people to breathe in and has been linked to cancer especially in females. Yikes.)
-Baby Oil
-Portable High Chair
-Shopping Cart Cover
CLOTHING
-Shoes (every single pair of baby shoes is totally adorable and not at all practical! They just kick them off and it was just one more thing for us to have to track down)
-Baby Laundry Soap (They don’t need special soap for clothes. If you’re concerned about dyes, use dye-free detergents. We prefer ALL Free & Clear brand that’s fragrance free)
-Baby Towels (though, admittedly, the hooded ones are totally cute on babies)
-Baby Robes
-Baby Snow Suit (Once they’re walking, a snow suit is definitely worth it if you live in a climate that gets snow. In St. Louis we usually have a few good snowfalls per winter season.)
If you're a list person like me and you want these lists in concise format that you can download, print, and checkoff, and I'll get them right over to you!
And, of course, congratulations to all the St. Louis mamas and beyond on the start of your parenting and Motherhood journey! I can't wait to begin documenting your story from maternity, to birth, baby, breastfeeding and beyond! Want to book me for any of those? Let's do it!
*I am not affiliated with nor am I paid by any of the brands featured here. All opinions are my own.*
One in every 700 babies in the United States has Down Syndrome. Today happens to be World Down Syndrome Day! It is celebrated on March 21 to raise public awareness of Down Syndrome, a congenital disorder caused by having an extra 21st chromosome. As a St. Louis family photographer, I'd like to do my part in helping raise awareness here locally. What better way to do that than to introduce you to my sweet clients who hold this day close to their hearts?!
Meet Lexi! This sweetheart turned 3 years old in October and she is totally ready to celebrate! Lexi has Down Syndrome and her parents wanted to make her birthday a celebration and to help educate others on some things about Down Syndrome. Initially I was only going to post one photo of Lexi and a little blurb, but there's so much info I want to include that I knew it needed it's own blog post!
Lexi's Mom scheduled out her session so she could have the photos in time to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month. One of the goals from her session was to highlight not only Lexi's eyes and smile, but the beauty and joy that her presence brings to people.
And Jamie was SO right. I had met Lexi one time prior to this and I couldn't get over how stinking sweet she was then! I believe she was about 18 months old then, so a lot has changed since then but dang, she's just as sweet as ever! AND she has red hair sooo I might be a little partial ;)
Lexi is a pistol and she fires off a sassy "No" response to her Mom and Dad very quickly, but I soon learned that 'No' actually sometimes meant 'Yes' with Lexi. Sounds about right for a very independent 3 year old! But I will say, when she's asked to say "Yes," she obliges in the most adorable way! A common misconception about people with Down Syndrome are that they're happy all the time. Miss Lexi was very happy throughout her session, but she also showed many times over she could be serious, she could be deep in thought, she showed curiosity, excitement, sadness, and frustration. I spent about an hour with Lexi that morning and through that, I learned so much which was a beautiful thing. I love, love, love when little ones have the ability to teach me a wealth of knowledge and give me a ton of insight in such a short time frame.
Through Jamie, I learned that children with Down Syndrome will go through all the same milestones as typically developing children, it just may take them a little longer to achieve those milestones. At the time of our session, Lexi was currently in the process of learning to walk and stand on her own. She certainly has determination and motivation within her as she made sure to show off her skills for me that day.
I've also learned that each child with Down Syndrome learns in a different way and at a different pace -- it is up to us to identify how they learn and unlock their potential. Lexi loves to read books and was totally on board with hanging around a table of books geared towards the topic of Down Syndrome. I love coming across families who make reading a priority as kids benefit so much from that. They are absolutely helping Lexi to unlock her potential. Lexi also had one of my all time favorites with her, "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr. Seuss. I was so pumped!
To say I was totally head over heels for her would be an understatement. ALSO, by the end of the session, Lexi even gave me a massive bear hug. I could swear I felt my heart grow twice it's size that day.
As a St. Louis family documentary photographer that largely focuses on family’s stories, kids, and motherhood journeys, I generally don’t go out seeking models to photograph. Having said that, I just returned from a photography conference in Las Vegas called Project Obscura where I got to photograph models in the Valley of Fire State Park and it was incredible.
Now, you might be asking if I’m going to start adding fashion models to my repertoire. I’m not. But a conference like this accomplishes a number of things, so allow me to explain. It pushes me out of my comfort zone in a variety of ways. It forces me to more directly pose people as opposed to documenting the action as it unfolds naturally. It gets me out in an environment I don’t normally shoot in at a time of a day I don’t typically photograph my clients (though this may change that). It puts me in the immediate vicinity of top tier photographers who run very successful businesses and possess a wealth of knowledge they can pass on to me. It gives me tips on bettering my sessions for my clients. It allows me to network with people both from St. Louis and around the country. Overall, it gets me out of my element, pushes me to work harder, to think in different ways, and to challenge myself to always strive for better.
iPhone photo collage of Valley of Fire
We spent the first day of our trip photographing these models in the desert. Of course the weekend we went to Vegas, it was unseasonably cold and had just snowed the day prior. Naturally, two days after we left, they had temperatures pushing 70 degrees. Nothing like bringing a little bit of Midwest to the dessert, right?! We spent from about Noon until 5ish in the desert. All things considered, the weather wasn’t terrible and the sun was shining. The contrasts of the red rocks in the Valley of Fire, the very blue sky, and the mountains in the background were fabulous.
It can certainly be intimidating to be photographing alongside some “Industry Greats”, but I’ve learned that confidence goes a long way both internally and among others. Patience is key when shooting with a group of 25 other photographers in your direct vicinity. Obviously, that’s not something I typically have to contend with. Sal Cincotta is the main photographer who runs this conference as well as ShutterFest which I will be attending for the 3rd year in April. Sal owns Sal Cincotta Photography based out of O’Fallon, IL. His big thing at photography meetups and conferences where there are a lot of models and photographers is, “Get your shot and get out of the way.” Basically, don’t be a jerk because everyone wants to walk away with some great shots. Models and instructors were stationed in various locations around a mountain and we spent about 30 minutes at each station. We were given creative license to shoot how we wanted, but were given tips, pointers, and suggestions before we started.
The second day of the trip was the conference day. We were in a big conference room at Harrah’s hotel and they had about 6 speakers throughout the day. They were the same expert photographers who had spent the day with us in the Valley of Fire. I took a ton of notes, gained a wealth of knowledge, and took some key pointers down that I could implement immediately as well as work on long term. In a totally dorky way, I look at this experience like the Valley of Fire lit a fire under my butt! Ha!
I was lucky enough to go on this trip with two local photographer friends of mine, Dana Jacobs (Dana Jacobs Photography) and Kristen Easley (These Forever Moments). Dana is actually one of my backups for birth photography and I met her over two years ago. Kristen and I met not long ago at a wedding. Kristen was hired as the videographer and I was the second shooter for another photographer. The whole trip idea started when Kristen proposed it to a small photography group message we are all in together. I carefully considered going and couldn’t decide if I could justify the expense or if it would be worth it for me considering the shooting day was nothing like what I offer with my photography. After encouragement from some of my friends and other local photographers, at the last minute, I finally decided I should go for it.
Photo credit: Dana Jacobs Photography
I’ve never done a trip like this on my own and definitely haven’t left my kids like this in 6 1/2 years. I’ve basically been pregnant or breastfeeding all these years so I would normally pass. The time was right and the group was perfect, though. Dana, Kristen, and I mesh very well together and provided each other with support, encouragement, and friendship before and during the trip. It can be HARD to leave your family especially when you have little kids. We have 6 kids between us, so you can imagine the "mom guilt" was strong. Additionally, each of our families had been riddled with bizarre-o sicknesses in the weeks leading up to Project Obscura. It wound up being the perfect getaway in the form of a work trip. Sharing in your business successes, struggles, and hopes with other photographer friends really provides an irreplaceable bond and I feel pretty fortunate to have experienced such a ridiculously fun trip with these two.
Above side by side photos- Photo credit: Dana Jacobs Photography
Photo credit: Dana Jacobs Photography
I’ll spare you all the Vegas shenanigans of three photographers/moms with two nights out on the town, but I will say this: If you go to Vegas, just prepare for a TON of walking. This was my second time in Vegas and there was no shortage of walking either time — along sidewalks that purposely divert you into casinos, along shops, and restaurants. Even if you go the route of using GPS, you’ll likely just walk around for unlimited amounts of time trying to decipher where the heck you’re actually supposed to go. Also, it seems Vegas doesn’t really sleep until the true morning hours. Walk out at 2am and people are everywhere. Walk out at 8am and it’s like a ghost town. That's Vegas for ya!
I don’t regret my trip out to Vegas for Project Obscura for one second! I’m so glad I went! Documenting families, motherhood, and photographing real estate in St. Louis will still be my go-to type of photography. I am, however, always up for fresh ideas, new perspectives, and willing to learn whenever the chance presents itself!
It's pumpkin decorating time!! We certainly can't have a pumpkin decorating time without documenting it! Halloween in St. Louis also means prepping some great jokes for trick or treating. If you're not a local St. Louisan, you're probably totally lost right about now. When our kiddos go trick or treating, they knock on the door of a house, someone answers, you tell them a joke (or occasionally you sing a song or recite a cute Halloween poem you learned in school), and THEN you get your candy. Basically, you're expected to earn your candy around these parts and I feel like people really get into the spirit of decorating!
We usually carve our pumpkins and I do enjoy it, but it can definitely be messy and a little questionable in the end. Having said that, let me tell you a little story.
Once upon a time at my Grandparent's lake house, my Dad caught this massive catfish. It was a whole ordeal just reeling that puppy in! There was lots of yelling from the plethora of children running around amazed at the sight. My older brothers were grabbing nets, the fishing line was getting stuck, the fish was flopping everywhere. It was hilarious chaos. We finally get the fish out of the water and bring it up from the dock and into the kitchen. The fish is doing lots of heavy breathing because it's literally a fish out of water. It's on the cutting board sitting on the counter top and my Dad is about to stun it so we can have it for dinner. With that, he looks up at his 8 kids standing around the counter looking at him in amazement and he says, "Ok, so if we do this, who's eating this catfish for dinner? Raise your hand." The room is silent and awkward glances ensue. NO ONE raises their hand. It wasn't until that very moment that the realization set in for all of us that this thing was about to become dinner. None of us actually wanted to eat the dang thing, but we sure did love the excitement surrounding it. Wanna know what happened to that catfish? He became a classic catch and release situation just like every other blue gill, sunfish, and large mouth bass we had caught down there over the years.
Ok, back to Halloween. I also usually have fantastic intentions of cooking our pumpkin seeds. You know what happens to our pumpkin seeds? They soak in a bowl for an undisclosed amount of time, they get rinsed off, they dry out on a pan for another undisclosed amount of time (ok, in the spirit of honesty, I'll just let you know this is sometimes *weeks*), and what happens after that is anybody's guess. Sometimes they're forgotten about because they've been put out of the kid's reach. Out of sight, out of mind! Sometimes they even make it so far as to be salted and roasted in the oven. After THAT, they usually make their way to the trash because just like that poor catfish we wound up tossing back in the lake, apparently no one is actually interested in eating the pumpkin seeds either.
So now you know why this was a pumpkin decorating instead of a pumpkin carving! I will say, though, the kids totally loved it! They had received a bunch of pumpkin decorating items and when I told them they could decorate them any way they wanted, they were ecstatic!
While the older two decorated pumpkins, our youngest played with the Halloween window clings. She's currently belly button obsessed so most of the time, she's super proud to show us how she's stuck the pumpkin window cling right on her belly. The older kids find it hilarious and usually it becomes a game for all of them.
The kids got to put their pumpkins outside wherever they wanted and after a quick inspection by the one year old, we were all set to go! One of the best parts about this kind of pumpkin decorating is easy clean up not to mention, I don't have to wonder how long it will take me to just throw the damn pumpkin seeds in the trash!
Of course documenting a session like this means no messy hands for me or any of the kids and I can stand by and let the kids just do their own thing. I love in home documentary sessions like this because there is very little prep work, the kids get super focused on their creations, and everyone is relaxed! Are you decorating for any of the upcoming holidays with your family? Let's document your family traditions with a Holiday Tradition Session!
Photographers are always thinking far in advance of holidays. Ask a photographer what they’re working on in the middle of a St. Louis heatwave in June or July, and they’ll probably tell you they’re planning their Fall Sessions! Ask them in September or October what they’re working on they’ll likely say, “Christmas Sessions!” The list goes on. We have to think ahead because the sessions need to be well planned out so clients can book sessions and we can get the photos back out to clients as soon as possible. Here we are friends, about to embark on Halloween, and I’m going to throw some holiday stuff your way! I know, I know, but Thanksgiving is in 6 weeks!! And guess what happens immediately after Thanksgiving?
Decorating for the holidays!! It’s a time honored tradition for many families which usually includes setting up a Christmas tree, decorating the tree, hanging stockings, Christmas decorations, enjoying some egg nog, noshing on some cookies, and quality family time filled with laughs, inside jokes, and playful banter among siblings.
It often brings back memories of years gone by when the parents bust out hand made ornaments adorned with younger school pictures of the kids, children’s projects with little handprints painted on, homemade crafts or mugs, old train sets, and antiques from generations ago. And yet, while this is such a fun tradition so many of us have with our families, how many of us actually have photos of it? And I don’t mean your mom taking out the camera and snapping a picture of the tree when all is said and done. I’m talking real moments with the WHOLE family included.
Take a look at this session from last year that I did with Jessica, Rick, Adam, and Emma. This sweet little family decked the halls together! They pulled out their impressively organized ornaments, grabbed the bins with both the handmade and store bought decor, and got to work.
While Rick and Jessica put the lights and main decorations on the trees, Adam and Emma worked hard on decorating the mini tree. Adam put together the classic train set for under the tree, stockings were hung on the mantle, the Elf on The Shelf was carefully situated in his spot for safekeeping and no touching.
They debated who had given certain ornaments, and which ones had their own little stories behind them. One of my favorite aspects of this family’s traditions: every year they decorate for Christmas, they play Home Alone on the TV in the background. How awesome is that?!
This session was the PERFECT way to document their family tradition and it would be an excellent way to document yours as well. Imagine having a photo album to look back on years from now of one of the best and most genuine memories of your family together!
I’ll be offering these sessions for two weekends only, so space is limited. Sessions are $200. Sessions will take place in your home or on location where you get your Christmas tree. Referral bonus: if you tell a friend and they also book a session, you receive an additional $25 off your session fee. What are you waiting for?! Let's get you scheduled before all the spots fill up!
It’s back to school time and for the first time as of tomorrow, we will officially have a little one in “real” school. We have our first Kindergartner we are sending off for full days of school, 5 days a week with a beefy school supply list. I know this is nothing new to any of you seasoned parents with older kids who have done this for years now, but hear me out. I’ve been thinking A LOT about sending my “baby” off to school full time and it’s especially interesting because I look at our youngest and think “Oh my gosh. This is what our “baby Zoe” looked like just FIVE years ago. And my heart aches. I have a lump in my throat and butterflies in my stomach. It’s not that I don’t want our kids to grow up. It’s that I know how FAST it goes, how fast it went, and how fast it will go for our other kids. Five years of our lives have FLOWN by. It is entirely true — the days are long and the years are short.
When people ask me if I’m going to cry on her first day of Kindergarten, I say I don’t know. I’ve been dreading/excited about this since last year when she got her first taste of school in Pre-K. When I thought about this more in depth, I’ve come to realize something. This isn’t “just” our oldest going off to Kindergarten. This is *our* first time having a child in school full time. This changes everything for *us* as a family. No longer are we able to do whatever we want, whenever we want. We can’t just “pick up and go”. We have to consider the hours of the school day, the days off, and how late we stay up/out at night. Vacations suddenly revolve around a school year calendar rather than the traditional January to December year. Doctors appointments can’t be made when it happens to be convenient for us. We have to consider school. Nap times, lunch times, hair cuts, laundry, parties, outings with friends, errands, and so on. They all revolve around school. And then we’ll start in with sports, school activities, parent meetings, student and parent involvement, homework, volunteering, fund raising, school auctions, tournaments, friends coming over, and so on.
I’m not saying I’m not looking forward to these things. I truly am. It’s exciting to be the doe-eyed “new parent” and to experience this, especially for the first time. It’s exciting to see how thrilled our daughter is for Kindergarten. What I’m saying, though, is that this is a huge change for us as a family. It’s a life change. It’s a new phase. Our middle child, Finn, has hardly experienced any of his little life without his buddy, Zoe, by his side, so that’s a huge change for him as well. We’ve been in baby/toddler/little people phase for 6 years and now it’s like we’re graduating, evolving, and moving on to the next steps. It’s intimidating, it’s new, and it’s unchartered territory for all of us. It feels a bit like we’re all starting out on our first day of school. And the best I can liken it to as an adult is being with the same company for the last 6 years and then starting a new job where you have to learn everyone’s names, personalities, the rules, the logins, the passwords, who to call for various situations, and what programs to use. There’s pressure to get it right and to make your kids feel like you know *exactly* what you’re doing (even though I know from last year speaking to some of the parents that most of us were feeling a bit like lost sheep). I’m thankful we have her enrolled in the same school she was at last year so there’s a sense of familiarity, but there’s still a sense of newness all at the same time.
Kindergarten changes everything. So to all of you parents with kiddos starting out new this year — whether that’s in Kindergarten, a new school, going away to college, or somewhere in between, I’m with you. I’m confident that instead of asking each other if we’re going to cry, if we just hold each other’s hands (figuratively or literally), just like the little ones do on their first day of Kindergarten, that we will all make it through together. That’s what it’s really all about, though, right? Instilling confidence, charisma, character — not just in our Kindergarten children, but in ourselves as a community.
Happy Back to School Week! You can do it! Your kids can do it! Even though Kindergarten changes everything, life is about to get so exciting!
There’s a little guy who turns one today and I had the privilege of photographing his birth just 3 days after the birth of my daughter, Emma. He also just so happens to have been born at the same place I had planned to give birth — at the Mercy Birthing Center in St. Louis, MO. As a St. Louis Birth Photographer, I have photographed many births around St. Louis, but it is a distinct honor to photograph a client at MBC. Between the amazing home-like facility and the staff that blows me away with their level of care every time I’m there, it is one of my favorite places to photograph a Birth.
*Please note: This blog post contains birth images that some may consider graphic in nature. Katie Gaeta Photography only posts images that birth clients have approved. Thank you, Karlynnta, for allowing these to be shared to help normalize the world view of what physiological birth can look like.*
Karlynnta contacted me about photographing her birth when we were both in our third trimester of pregnancy. We both knew there was a definite chance I wouldn’t be able to make her birth if I was delivering my own baby or had just arrived home from the hospital. She was due July 19th and had a history of going a few days later and I was due July 24th and had a history of going a few days early. We made a plan together and the stars truly aligned for us with me delivering Emma on July 19th and Karlynnta going into labor on July 22nd.
When I got the call, I grabbed my own little newborn, Emma, packed her in the carseat and drove to the Mercy Birthing Center. I arrived to find Karlynnta calmly sitting near the foot of the bed while her husband, Walter, tended to their two older boys, Solomon and Abram. She was the epitome of calm during contractions and interacted gently with the boys in between contractions. She winced her face a bit and just worked her body through them. It was truly amazing. Not only are Karlynnta and Walter the kindest, gentlest, most patient parents, but they exude that among others as well. Karlynnta literally asked me how *I* was doing between *her* contractions since I was 3 days postpartum (I swear she didn't twist my arm to be there. I WANTED to be there). I'm telling you, they are beautiful souls.
One of the things I love about Mercy Birthing Center is their physiological approach to childbirth. It is typically very hands off and they trust their patients to know their bodies and what they need. They’ll give gentle suggestions regarding new positions to labor in to help bring baby down, but otherwise they simply let the mother labor as needed. Karlynnta spent some time laboring in the tub, on the toilet, walking around, in the shower, and leaning over the bed as Walter provided reassuring words and support along the way.
With Solomon focused on playing a game to keep busy, Abram fast asleep in Grandma’s arms, Elizabeth, Karlynnta's Midwife, supporting her perineum, and Walter prepared to catch the baby, Karlynnta delivered a sweet baby boy named Idris. He was passed from Walters hands back through Karlynnta’s legs and up to see his mama for the first time. Karlynnta and her family of 5 snuggled right in to bask in the dynamic of their brand new family.
It's common for breastfeeding to cause contractions to pick back up once the baby has been born which helps your body to deliver the placenta. Nature has a way of making it all work quite nicely. Gravity helped to deliver the placenta as well. And I know I’m a “birthy-type” of person, but I truly think placentas are really just a badass organ. It is literally the organ that gives the baby life in the womb and is responsible for delivering the food, managing the waste, and connecting the baby and mother. I am always fascinated by placentas. They’re a bit like finger prints — each one is unique and remarkable in it’s own right.
While Karlynnta was cleaned up a bit, The Grandmas, Grandpa, and siblings got to hold and meet Mr. Idris. Grandma even got to put Idris’ first diaper on! After documenting some of the family firsts as well as the family acclimating to new baby Idris, Karlynnta requested a photo of us together before Emma and I finished up.
I’m eternally grateful to Karlynnta and Walter for being such amazing clients who chose to hire me as their birth photographer and bring my newborn along with me for the adventure at The Mercy Birthing Center.
If you’re reading this as a pregnant or hoping-to-be-pregnant-soon set of parents, I would love to talk to you about being their to document YOUR birth story. As a St. Louis Birth Photographer, I provide birth photography all over the Metro area — at birthing centers, at hospitals, in homes, and if your baby decides he/she wants to make their entrance in the front seat of your car like mine did, I’ll just meet you wherever you are ;)
I am overjoyed, flattered, and humbled after putting on a client appreciation day for my past and present photography clients! I have been so fortunate to be able to work with such wonderful families, couples, and babies over the years working as a birth, family, documentary, and real estate photographer in the St. Louis area. It’s one thing to run a business and have clients. It’s an entirely different thing to have loyal clients who know you, who like you, who trust you, and most importantly, who support and believe in you. To everyone who made it out today, as well as to those who couldn’t make it, I want to say THANK YOU. You make my business what it is and without you, I wouldn’t be here today.
We went to a local St. Louis park and somehow caught a break in the relentless heat of the summer. We happened upon a mild weather day and had plenty of shade, a playground, a splash pad, beer, and Ted Drewes! It was a mid day afternoon event and even my sweet clients who have babies who typically nap at that time showed up. Seriously, like I said, humbled. As a mom to three little ones, we know how important naps are. Your kiddos are troopers!!
The kids played for hours on the playground and jumped around happily on the splash pad. With the exception of one burned butt (poor Abby, I know you’re a tough lady!), one bruised head, one scraped up arm, and a couple tumbles here and there, the kids did great! I was so happy to see the plethora of kiddos! It brings me such a smile when I get to work with kids during my sessions and watching them grow up is incredibly special to me!
The adults, well, with beer, Ted Drewes, and good company, there was no shortage of conversation, laughter and fun. And with cold beer hugged by some Katie Gaeta Photography koozies, everyone was able to kick back and enjoy the afternoon.
I can’t thank everyone enough for the love, support, and for showing up to my first annual Client Appreciation Day! You can bet we’ll have it again next year, so if you couldn’t make it out this time, stay tuned for updates for the next one (and I’ve already vowed to take more photos of it next year! ha ha ha)! So excited for my upcoming client sessions and to add all sorts of new clients to the list next year!
If you want to be part of fun events and updates from Katie Gaeta Photography or if you're interested in a session, we should probably chat! I bet we'd make some magical things happen!
It’s #TransformationTuesday. On January 15th, I committed myself to 80 days of clean eating and a rigorous workout program. I worked my tail off physically with 6 workouts per week and mentally making sure I was getting the appropriate food intake needed to fuel my body. I was ready to shed the remaining baby weight from my last pregnancy. I’m proud to say, I did it!
iPhone photo credit: To my husband, Tony. Taken on my iPhone because I never intended to really share this on the blog.
iPhone photo credit: To my husband, Tony. Taken on my iPhone because I never intended to really share this on the blog.
iPhone photo credit: To my husband, Tony. Taken on my iPhone because I never intended to really share this on the blog.
iPhone photo credit: To my husband, Tony. Taken on my iPhone because I never intended to really share this on the blog.
For 80 days, I consciously thought about every single thing I put in my body which was a shift from what used to be my normal. I wasn’t grazing. I planned out every single meal and snack. Those days where you run around like crazy running errands and shlepping kids from here to there and just stop somewhere to grab a quick bite? That couldn’t happen. At first I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to stick to the eating plan, but as time went on, I realized how great it was. I wasn’t starving by 10am, I wasn’t craving chocolate and sweets by 2pm, and I didn’t “need” an extra bowl of cereal before bed time.
Monday through Saturday I religiously woke up at 5am to get my work out in. Some days it was 43 minutes and some days it was 60 minutes. Was it hard? Pressing play wasn't hard for me. But the workouts were TOUGH and sometimes getting through them was tough, but I did it. Every day, my husband and I marked off on the calendar with our initial when we completed a workout. It was great having a mini support group doing the program with me which included my husband, my sister, my niece, and my sister-in-law. It always feels easier to do something so monumental with people you love and can commiserate to. Misery loves company, right?! Ha!
Was I frustrated that I still had a belly pooch on day 80? Yep! Sure was. It started to feel like no matter what I did, I was going to forever look pregnant. Prior to this workout program, I began to think I had really let myself go despite already working out 6 days a week. I figured it was poor eating habits that led me to this place, so I was starting to beat myself up for it. Take a look at the photos, and you’ll notice in the photos that I actually look like I might be pregnant again. Spoiler alert: I’m not! During my pregnancy with Emma, unbeknownst to me while pregnant, I developed something called diastasis recti which is a separation of the abdominal muscles. It leaves a gap in your muscles that allows your belly to pooch out. Ah pregnancy, you never cease to amaze with your long lasting effects and bodily changes. Thanks to physical therapy with my Physical Therapist, Brooke Brody, who specializes in pelvic floor health, I’m able to work on the diastasic recti to eradicate the issue, but it’s a slow process and I’m most certainly working on it. (Side note: if you are a woman experiencing incontinence - urine leakage, lower back pain, a pooch or bulge in your stomach, feeling of a weak pelvic floor, pelvic floor dysfunction, you should talk to Brooke. She can help eradicate these type of issues!)
So why am I sharing this with you? As an advocate for body positivity especially following pregnancies, I am particularly passionate about this and not just because it’s myself we are talking about. I think being healthy is important and I think it’s important to know this can look different for every body. I have heard many times in the past that I’m “just lucky” or that I’m “naturally thin” and while genetics may play a role, I *do* have to work hard to stay in shape. The first place I gain weight is my stomach and it’s a daily battle to work to keep it off. Dismissing someone’s hard work with comments like “Yeah but you’re naturally thin,” isn’t helping anyone. The Postpartum period can play an absolute mind game with you especially in regards to your body. Some day I’m hoping I won’t look pregnant when I’m not. Some day my stretch marks may fade. Some day my stretched out belly skin may smooth out. In the mean time, I’ll embrace the journey. And I figure if I am asking my clients to show themselves in their most vulnerable states, then I better practice what I preach.
Let’s lift each other up and encourage one another regardless of where you might be in your health and fitness journey. And heck, while we’re at it, let’s get together and document your journey.
As a St. Louis Documentary Photographer, I'm often photographing other people who are usually my clients. I'm not usually in front of the camera or the subject of my sessions, but this time I was. When you have something that feels monumental in life, it calls for documentation of it.
My sister, Jill, and I had been talking about haircuts for a while. I had been contemplating this haircut that I had saved on Pinterest for over a year. It was a HUGE change and I wanted to be 110% sure I could do it. With strong encouragement from my husband as well as my friends, I decided it was time. I have had long hair for about 5 years now. It was literally down to my waist band of my jeans at the longest point. My close friends who knew me in high school were saying it was like my "high school hair" because it was long like this when I first started high school. While this isn't the first time I've made a drastic change in my hair, it IS the first time I've gone this short...
We made our appointment with my hairstylist, Sammy Tackaberry, whom I've trusted with my hair for over 10 years now. Jill was up first and she was going for a long layered look with a bit of a balayage and highlight treatment. She has only once previously had highlights in her hair with a different stylist at a different place, but they didn't turn out how she wanted that time. Sammy made sure Jill was going to love it and would actually be able to see the difference in color this time.
After her color treatment was applied, she got to sit and wait for me. I sat in the chair and Sammy got right to work. I opted to save some hair for donating it to a good cause. I am considering sending it to Pantene, but haven't made my mind up on which organization I'll donate to. I'm more than happy to take suggestions on a great organization from you, dear reader!
Once the donation cut was made (15 inches for donation and a total of about 18 inches cut off altogether for me), it was on to the rest but not before highlights were applied! Jill was back in the chair to finish out her cut and hers looks FREAKING AMAZING!! I love the color and the cut and it suits her perfectly! Check it out!! Doesn't it POP?!
Check out her before and after!! Love the dimension it has now!!
iPhone Photo credit: Jill Armentrout
Once my color set, mine was washed, then the styling took place. I had only once previously had clippers taken to my neck when I had a bob haircut 5 years ago. This time I had clippers with a size 2 attachment taken to the side of my head for a side shave and for an undercut in the back. It was definitely a weird sensation around my ear!
iPhone Photo credit: Jill Armentrout
Sammy absolutely NAILED the cut!! She is a Master Mind with haircuts and she did not fail to deliver on this one! I am so excited to debut my new 'do. It's fresh, fun, funky, a total change and I am completely digging it! It feels LIBERATING!! And, seriously, if you are in St. Louis and need a hair stylist, Sammy is PHENOMENAL!! I highly recommend her. She never ceases to amaze me with her hair transformations for her clients. She is located at Metro The Salon just off St. Charles Main Street!
My husband likes to joke that even if people don't like a drastic hair cut change on someone, they will never tell you the truth. Ha!! It's definitely a valid point! Go ahead, tell me your honest reviews on it. I can take it! And, really, even if you hate it, no biggie because I LOVE IT!! There's no stopping me now!
I’m going to let you in on a little secret about Duchess Kate and her most recent delivery of the latest little Royal heir. As a fellow precipitous birther myself (labor to baby in 3 hours or less), I know exactly what it’s like to have your little princess, or Prince in the Duchess’ case, decide they’re going to make a hasty grand entrance into the world.
Photo: 15 minutes after delivery
Photo: 10 minutes after delivery
Photo: Walking moments after delivery
I am a firm supporter of educated birth and informed choice meaning I fully support any mama’s educated choices before during and after labor. Education makes all the difference. If you want to go un-medicated, if you want an epidural, if you opt for a cesarean because you feel that’s the safest way to birth your baby, I support you because you did your research and you made informed choices.
Photo: Up walking during labor
For the people of the internet pining for information on how a person walks that quickly after labor and delivery, I’ll tell you. I prepared for 9 months to have the labor I did. Do you want to know how I had my baby on the side of the road at 9:15am and was home by 3:15pm that same day? It most certainly had nothing to do with royalty because I am anything but! I had an entirely un-medicated labor and delivery with my third. Without an epidural or fluids pumped into me, it is entirely possible to be up walking, smiling, and interacting like Duchess Kate only hours after delivery. People like to speculate about her being Royalty and how she must be magical.
Photo: 20 minutes after her delivery, 2 days after my own delivery.
Ladies and gentleman, fellow pregnant mamas, future pregnant mamas, Duchess Kate isn’t a unicorn birther. And neither am I. Sure, she has a stylist that comes in and dolls her up hours after labor, she puts on a dress (come on, we all know there’s a massive pair of Depends under there holding it all in just like the rest of us ha ha), and heels for her brief public appearance but beyond that, she is a woman who knows what her body is capable of. She is a big advocate for un-medicated births and I imagine her laughing at the idea of people thinking she’s super magical Royalty.
Photo: Taken by my husband's iPhone. 5 hours after delivery.
After I had my daughter in the car and was quickly back home, people called me “Super Mom”, but really, I’m not! I mean that! I just prepared and did what I knew my body was capable of! Did I just compare little old me to Duchess Kate? YEP. Not even sorry about it either because there are A TON of women who have done and are capable of doing the same. As a birth photographer, I see this type of thing all the time at the Mercy Birthing Center where they are also big proponents of physiological birth. You do not have to be confined to a bed for days following an un-medicated birth. This is what the practice and support of physiological birth can look like afterwards. You don’t have to be Royalty to feel like a million bucks after you had a baby. As my Midwife, Maria, told me, what I experienced was a completely average birth that happened to take place in the front seat of my car. I could not agree more! Walking, talking, and smiling after birth like Duchess Kate is entirely possible, because, mamas, you are warriors of birth. You are informed. You are capable!
Are you a fast laborer? How soon after delivery did you get up to walk around? Do you want your next labor documented? Me too! Let's set a date to meet up for some coffee or whatever you're drinking these days ;) It's on me!
He’s been known to dip his carrots in ketchup, mayonnaise, peanut butter, honey, hummus, and so on. These are the seemingly mundane moments that make up the story of our lives and I aim to preserve these memories. This is the documentation of the great story of our little St. Louis family life.
I went to grab a picture of his "Ketchunnaise" dip for his carrots and as he reached to dip his carrot, his shirt raised slightly and I caught a glimpse of something else. I asked him what was on his belly and a sheepish grin appeared on his face along with the response, “Nuffing...” as he did a quick inspection of his art.
I could’ve been angry with him but instead, I made the conscious decision to laugh it off. It’s washable marker, after all, it will wash away. He doesn’t know I chose not to be mad, but he may actually remember the smile on my face as I asked him about his artwork on his belly. He presents us with a new challenge every single day, he pushes his limits, and tests our patience like no other. The true test of parenting is how *we* respond, is it not?
Do you want to capture a day of "little" moments in your life? Let's chat so we can document your story and your life to preserve those memories forever!
This past fall I did a “re-birth” session with Jess, Kevin, Noah and Amelia. We decided upon a photography session that would truly honor and pay tribute to the place where Jess and Kevin’s daughter, Amelia, was born as well as where Jess flat lined after her cesearean birth. So we met up at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis to start Jess and Amelia’s celebration of life and re-birth session.
This was so special to me because I got to spend time with a family whose lives were forever changed upon the birth of their daughter. The recovery room after a cesarean can be a calm place with some minor checks from the staff to make sure you’re doing ok. Being a birth photographer, I’ve spent time with many families who have had cesarean births and have been present in the recovery room immediately following the birth. It can be a quiet time and it’s a time where you think you’ll be able to soak in your brand-new baby, to nurse or give your baby a bottle for the first time, to look into your husband’s eyes and say “We did it! We brought another child in to this World!” Jess and Kevin were robbed of that when things went South in the recovery room and Jess had to immediately be brought back in for surgery. She was diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyapthy.
Thankfully, the staff worked hard and fast to get Jess stabilized after she flat-lined for minutes at a time, multiple times. They literally saved her life that day. Jess’ case is a rare one. It’s certainly not an outcome you expect upon delivering your second child. But that was Jess and Kevin’s reality. You can see why they wanted to honor Mercy Hospital – the place where Kevin almost lost his wife and their kids almost lost their mom. They certainly will never take for granted the staff who saved Jess’ life. That place deserves to be honored.
Here they are one full year later celebrating both Jess’s life and Amelia’s first birthday as well as celebrating the family they are able to be. Kevin endured so much during that time as well between his wife being hospitalized and having a newborn and toddler to take care of. It was amazing to see his strength and love for his family flourish despite the cards he was dealt.
Amelia has zero recollection of the events that occurred with her mama and never will know beyond the accounts retold by those who know her mama’s story. She is a spunky go getter who marches to the beat of her own drum. She and Noah move about without a care in the world. They love each other and are simply living their lives like kids are supposed to.
We had decided that this session would not be complete without a visit to Barnes where Jess spent weeks of her life recovering and getting her heart back to health. When a person experiences such trauma to the heart and body like Jess did, the outlook on recovery can look grim and there are a lot of unknowns. But Jess is a fighter and she fought with all her might to get back to life as they knew it prior to her diagnosis.
The most beautiful thing is that despite the events that transpired over a year ago, here they are…a normal family, living their lives with two crazy kids who may want to eat dirt, play with sticks, and occasionally love each other a little too hard. And that’s really the best part of this story. It created a new perspective on life for Jess who essentially experienced a re-birth and for Kevin who watched it unfold before his eyes. Jess and Kevin are still able to live a normal everyday life – albeit one that has much more meaning to them these days. Jess and Kevin have proved that they can continue with life and they don’t focus on what could have been. After all, when you have a first-hand encounter with new life, and death, and life again, you embrace your family, you help deliver hope to others through awareness and you celebrate every single day a little more.
Jess and Kevin, thank you again for trusting me with your most cherished memories of your family and their milestones! I’m so thankful for you, for the staff at Mercy that saved your life, and the staff at Barnes who helped bring you to a full recovery.
I first met Cassiday Proctor in the studio at 106.5 The Arch, a local St. Louis radio station. In July, I was nominated as a “Kick-Ass Chick of The Week” on Spencer’s Neighborhood where Cassiday works as a Radio Personality. I went in with my daughter, Emma, strapped to me in our Tula Baby Carrier when she was just about 2 weeks old. We were on because I had given birth to Emma in the car in the Old Navy parking lot in Sunset Hills when labor went super fast and we couldn’t make it to the Mercy Birthing Center. I met up with Cassidy for the second time with Spencer to shoot a “Man-ternity” shoot for Spencer who was wearing an “Empathy Belly”. It was hilarious, random, and awesome! Cassiday was early in her pregnancy at the time. When Cassiday contacted me about doing a maternity shoot for herself and told me she wanted to do it at her favorite local pizza joint, Katie’s Pizza and Pasta Osteria, I knew I had to do it. A maternity photoshoot in a pizza place?! Sign. Me. Up. That’s like stars aligning perfect. I love pizza, maternity, the place has my name in it, and it fits right in with my lifestyle and documentary photography! Yep. Yep. Yep.
I contacted Katie’s Pizza and Pasta to see if they were cool with this happening at their restaurant. After speaking to the manager and getting Katie’s permission, we were ready to roll! We purposely went to Katie’s during a time when there wouldn’t be a mad rush of people. We had no intention of disrupting other patron’s dining experience, so when you see these, that’s why there are so few people in there. Katie’s is booming during the dinner hour, especially on weekends!
First of all, Katie’s Pizza has an amazing atmosphere to it. I mean, duh, the name says it all, amiright?! Ha Ha Ok, that’s conceited of me. But it’s pretty cool that we share a name and a love for pizza. Cassiday had told me that her favorite pizza was the Brussels. As in Brussels Sprouts Pizza. And since Cassiday is a Pizza Connoisseur, this isn’t just a crazy pregnancy craving. It’s actually an item on the menu! You guys, this place has some unique stuff gracing their menu and I urge you to check them out for a casual date or night out with friends — or ya know, a maternity shoot! Ha! Cassiday and her husband, Jerry, took a seat at the bar and ordered some drinks. The bartender was so sweet and served Cassiday a “Mommy Cocktail” (translation: Non-alcoholic) and her husband ordered a draft beer, Earthbound Irish Red.
Photo shoots like this one make my heart skip a few beats. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a good field of tall grass with the sun setting behind a pregnant woman making her look radiant as ever. But, there’s just something about a couple doing their own ‘thang that gets me. They’re down to Earth, relaxed people, and this shoot is true to them — pizza, beer, jeans, relaxed environment. If there is one thing I stress to my clients, it’s that I want their photos to be “them”. I want my clients to look back on their pictures and think, “That’s *so* us!” I want them to be able to display photos on their walls that make sense to who they really are. It puts my clients at ease when they’re comfortable, when they’re feeling the environment, and when they’re in a place of familiarity. And it shows in their expressions, in their actions, and how the shoot turns out.
Cassiday and Jerry, thank you so much for the fun true-to-you pizza maternity shoot! Can’t wait for your newborn session once you meet your “Lil Slice of Heaven”!
Where do you want to do your St. Louis maternity shoot? If you aren’t sure where, I’ll help you figure that out! Let’s come up with something unique and get to it!
Honest question: Why do people make the comment "You've got your hands full!" ?
I've heard it more and more now that we have three kids. It comes from people of all shapes, ages, and backgrounds. Sometimes it's said with laughter behind it. Sometimes it's said with a judgmental eye. Like most people, I don't like confrontation and I generally make a point to avoid being rude to complete strangers (despite their comments to me). I usually give a fake chuckle and provide one of the following responses:
Yep!
Sure do!
But in a good way!
The day I wrote this blog, I heard this comment SEVEN different times. I've gotten so frustrated with hearing it recently, I added a snap to my Snapchat story about it. I almost called a friend to vent about it. Then I thought about it more and more. So instead of stewing on it any longer, I decided I would turn it into something I enjoy-- photography and writing.
It's funny, because I truly don't know WHY people say "You've got your hands full." I started asking myself, "What is the intention or implication here?" I sometimes want to turn to them and say "Thanks, Captain Obvious!" I typically hear this comment now that we have three kids and occasionally when I'm out with an additional one or two kids. But ya know what, if I didn't think I could handle it or I wasn't handling it well, I wouldn't be doing it at all. So what gives? All I can think is this is a strangers way of saying "Looks like a shit show to me!" Or "You shouldn't be in public with *ALL* those kids." Or "You look like you could possibly use a helping hand but instead of giving that to you, I'm just going to stand and gawk at you. Then I'm going to follow it up with a jab about how busy you must be. Or I'll just point out that your hands are indeed full." Or "Aren't you stressed out??" I'm not sure what people hope to achieve with that comment. It's as though they're not sure what to say and instead of just giving a friendly smile, they resort to this awkward phrase directed at me as though to tell me and my kids that I'm not handling life well. And, really, who wants to hear from complete strangers that they can't handle their kids?
Someone once suggested to respond with, "You should see my heart!" But I feel corny saying that even if it's true. Perhaps I should try it sometime though to see how it's received. I know another common response is to say "I'm so blessed!" But that's not really a comment I would make. So I've been trying to think of a better response that's more suited to me and my kids.
I think my new response is going to be "Yep and loving every second of it!" or "In the best way possible!" I want the negative to be spun into a positive -- a "kill em with kindness" type of approach (as opposed to what I'm sometimes thinking which is a big fat "screw you!"). The thing is, I enjoy this stage of life that we are in. Sometimes it's crazy, sometimes kids have meltdowns, sometimes I'm super stressed and dream of shipping my kids away for a week. Sometimes with three kids, life looks like finding a place for me to sit and nurse while containing the other two. Sometimes we are able to relax and enjoy a cinnamon roll together. Often, we run errands together. Life doesn't stop when you have kids. If anything, it accelerates and I have learned to go with it. A lot of times it's fun, they bring laughs and smiles to my face, and it is definitely challenging. The odd part is that literally 100% of the time when I hear the comment, "You have your hands full!" -- all of the kids I have with me are being well behaved and we are getting along just fine minding our own business. I want my kids to know I enjoy them, we planned for this, and no stranger gets to put us down as a family minding our own business just because THEY can't fathom having their hands as full as mine apparently seem to be. I want my kids to see how to respond to unkind or back handed "compliments" and show them that just because people are judging you AND making unsolicited comments to your face, you can take the higher road.
I'm proud to say my hands ARE full...of little bitty dimpled hands that won't always need to hold mine, of car seats that weigh too much but hold the most precious cargo, of pacifiers or toys to soothe a tired baby, of burp cloths and wipes to clean little faces that don't even realize they're dirty, of a diaper bag that holds spare clothes for tiny bodies that sometimes have accidents, and snacks for little tummies to keep them full and happy. Some day my hands won't be full in this way anymore and I promise to future strangers -- the moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers of little people who seem to have THEIR hands full, I won't be judging you or telling you how you can't handle it. Instead, future strangers, I'll smile in solidarity and reminisce in my head about the good ole days gone by-- and I'll go so far as to lend a hand if needed. And maybe for a moment I'll be able to have my hands full once again.
Katie Gaeta Photography specializes in lifestyle and documentary photography in the St. Louis, MO area. If you'd like a day documented where you are rocking it at this parenting thing, let's talk about that!
In honor of this little guy who just turned ONE, I wanted to share this session! You may remember sweet baby Jordan from his newborn session last year! At the time of this session, he was a growing 6 month old who was as happy as the day is long. Jordan is one of those babies that everyone who sees him can't even believe he could possibly get any cuter!
For Baby Jordan’s 6 month session, we met up at Bee Tree Park. It’s one of those iconic St. Louis parks that a photographer like me can’t resist because of the ever changing foliage, deer spotting, and a background that is just so beautiful in photos. Jordan’s 6 month session took place just as the last of the Spring buds were turning into their summer leaves.
Jordan is one of those babies that seems to never stop smiling and is always in a good mood. That smile and good mood coupled with his extremely good looks puts this little guy’s cute factor through the roof!
Christy did a great job selecting complimentary colors for their session which always helps make sweet little faces pop and give mom and dad that awesome parenting glow. They were perfect spring colors and looked perfect on all of them. Plus, how cute is Jordan in those little baby jeans?!
Mid way through the session, Christy and Jason changed Jordan into a new outfit, but before they did, we snuck in some diaper baby shots. The 6 month session is a perfect opportunity to capture sweet baby rolls, thigh chunk, and those little baby dimples you don’t ever want to forget. And if you’ve been following my work, you know I can’t resist tender baby feeties!
Christy and Jason, can’t believe as I write this, your little 6 month old is closing in on his big first birthday! Thank you so much for the opportunity to commemorate 6 months of your life with Jordan!
Katie Gaeta Photography specializes in family style sessions in the St. Louis, MO area. Is your little one about to hit a milestone? Don’t wait until it’s too late to schedule it out — let’s chat today and plan it out!
Guess what? There are 88 days until Christmas. Now, if you’re anything like me, you may hate the idea of Christmas things when it’s not Christmas, when we JUST made it to Fall, and when it’s still in the upper 80s most days. If you’re also like me and tend to procrastinate on things like Christmas cards, then this little piece of advice is for you. Get your family photos done NOW, in the Fall, when Christmas is so far away it almost seems ridiculous to even be thinking of it.
The sooner you book your session and get them done, the sooner you can get those Christmas cards ready, and you can be on autopilot (at least with this portion of Christmas!) in the weeks leading up to Christmas! And speaking of Christmas cards, if you book with me now for a session in October or November and mention this post at the time of booking, included in the cost of your session will be a set of personalized Holiday Cards with envelopes! I have a few spots left in October, and some in November still available, so contact me today!
As a documentary photographer in the St. Louis area, I was excited about the eclipse of 2017 especially since we were right in the path of totality. To be totally honest, however, I was more intimidated than excited. I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know if my photography gear I currently have would do the trick to catch the marvel of the eclipse. I knew I would have all three of my kids and I didn’t know where I would be viewing it. I read some things leading up to the eclipse and made the decision to be a spectator for the actual eclipse itself. I didn’t want to invest serious dough on an appropriate filter for my camera, and I don’t have a telephoto lens that would appropriately capture the magnitude of this event. It’s a possible once in a lifetime event to witness and I didn’t want to be behind my lens stressing out about whether I was going to capture it how I wanted to and then deal with my disappointment if I hadn’t caught it how I imagined I would.
A couple weeks prior to the event, I was invited by my sister, Erica, to my brother-in-law’s sister’s (Helen) house. Helen and her family live in Hillsboro and we would be able to see the eclipse for the longest amount of time in that spot. I grew more excited as the day approached, and knew I’d be bringing my camera if only to document some of the day. Erica asked if I might be able to take a casual family photo of her husband’s (Rob’s) family. Rob is the second to last born in their family of 14. The extended family total is somewhere in the realm of 75 or so (is anyone in the Niemira family sure of the count?! ha!). The whole Niemira family (which also includes the Conway, Sheley, Steinmetz, and Lawlor families now that some of the 14 are married) was in town as one of the 14, Joe, got married on Saturday to his now wife, Lisa. I immediately agreed. The Niemira family reminds me of my own — tons of people, lots of fun, laughter, and down to Earth welcoming people.
The morning of the Eclipse - Monday August 21, 2017, I met up with my parents and then Erica, Rob and their kids so we could carpool to Helens house. Considering I have a newborn who hates the car, I was more than happy to have extra hands on deck to help calm her in the car! We were nervous about traffic projections, so we started our drive just after 7am and wound up hitting absolutely zero traffic. We arrived just after 8:30. Helen was making breakfast for over 100 people and there was an assembly line making sandwiches. I wish I had taken more photos of that since it was quite the sight to see but alas, I had a nursing newborn, a 5 and 3 year old to keep track of and chase down in a new environment (translation: can’t let my hooligans run amuck in someone else’s house!). Like a well oiled machine, lunch was pre-made in the assembly line, breakfast was served, lawn chairs were placed outside, glasses were handed out, and the family poured in, and poured in, and surprisingly, it didn’t feel chaotic at all. This was clearly not Helen and Bill’s first rodeo!
As the time of eclipse approached, we wanted to be sure to get the family photos taken care of. One of all 14 adult siblings, and then one whole family photo. They had t-shirts made for the eclipse day for the entire family. How freakin cool is that, you guys?! Surprisingly, photos took a very short time and then we were all off to witness the main event.
Rob and Erica had done their fair share of research prior to the Eclipse Day regarding the things we would be able to witness during the Eclipse. They had downloaded an app on their phones for this and were able to announce and relay to the entire crowd what would be coming next. With every passing milestone, Rob would shout out what was happening. I was so thankful because I had totally slacked in that department. I’m going to continue using the “newborn” slacker card here as my excuse ha ha! Rob and Erica had bought special filter paper to allow for viewing the sun during the partial eclipse phases. It was attached to a giant piece of cardboard so there was no risk of damaging your eyes by viewing the sun through it. Such a fantastic idea that I know a ton of people appreciated!!
The first noticeable event (besides of course being able to see the partially covered sun through the glasses and makeshift filter viewing device Rob and Erica made) was the partial eclipse reflected in the trees. We saw it cast shadows on the tables very well, on a white board set out, and on a giant white sheet they had laid out on the hill in Helen and Bill’s backyard. We used colanders to feel the full effect of the crescent shaped shadows.
The next difference we noticed was the temperature drop. It was a sweltering August day with the temperature somewhere in the 90s and then dropping some 10 degrees approaching the eclipse. Moments later the sky and all around us changed to an eerie grayish color. When I was in third grade, there was a storm system that blew through — it was suspected that it would turn into a tornado. Thankfully, it never did, but I will NEVER forget the color of the sky that day — deep dark green, blue, and gray. The color of the sky was like the beginning of that day. Thankfully, this was expected and not nearly as terrifying. Next we noticed the strange behaviors of the birds, cicadas, and crickets. Birds stopped singing, cicadas quit their familiar summer sounds, and the crickets started their chirping.
Just before totality, the majority of our group gathered on the hill in the backyard where the massive white sheet was laid out for us to see the effects easily. Rob called out the cues to look for and sure enough we saw the ever elusive, “shadow bands” upon the white sheet. Definitely one of the coolest effects I was looking forward to witnessing.
And then Rob called out a countdown to be able to safely remove our glasses and I watched on the hill with my kids as totality set in. Of course, Zoe and Finn weren’t entirely prepared for the effect of it becoming a very strange sunset and nightfall type of event mid-day and therefore started telling me we needed to go inside. Thankfully I had my sister, Melissa, there who was able to swoop in and help me wrangle the older kids while I kept Emma, my 5 week old, on me as I watched the total eclipse. I kept my camera on me and took photos of my surroundings, the skyline, and last but not least, the total eclipse.
Guys. Girls. Readers. I TOTALLY underestimated the phenomenon that I was going to witness prior to seeing it. It was one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen and felt. I say felt because it wasn’t just a change in celestial forces. It was almost that feeling of the calm before the storm when everything goes quiet. The countdown provided was better than any countdown to New Years I’ve ever experienced. It was like you could feel the breath taken out of the entire crowd. It was the feeling you hold in your body before something profound happens. And then all at once when totality hit, the crowd erupted in audible gasps, nervous laughter, and clapping. It was the shortest and craziest 2 minutes and 39 seconds I’ve been a part of (with the exception of the births of my children…especially our third who made sure she would not be outdone by anyone or anything her entire life by entering this world in the front seat of our van in record timing ha ha). We saw the light “fall” and the skyline became a dusk like setting with a 360 degree view and just like that, it was morning, the temperature rose again and then it was afternoon all over again in the same day. It was truly a spectacular life event I’m so glad I was able to witness surrounded by one badass group of people.
Thank you, Niemira family (and more specifically, Conway family), for allowing us to crash your party and be a part of something so incredible. Looking forward to the next eclipse in 2024 and I sure hope to see you all there (in Carbondale)!
As a St. Louis Documentary photographer, I love to document unique life stories. If *you* have an awesome story unfolding in your life, let’s chat. I want to be there to capture it for you!
It was 4:50am on Wednesday July 19th and I was woken up by Braxton Hicks contractions. While I had experienced these throughout all three of my pregnancies, I’d never been woken by any. My husband, Tony, woke up and I let him know what was happening but not to be alarmed. I contacted my Doula, Nicole Mazanec Doula Services. I let her know they were stronger and slightly more uncomfortable than usual but I would wake up, go to the bathroom and go back to sleep. I let her know I was going to try to get back to sleep for a bit. I decided to time the Braxton Hicks contractions and I was having them about once every 10 minutes but they weren’t painful at all. I got out of bed around 6am when Tony’s alarm went off and went downstairs with our 4 1/2 year old daughter, Zoe.
A little after 6am, I noticed my first real contraction. It was more intense and I needed to stop and breathe through it. I used my Hypnobabies techniques to work through them and repeated some of my birth affirmations. After a couple more of those, I told Tony maybe he shouldn’t go into work that day. He said he already asked to work from home, which we agreed was fair since I didn’t know how long this process might take. My next two contractions brought tears to my eyes and I definitely knew it was real. In that moment, Tony looked at me and said, “Whoa that seemed like a lot more than I thought. Ok, maybe I won’t be working from home after all.” And with that, he joked with me that he was a little concerned I wasn’t making brownies. We had a running joke during the tale end of my pregnancy that since I wanted to labor at home as long as possible before heading to the Mercy Birthing Center, that I would make some brownies for the Midwives and nurses before going in. I told him I was just about to head in to start making some. If brownies were being made, we both knew it was real.
By 6:45am, I was making myself some eggs, eating a banana, and making brownies. I asked Tony to have his Dad, Joe, come get Zoe and our 2 1/2 year old, Finn. I asked Nicole to come over by that point and I was contacting our Birth Photographer to come over as well. Joe came over amidst me making brownies and I got my wish of being able to say bye to my two older kids, which was really important to me. Saying goodbye to Zoe before going to the hospital was something I longed for when I was pregnant with Finn. I didn’t get the opportunity to do so because I was unexpectedly told I would be induced with him at my 37 week checkup. It was surreal and emotional to tell them we were having the baby that day and it definitely left me with tears in my eyes.
After they left, I quickly ate my egg, popped the brownies in the oven and as I did I thought to myself, “28 minutes? Hmm. I really hope they finish in the oven before it’s time to leave.” I went upstairs and called my Mom to let her know what was happening. She was with my Dad and my sister on vacation in Gulf Shores and I wanted to keep her in the loop. After a brief conversation with her which included two or three contractions, I decided to hop in the shower at that point to clear my head, feel refreshed, and get dressed. After my shower, contractions were spaced about 4 minutes apart lasting about 50 seconds each. After the shower, I rocked through contractions, leaning on my dresser, and Nicole had arrived. She did some hip squeezes on me as I rocked through the contractions. We got into a good pattern of me holding on to Tony and leaning into him and Nicole squeezing my hips. It worked well and I knew I needed to get dressed soon as things were intensifying.
I made it back downstairs and Tony made me some toast with Almond Butter and honey so I could get some complex carbs in me per Nicole’s advice so I could maintain my energy. I ate half of it and continued through contractions. I decided I needed to use the bathroom and I had just finished in there when another contraction hit strong. It was uncomfortable and awful in there and I knew I needed to get out. In that moment I had decided that we probably needed to get moving to the Birthing Center. It scared me a little to say that because with Zoe and Finn once my water broke, I had them both about 4 hours later. Since my water hadn’t broken yet, I felt I might be prematurely choosing to leave, but it felt like the right thing to do in that moment. We gathered the last minute items on the list and made the decision to have Nicole follow us in her car to the Birthing Center and we asked Page, our Birth Photographer, to meet us at the Birthing Center instead of our house. I had another contraction before getting in the car and had to moan through it. I kept a mantra in my head from my Hypnobabies course, “Deeper and deeper with every breathe I take. Here comes another wave. I can ride it. Inhale, exhale.” It helped more than anyone could’ve imagined, including myself. I was deep in labor land but definitely felt the strong waves of contractions rolling on top of one another. It was about 8:50am when we pulled away from the house.
With Tony holding my hand through each contraction, I powered through them. I sent my sisters and niece a text at 9:01am telling them that the baby was coming. I knew it would be the last thing I sent them before I had the baby. I was still working through contractions when we hit traffic on highway 270 which is notorious for morning traffic jams. I opened my eyes and exclaimed, “Effing 270 traffic!” And just a moment later, my water broke in the front seat of the car. I immediately told Tony, “We’re having this baby in the car. I know it. I’m going to have this baby in the car!” And he said, “No we’re not, no we’re not!” Nicole called Tony and asked how I was doing since she could see me through the back window holding on to the “oh shit handle” in the car and getting through contractions. And with that, I let out a roar because the baby’s head was crowning. Tony made the split second decision to weave through 5 lanes of traffic to get off at the nearest highway, I-44, and to exit. In that moment, I was yelling at him “The baby’s head is coming out! I can feel the head. It’s out!!” Meanwhile, Nicole was following closely in her car and is on the phone with 911 trying to let them know what on Earth is happening. Tony pulled to the nearest parking lot he could find which happened to be Old Navy. He jumped out of the car and Nicole jumped out of hers. There was a family sitting in their car just across the aisle from where we were parked. I opened my eyes and thought, “Yep, you’re about to see a baby being born!”
At that point, the baby’s head was crowning and with one push, her head came out. In that moment, I sat there in a very zen like state, but the birth photographer in me couldn’t help needing pictures. I told Tony and Nicole to get my camera immediately because I needed photos of this and I knew there was no stopping this baby. I changed my settings for them so the photos would turn out. Once they grabbed my camera and things weren’t as chaotic, it was sweet relief to have her partially out and I just needed a moment to take it all in. I accepted that this baby was going to be born there in the front seat of the car. I remained calm and let my body continue to work.
Very quick thinking on Tony’s part led to him pulling the car seat out from behind my seat to lay it down so I could have room to birth the rest of her body. Nicole told me to reach down and grab my baby and by the time Tony moved the seat and looked back, I had one more push and she was fully out! I pulled her up to my chest and couldn’t believe how sweet this baby was. We weren’t prepared for my water to break in the car and we certainly weren’t prepared to have a baby in the car. We hadn’t brought towels or blankets, so Nicole and Tony grabbed pillowcases off the pillows we brought with us so we could keep the baby warm. She let out two sweet little cries to let us know she was completely ok. In that moment I heard Nicole say, “The baby is out. The baby is completely out.” The 911 dispatcher asked if the baby was breathing and crying. Thankfully Nicole was fielding their questions, because I was too wrapped up in holding our sweet bundle of joy and in awe of the vents that had transpired.
There was a police officer on scene a moment later and the paramedics arrived shortly thereafter. After a few moments of hardly being able to believe this happened, someone asked if we knew whether the baby was a boy or girl and I realized that I hadn’t even checked yet! I lifted the pillow case to check and found out we had a sweet baby girl in my arms!
After much laughter at the situation, I told Tony to tell the family standing at their car across from us to come over and see the baby they just witnessed being born! Thanks to the photos, we know she was born at 9:16am. From the first contraction to being born, it was a three-hour marathon whirlwind of action. Just 15 minutes after I had sent that text while on the highway asking for good birth vibes, she was in my arms.
Someone asked what her name was and Tony announced the name we had agreed upon for a dark haired baby (we had another name picked out if I had a redhead girl like me ha ha!), “Emma Jupiter!” And the small crowd gathered let out a round of applause.
We took an ambulance ride to the Birthing Center and once I was on the gurney, I latched Emma on to nurse. Once I did that, contractions for the placenta started up and I was back in labor land, holding Tony’s hand, working through contractions and nursing my sweet baby who latched on like a pro. The paramedics were amazing. They never forced anything on Emma or me and were completely respectful of our space, which was so nice.
I may have seen Tony cry a handful of times over the last 14 years we’ve been together. And it was then in the ambulance that I saw him crying and I knew the situation had completely overwhelmed him and taken him by surprise. My rock and support looked at me with tears in his eyes and streaming down his face and I finally got to thank him and tell him just how amazing HE did and that everything was going to be ok. He still won’t admit that he did great, but I’m here to tell everyone he did everything that I don’t think I could’ve handled myself in that moment. He made split second decisions all morning, weaved through bumper to bumper traffic, kept my Doula informed as to our status, and pulled to the safest location he could get to in that moment. He supported me, held my hand, and guided me through my unassisted birth in the front seat of our car and was STILL supporting me in the ambulance (and taking pictures!).
Photo credit: Nicole Mazanec iPhone from the front seat of our van while following us in the ambulance
Once we arrived to the Mercy Birthing Center, I was met by two of the Midwives, Maria and Elizabeth, as well as our official birth photographer, Page Miller, who picked up on the photos right where we left off. I transferred to a wheelchair and was brought into the Spring Room where I was able to deliver the placenta and finally had sweet relief. Baby was in my arms nursing still, contractions had stopped, and it was a state of calm and peace for the first time since we were at home.
It was surreal, beautiful, chaotic, amazing, and absolutely all natural which despite the change in plans, was exactly what we wanted all along. I prepped for months taking classes and using the Hypnobabies birthing classes, mentally and physically preparing, and working towards my natural birth at the Mercy Birthing Center. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think the natural birth we so carefully planned would wind up with our baby being born in the front seat of our van. As a Birth Photographer, in the Birth Photography community, there’s a saying I’m all too familiar with — third births are wild cards. My Doula and I speculated throughout this pregnancy about what this birth may look like. Between Tony, Nicole and I, we considered that the baby may come early, may surprise us with an extra fast or extra long birth, or throw us for a loop. Emma Jupiter made sure to follow suit as a third birth wild card and gave even me as a Birth Photographer, the absolute wildest ride we ever could’ve imagined!
If this car birth story documented here looks familiar, it's because quite a few media outlets picked it up after a tip from one of our friends:
STL Today - St. Louis Post Dispatch
If you are in the St. Louis area and looking for a birth photographer, Katie Gaeta specializes in birth photography -- no matter how wild your story may be! Let's get together, grab a coffee, and have a chat!
Let me take you back to about 6 weeks ago-- 3 weeks before our sweet Emma Jupiter decided to make her spectacular entrance into the world. I was 36 weeks pregnant. Nearly EVERYONE I spoke to – friends, family, complete strangers in the grocery store, moms out at parks, you name it – they all said they didn’t think there was any way I was going to make it to my July 24th due date for the birth of our third. Some predicted I wouldn’t even make it to July. Since this wasn’t my first or even second rodeo with pregnancy, I let the comments roll off. No one said it maliciously. They genuinely thought with the size of my belly that my baby would run out of space well before my due date. I decided I was out to prove them wrong.
My husband, Tony, and I were planning a natural birth. We were receiving prenatal care at the Mercy Birthing Center in St. Louis, which has a more naturally minded model of care than the traditional hospital setting. They provide care for low risk patients during pregnancy and offer well women care beyond pregnancy. There are no medical interventions at the Mercy Birthing Center. They don’t induce with Pitocin, they don’t administer epidurals, and they don’t push interventions on their patients. A team of three Midwives, Maria Roeber, Jenny Killeen, and Elizabeth Cook as well as a rock star team of Nurses and Medical Assistants runs it. They know their patients and their families by name without even looking at your chart. They became a sort of “maternity family” to us. The rooms are set up with huge beds that feel like home, massive tubs to labor in, beautiful bathrooms with a rain shower, a birth support rope hanging from the ceiling, a bubble wall, a yoga ball, birthing stool, and peanut ball – all for coping techniques and pain management during labor. The rooms are beautifully decorated and there is a wonderful sense of calm in them. The regular patient rooms where patients are seen during their pregnancies are just as comforting. They have couches for the patients to sit on, toys for toddlers and kids to play with, and are essentially the opposite of the traditional doctor’s office rooms. You weigh yourself in a private bathroom. There are normal life conversations had with the Medical Assistants and Nurses prior to the Midwife coming into your room. When the Midwives would see me, we developed relationships, and they even let my two older kids help with the Doppler to hear the baby’s heartbeat. It was absolutely everything I could’ve ever asked for while seeking quality naturally minded prenatal care.
6 weeks ago, I was two weeks into my Hypnobabies home study course. Since not many people are familiar with Hypnobabies, allow me to explain my take on it. Hypnobabies is a childbirth preparation course that compiles self-hypnosis with positive thoughts, affirmations, and language surrounding pregnancy and childbirth. At the beginning of each week, I would read that week’s module, which was an overview of things to focus on that week. I would listen to a CD that was approximately 25 – 35 minutes in length and practiced self-induced hypnosis. Part of the program was tuning out the negative comments people may have towards childbirth and creating a “Bubble of Peace” that wouldn’t allow for negative thoughts. It was filled with positive imagery and encourages the listener to create her own inner peace and happy place. It dives deeper into how to get you into a place of peace, calm, and self-induced anesthesia or hypnosis. It was calming, relaxing, and helped center me. I diligently listened to these CDs every day and then would listen to the “Joyful Pregnancy Affirmations” every night before bed. The whole program is essentially mind over matter and reaching within for strength where you may not have previously believed you had it.
You can see why when people would make comments to me about not making it close to my due date that it didn’t phase me greatly. I let it roll off my shoulder and reminded myself that other people’s projections of what they thought my body was capable of were not an absolute reflection of me. I was in control and I trusted that my body knew what it was doing. An affirmation I remember taking to heart was “My body will grow a baby that is the perfect size for me to birth”.
I started setting goals in my head for myself for dates to get past that looked a little something like this:
July 2nd – 4th of July Celebrations – it’s my favorite holiday and I love fireworks
July 7th – make it to Tony’s annual birthday softball game
July 8th – have my niece’s baby shower at my house
July 14th – birthday softball was rescheduled. Make it through the evening without going into labor.
With every week that passed, I gave myself a little pat on the back for not going into labor “too early” (I know this is controlled by my body and baby, but it felt good to surpass each of those “milestones” I mentally set up).
5 weeks ago, I made my own birth affirmation flags with some affirmations I pulled off of Google. I taped them up on our glass door and traced over with colored pencils. I then used watercolor paints and painted over them for coloring. I was so proud of them and for doing it myself. I was in a great headspace and took the time to really focus on them and how I would use them during birth. It was all part of my Hypnobabies and I wanted a way to be able to center myself when needed. I taped them up in our bedroom so I could see them every morning and night. Brightly colored and full of positivity. I loved them.
4 ½ weeks ago, I packed the bag for the Birthing Center. In it, I included a few neutral outfits for the baby since we didn’t know the sex, some newborn hats, a burp cloth, a blanket, and two shirts for Tony. For me, I packed a swimsuit, a bralette, a nursing bra, a sports bra, a couple pairs of underwear, two t-shirts, a comfy pair of pants, slippers, nursing pads, my makeup, and basic shower items. I knew it was likely too much since we only intended to stay about 4-8 hours after the baby was born (a perk of the Mercy Birthing Center – no overnight requirements to stay in an uncomfortable hospital bed for me and no awful couch for Tony, no poking and prodding or staff checking you overnight and disturbing sleep), but I felt appropriately prepared with our bag. I also prepared a bag of food and miscellaneous items for Tony and I during labor should it prove to be longer than expected. Some trail mix, some veggie pouches, Cheez Its, Vanilla Wafers, Larabars, stool softeners for after baby arrived, my well thought out Birth Preference sheet, and my rice sock for comfort measure during labor should I want a heating element. Except for the food, it was put in the van at that time. I figured I would at least have that bag with us if I went into labor while we were out.
4 weeks ago, I scoured Pinterest for a method to get yellow staining out of baby clothes. Inevitably, it seems stains set in sometime between when clothes are packed away nice and white until the time they’re pulled back out for another baby. I tried my own method of special laundry detergent first just to see if it would have any effect. No change. So I used this baking soda and Dawn recipe, let the clothes soak, washed them and voila! Yellow staining be gone! Baby clothing success and I could put baby clothes in drawers.
That same week, I took my kids with me to my 38-week checkup. I weighed in at 146lbs – a total of 29 lbs gained from the beginning of pregnancy. My fundal height came in at 36 (it’s supposed to mirror how far along you are in your pregnancy – 38 weeks typically would see a reading of 38 from pubic bone to top of uterus, but they weren’t concerned). Blood pressure was great at 120/59 and I was feeling great!
3 ½ weeks ago, my amazing friend and Doula, Nicole Mazanec, as well as my equally amazing sister, Jill, called me on three way to tell me they were gifting me a belly henna session that Saturday followed by a Mother’s Blessing. I cried happy tears. I had wanted to get belly henna before I went into labor and the fact that they decided to gift it to me was just such a sweet gift. Then they went a step further and were giving me a Mother’s Blessing. It’s a way for a pregnant mother to be surrounded by positivity, birth affirmations, and good vibes prior to going into labor. There are no material gifts, and it is not a baby shower or sprinkle which is what I love most about it. It completely meshed with the natural birth we had planned. That Saturday, Jill, Nicole and I went to St. Louis Henna and under an hour later, I was walking out with some beautiful artwork to celebrate my growing belly and baby. It was calming, relaxing, and a special time spent with Jill and Nicole-- the two women whom I had shared my pregnancy joys, pains, triumphs, and sorrows with. With our first two kids, we were pregnant after one or two tries. With this baby, it took us over a year to get pregnant. Jill and Nicole knew it, so to be sitting there with them at 9 months pregnant was a beautiful thing in itself and it felt like such a celebration of how far I’d come.
That evening, we went to a local park for my Mother’s Blessing. In attendance were two of my sisters, Melissa and Jill, my sister-in-law, Mara, my brother’s long time girlfriend, Stephanie, and of course my Doula. My Mom and other sister, Erica, were unable to make it as they were out of town on vacation. These amazing ladies set up two blankets for us to sit on that had been my Grandma’s and Nicole’s Mom’s (who was the biggest baby and pregnancy guru out there and whom also passed away from breast cancer 10 years ago), they had beautiful flowers in vases, and they had pennants on which everyone could write a birth affirmation or positive thoughts for me during labor. It was so simple and so well thought out. It exuded family history and love. Mara even made me a super hippie-loving flower crown while we sat there laughing, talking, and enjoying the evening. It was more than I could’ve asked for in terms of a celebration for this baby to come and I felt so honored they put it together for me. Tony joked later to me that I had reached full “Boho” or hippie status at this point between the henna, the flower crown, and the Mother’s Blessing. And I was totally ok with it.
Their timing was perfect because 4 days later (when the henna was to be at one of the darkest coloration stages) on Wednesday July 19th, I woke up to contractions. It was 5 days before my due date and I proved my body knew exactly what it was doing growing my baby perfectly to the size it needed to be. It was what would become the biggest, most thrilling, unexpected ride of my life thus far. The ride wherein I would use every single word of encouragement from my birth affirmations I made and from the Mother’s Blessing affirmations. It was the ride and crash of birth waves (contractions) upon my body, which would require every ounce of me to dig deep and utilize my Hypnobabies techniques to the fullest. The literal ride to birth my third child both roadside and earth side.
As a St. Louis Birth and Documentary Photographer, I love telling stories through my photography. If you are pregnant and would like your story to unfold with a documentary photo session, let's chat!
Happy World Breastfeeding Week, everyone! As a breastfeeding mom, so far I have spent 39 months and 2 weeks breastfeeding my kids. Zoe nursed until 18 months, Finn nursed until 21 months, and my newborn, Emma, has been nursing for 2 weeks. Breastfeeding is a big deal to me personally. I’ve learned SO much about motherhood and myself from my breastfeeding journey. Allow me to walk you down my breastfeeding journeys so far. And stick with me because I want to do a big giveaway at the end to one lucky reader!
When I was pregnant with Zoe, I literally thought breastfeeding was as easy as “Baby, boob. Boob, baby. Baby nurses. Pump when you need to have milk on hand.” The end. Oh how wrong and naive I was. Breastfeeding in the hospital, I asked for a lactation consultant at every single feed. I remember them saying it was like you needed 4 sets of hands to feel like you’ve got the hang of it. And indeed, I felt like if I had 8 arms like an octopus then I could master it. Then we went home from the hospital. My milk came in with a vengeance on Day 3. I’m talking literally rock hard boobs three to four times their normal size. These were not the same breasts I had been working with for the last two days. The “sandwich technique” they give in the hospital was suddenly impossible. There was no squishing these things to get Zoe’s latch right. I did the best I could and latched her on at every feeding. I curled my toes when she would latch on because it hurt so badly. I was leaking milk because I was so full. I was in considerable pain and that coupled with the feelings of Baby Blues/Post-Partum Anxiety were overwhelming. It all came to a head when my sister, Jill, cheerfully called to see how I was doing and how breastfeeding was going. I surprised even myself when I broke down sobbing on the phone to her. She told me she would be over as quick as she could. She helped me work on some things and encouraged me to go to the lactation circle offered at the hospital I delivered in.
I got some help that I needed at the lactation circle and nursing was just slightly better. But I was still in great amounts of pain. Around that time, I visited my other sister in the hospital who was on bed rest pregnant with her third at the time. When she mentioned to the nurses that I was having trouble breastfeeding, that I had dry, cracked, bleeding nipples, they had a suggestion. It was a nipple shield. It’s a clear silicone super flexible piece that goes directly over the nipple and has holes for the milk to come out of. In my state of desperation to make it even a little bit better, I sent my husband, Tony, out for one. He brought it back and it was a little slice of heaven. I could nurse without pain and I decided I didn’t care how long I had to use this thing for, it made my life as a breastfeeding mom about 100 times better. We used it until Zoe was about 4 or 5 months old. One day she went to latch on and the shield fell off. She managed to successfully latch without it and I said goodbye to my trusty shield. We went on to nurse until she was 18 months old and weaned herself. In that time, I played the pumping game at work — I pumped at least twice daily for 30 minutes each time. It was a huge commitment but I was determined to make it work. It became one of my proudest accomplishments considering the rough start. By the end, I never even had to think how to latch her, where I would latch her, or how I would cover. It was our every day and it was our norm.
My second baby, Finn, came along and I knew nursing may have its challenges, but this time we had a whole new set of challenges. Little baby Finn decided he wasn’t going to ever take a pacifier and never did want a bottle. Nursing started off with a similar start, but one I was now prepared for. And in the same fashion that Zoe’s started out, he ate great in the hospital but when my milk came in on Day 3, I was again left with different sized breasts than I did in the hospital. I very distinctly remember needing to pump to relieve some engorgement. It was maybe day 5 and in about 3 minutes time, I had two bottles with about 4 oz each in them and I was still FULL of milk. I was engorged, I had clogged ducts, and his latch wasn’t great. After nursing him, I was left with nipples that looked like a new tube of lipstick, which is a sign of an improper latch. He was only getting the nipple and clamping down his gums thus causing a distinct line of pain, soreness, and bleeding. I again went to lactation circle and received help. I very distinctly remember a 3am feeding with him where I begged and pleaded with him out loud, “Please don’t hurt me. Let’s just get through this one feeding without hurting me.” I cried, I curled my toes, and I bit my lip. And then by some miracle, his latch was better, and we were off on our nursing journey and it was amazing! During our 21 months of nursing, however, I was met with a variety of challenges. I had clogged ducts, I had mastitis, he and I both developed thrush multiple times, and as I mentioned, he would NOT take a bottle.
As it turns out, I had something called excess lipase. Lipase is an enzyme in everyone’s breast milk. I happened to have it in excess, which meant when I pumped my milk, once it had a chance to break down (in the fridge or freezer), it would develop a rancid/soapy/sour taste. Nutritionally, it was fine. Taste-wise, it was awful. I found out one day in an attempt to try to understand why Finn wouldn’t take a bottle. Prior to that day, we thought it was that he didn’t like the bottles we were using and because of it, we tried about 15 different brands of bottles. And then I decided to taste the pumped milk I was giving him. I gagged and gagged again. I suddenly understood why he was refusing my pumped milk. It tasted terrible. And from then on, it was like he thought that anything but mom was going to be awful and he wouldn’t take it. So, I fed Finn for every single feeding until he started getting solids a little after a year old. I felt fortunate that since I was staying home with my kids that I didn’t have the additional burden of going to work and wondering how he would eat. I was his food source. It was tiring and I often felt like my life revolved around a 2-3 hour window. But the best part was that I never had to worry about forgetting a bottle at home. I was his food source, and it just became a way of life for us – the every day. And my favorite part about this journey was that all of the milk I had pumped (prior to realizing the lipase issue), I was able to donate to a couple different local moms. One had triplets and the other one had a desire to breastfeed, but her body didn’t want to cooperate. Her little guy didn’t mind the excess lipase and took my pumped milk just fine! It was definitely the silver lining in all of it. At 21 months, Finn weaned himself on our vacation in Gulf Shores. We came back from vacation and he woke up crying one night. I went to comfort him like I usually did— with nursing. I picked him out of his crib, sat him in my lap in the glider, and said, “Finn, do you want some milk?” to which he shook his head and replied, “No.” and just snuggled into me so tightly. And that was the bittersweet end to our nursing journey. I nearly cried in *his* arms that night because it was just so definitively over.
Now I’m two weeks into my journey with my youngest, Emma. I have already gotten to the point of the new tube of lipstick shaped nipple from a poor latch. She latched on wonderfully when we were in the ambulance ride to the hospital, and nursed for what seemed like HOURS. She had a perfect flange of her lips and her latch looked great. When we packed up to go home, I put my bra on and didn’t think about it until we got home and Emma needed to eat again. Suddenly I realized my nipples were basically glued to my bra and right there on my very first day after ripping my bra off, my nipples were bleeding. I couldn’t believe it. So, out came the lanolin, the All Purpose Nipple Ointment, and the reusable nursing pads. I was determined to heal and to heal fast. One night I went to feed her before bed and the pain wasn’t gone in the three-second time span that it should be. It lasted and finally I had to unlatch her. I was in tears and it was then that I thought, “Oh my god! I have my shield! If I can just get through the night with that, we can work on her latch thereafter!” I grabbed it from the baby items we had tucked away and voila! Pain was gone and she was eating well. I went to the lactation circle at the Mercy Birthing Center a few days later and they helped me with positioning. She latched well and it was pain free. We are still occasionally using the shield until I can completely get her latch right every time, but nursing is going well and she’s gaining weight appropriately. I call that a success. Who knows what will come for the rest of our nursing journey, but for now, I am thrilled with what we’ve accomplished so far!
For me, breastfeeding has been: hard, draining, rewarding, a learning experience, and one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. I’ve learned I have grit I never knew existed in me. I have perseverance. I’ve learned how strong I am. I’ve learned I have will power beyond my own expectations. I’ve learned my body and mind are capable of being pushed to the brink and able to overcome challenges I didn’t know I would face. I’ve learned about character and how to truly support other moms in their journey — whether that journey was for a week or for 4 years or more.
I absolutely love hearing about a woman’s breastfeeding journey —their triumphs, their perceived “failures”, and their drive. With my documentary photography, I aim to tell a story — a story of the seemingly minute, the every day, the tiny details that are all too quickly forgotten in life but encompass so much of our every day. Breastfeeding became the norm for me with each of my kids despite the challenges we met along the way. I didn’t think twice when my little sweet babies or toddlers would need to nurse. I knew I was giving them the best start I could. It can start to seem like “just another thing” you do which is why I only have a few nursing photos over the 39 months and two weeks of me breastfeeding (which I aim to change). Breastfeeding can look so different for each of us, but it is something to be documented and to be celebrated just like the other details in life with kids.
I encourage you to have some of your “normal” documented and I want to start with you, dear readers. In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I want to hear your breastfeeding stories. Comment on my blog and tell me your story or your partner/wife’s story about breastfeeding. Have you offered support for a breastfeeding friend or relative? I want to hear about it!
At the end of World Breastfeeding week, I will draw one lucky winner who will receive a complimentary 1-hour documentary photo session* with yours truly! I want to document a slice of your “everyday”! What does that look like for you? Is that breastfeeding 12 times a day? Is that coloring, playing Play-Doh, riding bikes, shooting water guns, taking baths, making pancakes with your kids? Is that playing with your dogs, spending time with your already grown children, or spending time with your grandkids? This is open to everyone who is a proud supporter of breastfeeding with a breastfeeding story whether you breastfed your own kids or not! Comment below with your story!
*Session must take place in St. Louis, MO. Session will take place within 2 months from date of issue.
As a St. Louis Documentary Photographer, Katie Gaeta Photography aims to capture and nurture your every day life as it unfolds in messy, chaotic, beautiful ways in relationships among your family, spouse, loved ones, kids, friends, and pets.
Yesterday was National Camera Day! In honor of that, I wanted to do a write up on some St. Louis Photographers as well as some from around the world that I admire and respect! Thanks to Courtney Michelle Stepp of CMS Photography, I happen to have a photo with my camera that I wanted to share! Not only does it exemplify where I am in life (36 weeks 4 days…but who’s counting?!) but I also happen to be clutching my favorite accessory: My Camera!
Photo Credit: CMS Photography
Inspired by Courtney's post yesterday, I’ll start with Courtney of CMS Photography. I met Courtney through a local photographers group we’re both a part of. Courtney then started another online photography group called “Shoot For Passion”. I love the group because it’s welcoming, there’s human interaction because we actually meet up with each other for photo shoots, and there is some serious passion in there. Courtney is super passionate about photography and furthermore, passionate about sharing in her love of it with other photographers. Courtney is not only welcoming to other photographers, but she’s not afraid to give advice when needed. She seeks out constructive criticism and loves to show off other photographers work. I love her photography and she is definitely someone I admire for her hard work and dedication.
Photo credit: Shutterdarling Photography LLC
Next on the docket, we swing our way over to Australia where Lacey Barratt runs Lacey Barratt Photography. She is a birth photographer and a huge inspiration. I love that she is (in her words) “unapologetically raw”. She creates and embodies “beautiful chaos” both in her work and her life. She is a true go getter and fights for the empowerment of women’s bodies through her work. She is wonderfully supportive of every walk of life and she is never afraid to back down — not to social media standards and regulations, not to mainstream press, not to anyone trying to suppress the beauty of birth, breastfeeding and motherhood. I see a little slice of myself in her attitude and where I may shy away or back down a bit, Lacey is right there to tell people how it is. She is a no holds barred, I-don’t-give-a-damn person. She is a mom to 5 kiddos and she is a fierce businesswoman. I feel like every time I turn around, she has something new up her sleeves and I’m constantly in awe of how she does it all. I have two kids with one on the way and I’m always telling myself, “Ok, if Lacey can do this, this, and this, I can surely accomplish what I have on my plate too!”
My third inspiration is someone right here in St. Louis and was my very own wedding photographer (and she also photographed our engagement, our first baby bump, and did a MASSIVE family photo shoot for my entire family), Lisa Hessel from Lisa Hessel Photography. Her work is breathtaking and I can never get enough when I see her post her dreamy couples and to.die.for. weddings. She is humble and grounded and somehow never lets it get to her head. Years ago, I asked to tag along with her to a wedding to see her perspective of things from the photography side. I will never forget this man and his wife were walking down the street as we were waiting for the bride to exit her limo. The guy shouts out, “If it’s a Lisa Hessel wedding, it must be a good one!” Mic. Drop. I mean, recognition is one thing, but that statement will FOREVER stick with me. A Lisa Hessel wedding. And he was so right. Her work is gorgeous and she is such a beautiful person inside and out. She’s a mom to two boys and a girl and is blissfully married to her soul mate, Jon, who also second shoots for her. They’re an impressive team. If I were getting married today, I would choose her over and over again.
Jenna Hodges who owns and operates Jenna Hodges Photography is actually a friend I met through my husband. He and Jenna have worked together for nearly 8 years. Jenna is another photographer whom I’ve personally hired — she shot a 1st birthday session for my son, Finn, and it included our family as well. I cherish the photos because as a photographer, it’s hard to get pictures of your own kids and it can be even harder to get IN the photos with your kiddos and actually have good pictures to show from it. It’s usually best to hire someone else and it’s nice to be on the other side of the camera. Jenna and I have worked on many photo shoots together now and she even took some of the bodyscapes images of me from Shutterfest this past year. Jenna and I have similar attitudes and outlooks on things regarding our photography business and it’s so easy to get along with and speak to her. Jenna recently took a trip to Paris (!!) and I just love this light and airy photo of her taken by Katie Mitchell Photography because it’s similar to Jenna’s style — light and airy. I absolutely adore it because my style is also light and airy and it speaks to me. I think this is one of the reasons I love Jenna’s work so much as well — it’s true to her and it feels like home to me.
Photo credit: Katie Mitchell Photography
Another local photographer who I’ve come to know and have hired myself is Page Miller of P&T Photography. She is a young mama like myself (well, she’s a tad younger than me ha ha). I actually first heard of Page through another of my local photography groups. Page and soon to be hubby, Brad, suffered the loss of their infant son, Clark not even one year ago. I cried when I read the post from the other photographer regarding the situation. I didn’t know her at the time but I was so saddened by the tragedy. I donated immediately knowing that if I were in the same situation, I could only hope for other people’s generosity to come through. Time went on and I got pregnant with our third. I hesitated to reach out to Page at that time about Birth Photography because I didn’t want to cause her any hurt or anguish. Her work was beautiful, though, and I figured if she didn’t want to be bothered, she would’ve likely taken down her website and Facebook page. We talked on the phone and connected with each other in that first conversation for about an hour. Her packages were perfect for us, but more importantly, her work was on point. As a birth photographer, I knew I had to have her. We sat down at another meeting to get to know each other a bit more and the contract was signed. Page and I have now worked together and she did our maternity session. There’s this beautiful quote that goes around the Birth Photography community: “Nevertheless she persisted”. I feel like that is Page. She’s been through such tragedy, she isn’t afraid to show her followers her vulnerable side, and yet, she persists. Page found out about 4-5 weeks after me that she is expecting her third baby and is delivering at the Mercy Birthing Center as well. It’s a beautiful thing and I’m so excited to have her as my birth photographer and to experience it from the photographer’s standpoint first!
Photo credit: Carleigh Cline with Carleigh Michelle Photography
I find inspiration all over the place, and at some point in time a couple years back, I stumbled across a Facebook page called the “Skeptical Mother”. She posted some downright amazing things, but over time decided it was time to take her page down. I was sad, my friend was sad, and my sister was sad. We loved following her and through her we found Georgia Brizuela who ran the blog, “Documenting Delight” which is now aptly named, “Gregarious Peach”. She is absolutely one of my photography idols. Her work is beautiful, meaningful, and its documentary. Her work never ceases to amaze me and she has a knack for story telling. She is also a young mama to two boys and a girl. My second and her third baby are relatively close in age so I feel a connection in her work that includes her kiddos. She’s also Australian and she has such a beautiful family and outlook on life. I admire her dedication to her photography work as well as her dedication to her children. She is real and authentic, let’s her kids be kids, and is downright honest with them. I try to take snippets of her parenting and incorporate it into my own. She has inspired me to capture the delight in every day life as well as to treat my children with respect, dignity, and honesty.
My last feature is someone whom I’ve actually known about for years, but just recently started getting to know better. Meet Aloha Kelly! She is the mastermind behind Aloha Kelly Photography. My husband, Tony, and Aloha actually went to high school together. I remember years ago Tony telling me I needed to look her up and look up her work because he knew I’d like it. And of course, he was right! As it turns out, Aloha (yes, that’s her real name and how freaking cool is that?!) is an extremely successful businessperson. She is a powerhouse and she is damn good at what she does. She’s a wedding photographer here in St. Louis and not only does she know lighting, composition, angles and posing, but she.knows.business. One of my favorite things about the photography community here is the help that other photographers are willing to offer and Aloha is no exception. She doesn’t sweet talk or sugar coat things and is 100% about helping others. Community over competition. I swear she must drink that phrase in her coffee all day because she never seems to shy away from an opportunity to help and guide others. I am wowed by her business mindset and I have SO much to learn from her. She is an inspiration in her success and an inspiration in her business and I can’t wait to continue learning from her and growing my business.
Photo Credit: Liz Stewart Photography
Thank you to all these beautiful souls and photographers for the constant inspiration in my own work. I'm so honored to know you either personally, professionally, or through this crazy world of the internet. You inspire me daily and I truly thank you for that! Happy National Camera Day!
As a Fresh 48 Documentary Photographer in the St. Louis area, it’s pretty great to have such a plethora of beautiful labor and delivery units as well as gorgeous post partum recovery areas. The hospitals in the area always seem to be expanding and doing updates and the birth centers are absolutely wonderful.
I LOVE birth stories, but man do I love a good Fresh 48 session too! A Fresh 48 session is typically done at the place of birth (if the family is still there) or in home. It is a photo session done with the parent(s) and sometimes siblings, approximately 48 hours after the baby is born. It gives the parent(s) a bit of a chance to gather their thoughts, to attempt some rest, and to introduce a sibling (or siblings) to the baby. The baby gets a chance to let any swelling from the birth go down, the goop out of their eyes if it was applied, and some feeding opportunities to become established. I realize that although I love and cherish Birth Photography, it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but a Fresh 48 is a perfect alternative!
For this Fresh 48 Session with the McBride Family, the window light in their room was absolutely gorgeous and the simplicity of it is what I loved the most. The entire session of the family was done in their post partum recovery room within about a 10-foot space. Challenge accepted!
Tanner’s birth story began on April 18th (despite her having a scheduled cesarean planned for about 10 days later — babies sometimes just come on their own terms!). Stacy began feeling contractions somewhere around 10:30pm at home. After some consistency and timing of them, she and AJ agreed that this was it. They contacted Stacy’s mom to come stay with their first born, Ryker, who was already sleeping at this point. When they arrived at the hospital, they initially were going to send them home until Stacy suddenly started having back-to-back contractions and decided it was best if they hung around. A little while later, they verified Stacy was indeed in labor and that it was “go time”. They prepped her for surgery and soon thereafter, on April 19th, a 6lb 3oz Tanner Adam McBride joined their world at 3:54am. Everything went off without a hitch and they were able to get some much-needed rest between the three of them.
Ryker was very interested in his sweet new fuzzy- headed brother and did all his own “inspections” of him. It makes me tear up when I see siblings that interested in the new baby. Their world has just flipped upside down and yet they are totally engulfed in this tiny little life. He checked out his hair, fingers, toes, even the poopy diaper, and was already knowledgeable about Stacy breastfeeding Tanner. I feel like children who are well informed about the changes that will happen when a new baby is on the way are so much more prepared when they come to explore the new baby after he/she is born.
Another thing I love about a Fresh 48 Session is that Mom and Dad are totally encouraged to explore their new baby too which I think is such a great bonding experience. I think sometimes in the excitement and happenings immediately following the birth of a baby that it can be a refreshing time for parents to love on and check out the intricacies of their new baby. Those details change SO rapidly as the baby grows, so to be able to capture every fresh wrinkle, round tummy, fuzzy duck hair, eyelashes (or lack thereof), and tiny little ears is such an honor.
Thank you, Stacy and AJ, for allowing me to capture your family with a Fresh 48 Session at MoBap here in St. Louis, MO. And, of course, congratulations on becoming a family of 4!
If you are looking for a Fresh 48 Session after your baby is born, let’s talk and get that set up before you have your baby!!
As a St. Louis Real Estate Photographer, I've seen some doozies in my day. When trying to sell a house, it's vital to have it prepped for potential buyers. If sellers want potential buyers to even walk through their house, there is a bit of prep work involved. In the day and age we live in, people LOVE to see houses online before they physically walk through them. Having professional photos taken of your home in order to list your house is a great way to entice people to schedule an appointment to see your home. Read on for more about why you should have your home professionally photographed in order to list it.
If you or your agent have made the decision to have your house professionally photographed (smart decision!!), you may be wondering what you need to do to prepare for something like that. It can feel overwhelming and cumbersome if you're not sure what buyers may or may not be looking at when they see a house. I've compiled a list of 10 ways to prep your house for real estate photos which will not only help with making beautiful photos, it will help drive people to your house, and it will jump start you in the process of readying your home for the big move!
So, without further adieu, here are 10 Ways to Prep Your House for Real Estate Photos!
1. Declutter. Declutter. Declutter.
I cannot emphasize this one enough. When clients see clutter, they don’t see your beautiful home that lies beneath. They see your stuff, not your home. Buyers want to envision themselves in your space and if all they can see in photos is the clutter (read: cookbooks, blenders, napkin holders, salt and pepper shakers, knife blocks, coffee makers, paper towel holders, mail, toasters, cutting boards) in your home, they click away from your listing without another thought. If it can be cleared off the counter, off a surface, or off the floor, then go ahead and move it away. You can even just hide it away in cabinets for the photos.
2. Pretend like your home is no longer your home.
I know, I know. It technically IS your home still, but clients want to see themselves living in your space. For example, while YOU may really be in to war memorabilia (or DragonBall Z movies or any other hobby), the person looking at your space may be a peace loving hippie through and through. Don’t let your personal effects become a turn off to potential buyers. You don’t have to throw away your favorite hobby, but it’s best to keep that in storage or at a friend or relative’s house.
3. It’s never too early to start packing.
This goes with #1 and #2. If you’re not sure what to do with some of the items in your house, if it adds to the clutter, or if it’s a passion of yours but maybe not other people’s, don’t be afraid to start packing now. You’re selling your house, so your intent is to move all your things out anyway. Instead of doubling the work for yourself and hiding unnecessary items or decorations in closets, just put them in boxes and label them. Tuck the boxes away in a closet and voila – you’ve helped yourself by allowing your space to shine and you’ve started the packing process well in advance.
4. Paint if it’s appropriate.
I can’t tell you the number of houses I’ve walked in to that have had neon walls, rose wall paper from the 70s, or marks from shoes or furniture. So what color do you choose? When in doubt, neutrals are ALWAYS best. They make a space more inviting and generally feel lighter, more airy, and more spacious than darker tone colors. You want to avoid a buyer looking at your photos saying, “Wow…it’s...neon pink.” Instead, you want them to be saying something like, “I could see us spending a lot of family time in that living room.”
5. Clean the grime.
Never has a buyer ever walked in to a house and said, “Thank goodness they didn’t sweep, mop, clean the gunk off the kitchen sink, out of the shower, or around the toilet. I love other people’s filth.” No. Never. When a buyer sees a clean space, they see a seller who cares. Clean and then clean again. You could even hire a company to come clean for you if you hate to clean. Sweep, mop, vacuum, wipe down every surface in your kitchen and bathroom. Dust off the ½ inch of dust that has accumulated on your TVs, your dressers, window sills, and ceiling fans. Get the cob webs out of the corners of your hallways and rooms. Wipe down finger printed glass doors, doorways, and bedroom doors, and clean pet hair off anything you can. Cleanliness shows in photos and in person.
6. Put away your personal hygiene and toiletry products.
It’s no secret that every household has personal hygiene products, but put them away before your photographer gets there. This includes soaps, shampoos, perfumes, loofahs, razors, hair ties, hair spray, flat irons, q-tips, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, etc. While you’re in the vicinity of those items, go ahead and close the toilet lids, close the shower curtains, and put away the towels (unless you have a perfectly stacked, perfectly matched, non-stained set of towels, go ahead and put them in the linen closet). This goes for the kitchen too. Sponges, washcloths, dish detergents, soaps, scrubbies, etc. Let your sinks, showers, and bathrooms speak for itself.
7. Make the exterior shine.
Curb appeal can make or break the sale of your house. If you’ve been meaning to cut the grass, weed eat, weed the garden, fix the broken mailbox, throw away the planter, etc., then now is your opportunity. If your house doesn’t look inviting from the outside, some buyers will just click right off of your listing or they may never even open it. I know because in our search for houses in the past, we’ve done just that. Don’t give someone a reason to click away from your listing. Give them a reason to click the listing or to come in to your house. Flowers, plants, and wreaths do wonders for helping a house look inviting. Cut your grass, sweep the walkway, and remove any hazardous conditions. You want the buyer’s eye to be drawn to the beauty of the house.
8. Hide your trash cans.
When taking photos, I always hide trash cans. We all have them, we all use them, but generally speaking, they aren’t pretty. Go ahead and tuck them in a closet, cabinet, or garage.
9. Let the natural light shine in.
People LOVE natural light. Show off as much of it as possible. If you have shades, draw them open. If you've rigged some sort of "black out" shades, open them up or take them down. If you have traditional blinds, typically they are pulled all the way down, but twisted open so buyers can see both inside and outside the house just by looking at the pictures.
10. Turn on all your lights and turn off your fans.
Yes, people want to see natural light pouring in, but they also want to see lights on. It shows people live there and helps provide a sense of warmth to photos. Fans in motion don’t photograph well for photography, so they can all be switched off.
By following these ten tips, I guarantee photographing your home will go smoothly and more efficiently! Your house will most certainly sell faster and buyers will be impressed at the pride of ownership that shines through!
If you are in St. Louis (or the surrounding areas) and need your home photographed to get ready to sell, let's talk!
There are so many great places around St. Louis for photographers like me to do photo sessions. One place in particular that is always a great place to hit up is Lafayette Square Park. When Stacy and AJ chose that as their preferred location for their maternity session, I was pumped. This is their second baby and I knew their 3 year old, Ryker, would have plenty of space to run and play between needing him behind the camera too as this session doubled as his 3rd birthday photo shoot.
Ryker and AJ are two peas in a pod. They both love sports, have nearly the same haircut, and have so much fun together. Stacy had another growing baby boy in her belly, so time will tell if he follows in the same footsteps as his brother and Dad.
I was able to steal some moments away with just Ryker and let Stacy and AJ have some time to themselves. Often times these end up as some of my favorites from sessions with kids. I think it’s common for kids to feel like they have to perform or for mom and dad to want to get the "perfect" smiling picture. It’s totally understandable — who doesn’t want a “picture perfect” photo of their kids on the wall? But kids have SO much personality and life in them, I love to see what happens when they just get to be themselves. It usually involves me chasing them around, giving them fun questions to answer, or random things to do. Those are when kid’s genuine personalities come out. *That* is what I aim for my clients to hang on their walls. I never want parents to forget those little faces and expressions years down the road.
With a pregnant mama as cute and stylish as Stacy, it’s super easy to get beautiful photos in no time flat and both she and AJ were game for whatever ideas I threw at them. Maternity sessions are so special to capture because this time in the family’s life will never happen again. Each pregnancy is unique and our bodies go through incredible changes to make these little humans. I absolutely love when people choose to fully embrace this and want a session to remember it by!
Stay tuned for details on their birth and for photos from their Fresh 48 session!
If you are a pregnant mama in the St. Louis area, let’s talk about doing a maternity session!
As a St. Louis On Angel’s Wings Volunteer Photographer, sometimes I get called to do a photo session at odd times of the night. It’s the nature of birth and it’s a true honor to be available for sessions like these. This family is very special to the On Angel’s Wings organization as the mother is the Chairperson for Nora’s Care — the support arm for OAW. Connie was just shy of 26 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to the hospital due to her water breaking. They were able to keep her baby in the womb until 26 weeks 6 days gestation when due to some complications, her care team deemed it necessary to deliver her baby.
When I received notification that Connie would be delivering her baby, I was just getting ready to head to bed. My husband and kids were already asleep. But the moment I heard of the need for a photographer to go to Mercy Hospital, my adrenaline was already racing and I knew I was available to make it. I threw on my OAW volunteer shirt and badge, grabbed my jacket and changed into pants (hospitals have a tendency to be cold), picked up my gear and flew out the door.
My mind goes a million miles an hour on the way to a birth session. I think of the cars out on the road at the time and how they have no clue what I’m doing, where I’m headed, or who I am. And it reminds me that I don’t know their stories either. So I’m always considering that someone else may very well be going through something life threatening too. And it gives me pause to appreciate where my life currently is no matter the trials and tribulations I may have going on in my personal life. This held especially true for this session since at the time, I was only 1 week ahead of Connie in my own pregnancy. It felt amazing to be called to this session and I felt so connected to the mom already.
All was calm upon arrival and both the baby’s parents, Connie and John, seemed collected and ready. After her care team explained the process, policies, and procedures, Connie and John were taken into the OR at Mercy Hospital. The team prepped Connie with an epidural and prepared the room. It is an absolutely phenomenal experience to witness the well oiled machine of an OR prepping for a cesarean birth especially when the NICU staff is involved. There were approximately 18 or so medical staff in the room and yet nothing ever once seemed chaotic. The medical staff in that room were some of the most loving I’ve ever witnessed. Her anesthesiologist was calm and loving and was constantly making sure Connie was well taken care of and provided for. She explained every single thing that was happening so Connie and John were in the know as her doctors began working on her. She cooled her down with wet wash cloths. And here’s the part where I tell you I fully regretted my jacket and pants. I was sweating bullets. And on top of my own attire, of course I was also dressed in the provided scrubs, face mask, and hair net. It was HOT. Come to find out, they crank the heat in the OR for pre-term babies to maintain their body temperatures once delivered. Live and learn!
There was discussion between the doctor and the NICU staff about delaying the cord clamping until the cord stopped pulsing and Connie’s doctor paused to explain to the entire room what this meant and what they were about to witness. While delayed cord clamping (waiting to cut the cord either until it stops pulsing or sometimes by a set amount of time instead of immediately clamping the cord upon delivery) is becoming more common, it is not yet the norm.
As it ticked closer to the baby’s birth, the NICU team comforted John like he was a brother of theirs. I tear up just thinking about it because it wasn’t “just another patient” in the room. It was like they were tending to a family member they cared deeply for. And then the most amazing thing happened. Connie delivered her baby by way of cesarean section and the doctor held the baby ever so gently in his gloved hands. And the room waited. Silently. It was the most respectful moment I’ve ever witnessed at a birth. This baby was 26 weeks gestation and yet the most important thing in that room was the baby’s umbilical cord transferring vital blood from the placenta to the baby while the doctor cradled him so sweetly in his hands. It was a moment of love and care and while I snapped away, I couldn’t help but tear up at the beauty of the situation. I was speechless. Here was this beautiful child, a full week younger than mine who was still in utero, and he was breathing his first breaths of life on the outside. Absolutely palpable. Baby Kayson was earth side and perfect.
Once his cord stopped pulsing, they brought him over to the incubator and the staff began taking his vitals and making sure he was well. Kayson weighed in at a whopping 2lbs 2oz. He had about a 10 minute time frame of needing to be intubated and the staff tended to him diligently and calmly while reassuring John that all was well and Kayson was stable. There was a sigh of relief from John and then he and Kayson left for the NICU. Connie was stitched up and brought to recovery where she was met with smiles and congratulations from John’s parents.
Congratulations, Connie and John, on the birth of your perfect baby boy, Kayson. I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be present for Kayson’s birth and furthermore for allowing me to share your amazing story.
If you or someone you know is looking for a St. Louis Birth Photographer, I would be honored to discuss this with you!
This year I decided to do a Mom and Me, Coffee and Tea Limited Time Session to celebrate and honor our St. Louis mamas in the month of May. As I mentioned in my post offering these sessions, I feel like moms are all too often left out of photos because they’re frequently the ones behind the camera capturing their little ones. This was a chance to actually be in the photos and it did not disappoint!
Some of my favorite memories from my childhood involve tea with my Mom before I even started Kindergarten. We weren’t the type to get dressed up, wear fancy hats, and go to an official tea room, but what we did was special to *us*. We would go to a bakery that was about a one minute drive from my parent's house, walk in and smell the sweet aroma of freshly baked goods. Usually we would get danishes (I believe it was my brother at the time who couldn’t remember the name of them and instead called them “Englishes” — close enough, right?!) handed over the counter in a white bakery bag. Occasionally, we were able to get the elusive crumb cake. To this day, I’ve never been able to find a crumb cake quite like this bakery used to make. We would go home, my mom would put some hot water on the stovetop, and then brew individual cups of hot tea. I usually sweetened mine with what was probably way too many scoops of sugar. And we would sit and enjoy a little Mom and me time with our cups of tea and our bakery items.
I remember this time in my life so vividly with her and it really holds a special place in my heart. I imagine part of it was that with 7 other siblings, one on one time with my Mom was rare so it felt even more special. I only wish we had some photographs of that time together. Unfortunately, it was pre-digital cameras and definitely pre-selfie invention. When I decided to do this session, I wanted to bring a bit of that nostalgia out and capture the relationships with moms and their kids that I never had captured myself.
Thanks to the moms and their kids who came out to celebrate their relationships and to get in front of the camera to remember this fleeting stage of life! And thank you for making me smile as I looked on and remembered the good ole days of my childhood with my own Mom!
If you are looking for a St. Louis photographer to capture you and your family, let’s chat!
Memorial Day weekend in and around St. Louis is something I look forward to each year because to me, it feels like summer is officially kicking off (despite the fact that no one in our house is currently in school). Now that my kids are 4 and 2, I have started to feel the pull to explain to them the importance of why we celebrate certain holidays. A day like Memorial Day feels especially important because as they saying goes, freedom isn’t free. Someone pays the price to give us our freedoms we enjoy every single day.
This Memorial Day weekend, I decided to kick it off with an explanation to Zoe and Finn about why this weekend is special and why we celebrate it. We don’t have any books in the house regarding Memorial Day, so I pulled up a couple age appropriate videos for us to watch together. We started with a Memorial Day Flag Song and then watched a Memorial Day Book reading I particularly liked this video because it went into an explanation about the sacrifices our military makes for us and how we’re remembering those who died in the line of duty fighting various wars for the United States. After explaining things a little more in depth to the kids and choking back tears (I’ll blame my Dad for making me such a softy at life ha ha. And maybe I’ll blame my pregnancy hormones a little bit too.)
After we finished watching that, I received a text from one of my sisters with a picture of small American Flags her husband had put up to pay tribute to an old neighbor of ours, Mr. Seibert who just passed away recently. Every patriotic holiday, Mr. Seibert (who mostly got around by way of motorized scooter in his later years) would line the sidewalk with small American Flags at every house on my parent’s entire city block. It was his little way of showing patriotism which I thought was very cool considering he had also served our country at one point long ago. It was then that I looked outside to see one of my own neighbors had lined the circle in our cul de sac with the very same type of flags Mr. Seibert always had. It was humbling to be reminded of the sacrifice the soldiers gave as well as to think Mr. Seibert was still around us all.
With that, the kids and I gathered up the mini flags we have and brought them outside to decorate our front walkway and finally we hung the large American Flag we own. The kids were pretty pumped about our decor and ran to tell Tony all about it when he finally woke from sleeping in til 8am. Promise, when you have kids, 8am is hardcore sleeping in. Ha!
We also celebrated Memorial Day with a couple get togethers following the typical American traditions surrounding these types of holidays. Of course that also meant making some super healthy delicious recipes for this pregnant lady!
We spent lunch on Saturday out with friends before the weather turned. We finished out Saturday with a little Memorial Day party at Tony’s parents with some of their friends despite the crummy weather. Sunday we ventured down to my Grandparent’s lake house about an hour south of St. Louis and enjoyed some time with my family. It started out a bit questionable with the weather and wound up being really enjoyable. We put swimsuits on and the kids all relished in getting to play in the water. I put my feet in, but decided that was as far as I was getting once I felt how brisk it was. Sometimes I swear kids are totally oblivious to the water temperature despite their blue lips. I remember those endless days as kids, though. Between my brothers and sisters as well as cousins, we were in the water no matter what. It wasn’t about the water temperature. It was about hanging out with your buddies and it makes me so happy to see the next generation of kids doing just that.
(iPhone photo thanks to my sister, Jill Armentrout)
We rounded out Memorial Day Monday with our regular week day workouts, only this time Tony did the Murph Challenge (the following information is from this website). The Murph Challenge is an extremely grueling self paced workout which includes a mile run, 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats, and it finishes with another one mile run. Lt. Michael P Murphy, “despite being severely wounded, relayed the position of his unit, an act that ultimately led to the rescue of Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, and the recovery of the remains of the three other SEAls who were killed in a 2005 battle with the Taliban in Afghanistan, according to the Murph Foundation website.” The workout is meant to honor Lt. Murphy and raise money for scholarships in his name. We both partook in it last year, but since I’m 32 weeks pregnant this year, I opted to stick to my maternity workout. Tony did the entire challenge and the kids decided to sneak in a few moves here and there with Daddy before heading out to semi-accompany him on his last mile of running. And because it just wouldn’t be family fun without somebody getting banged up, Finn earned a good knee scraping for himself.
Today I feel fortunate to be a part of the Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. Without the sacrifices made by our wonderful service men and women, we wouldn’t be able to do the little things like spending time at BBQs, family parties, hanging out in swimsuits, and working out whenever and however we please. So thank you to those who’ve gone before us and given the ultimate sacrifice so that people like us in St. Louis, Missouri can enjoy this free day off work and spend it with the ones who mean the most to us.
St. Louis Documentary Photography | Showing Our Patriotism on Memorial Day 2017
Motherhood is such an incredible adventure and everyone’s journeys uniquely start somewhere. As a St. Louis Birth Photographer, I have had the absolute honor of watching many mothers meet their babies for the first time. It is truly something to behold. These are powerful moments that I will never forget because they are engrained into my head and moments I won’t forget because I captured them with my camera.
The funny thing about being a birth photographer is when I tell people I’m a birth photographer, I am all too often met with either a scrunch-face-side-eye or deer in the head lights look. There are some things in life you just have to see to believe. I frequently tell people, “It’s not just about the ‘crotch shot’ or the blood and gore — it’s SO SO much more than that.” And typically if someone takes the time to look at my birth photography work, they have their “Ah ha!” moment. Sometimes that’s all it takes to gain a better understanding of this unique line of work.
So, today, in honor of Mother’s Day, I share with you a video compiled by the amazing team over at Birth Becomes Her to help you gain an insight of what birth and birth photography can look like. It is video clips and sound clips from Birth Photographers around the world, including myself, that I have the pleasure of interacting with on a daily basis. As per their description, “In honor of mothers around the world, Birth Becomes Her compiled these authentic and powerful moments of women meeting their babies for the very first time. No matter where you give birth or how you welcome your baby into your life, your story is beautiful. Tag a mother or a woman you love. We're all in this together.”
(Video contains content that some may consider graphic)
Additionally, for a still photo collection of Mom Meeting Baby Images, visit: birthbecomesher.com. Can you spot my this St. Louis Birth Photographer’s work on that page?
If you're looking for a St. Louis Birth Photographer, contact me today!
As a St. Louis Newborn Photographer, I love photographing newborns in their homes and in their family space. It provides an element of real life — where this brand new life is changing and re-forming the space once occupied by two, then three, and now four members of a household. In home newborn lifestyle sessions are just so good. The parents are relaxed because they didn't have to drag their brand new baby out after worrying about when to feed the baby, when to feed the older one, what to bring for snacks for the older one. The sessions flow with ease because everything that is needed is at their finger tips.
Baby “Louie Louie Louie” as his older brother, William, lovingly calls him, was just a tiny little peanut ready and willing to be photographed however I had him posed or placed. William was taking everything in stride and was super interested in my newborn set up. When I photograph newborns, I bring a whole set up that includes a large bean bag, a newborn stand set up, lots of blankets, a heater to keep baby warm (and for the rest of us to basically do hot yoga ha ha), newborn wraps, and a few other things. I keep it relatively minimal, but that didn’t stop the temptation for William who saw my set up as a new slide. I wasn’t surprised, though. Three of his uncles, his grandpa, and his daddy are all relatively adventurous guys. It runs in his blood.
As newborns so often do, he slept, he woke up, he ate, and slept again. Sometime in the realm of him nursing with Teri, I got to spend some one on one time with Johnny and William. I know from experience photographing these two that there is no shortage of fun. Both adventure seekers, there is always something fun to capture. And I love a toddler in a diaper. They’re certainly getting older, but definitely not potty trained. They want pure independence but totally seek approval and heavily depend upon their parents. They can do it, but they want you to “holp”. Such is the case with William and Johnny is happy to to be that for him.
Once Louie was done nursing, I was able to get in his sleepy photos and then we finished out the session with the family photos. Louie was totally owning it still while William had pretty much had it with me and my camera. Thankfully, I’m used to 2 year olds being over the whole thing pretty quickly. Johnny and Teri are really owning the parenting of a 2 year old and a newborn. They laugh, they joke, they find new solutions to everyday 2 year old hiccups, and they genuinely enjoy life. I’m so excited to watch this young family grow and to see the undoubtedly close bond that will continue to blossom between William and his baby brother, Louie Louie Louie.
Johnny and Teri, congratulations on another adorable blue eyed baby boy!
If you are looking for a St. Louis Newborn Photographer to do an in home lifestyle or documentary photo session, contact me!
Miss Kerrigan Sue was born just days before Christmas and I was lucky enough to be there to document her birth. I also got to visit with Kerrigan, Nicki, Corey, and Kennedy on Christmas Eve for their newborn session. With a newborn due right around Christmas, Nicki joked they hadn’t even had a chance to decorate the house for Christmas. And she was right -- there wasn't a Christmas decoration in sight. It felt like a regular day with a newborn and it was so great because all of their focus was on their kids. I love that.
Kerrigan decided that for a good portion of her session, she would be awake and alert much to Nicki’s dismay. But we snuck in a few sleepy moments here and there.
Kerrigan was nursing like a champ at just a few days old and the house showed signs of a nursing mama working hard to relieve engorgement and to nourish her baby. Needless to say, I have "been there, done that" and I'm *always* impressed with a new mom who is working so diligently for her baby. She started out slightly nervous about nursing in the hospital and she was already exponentially more confident in just a few days time. While Nicki nursed Kerrigan, Corey diligently washed the pump parts while sweet Kennedy sat eating apples, playing on the iPad and was genuinely interested in what the heck I was doing with her little sister.
This was my third session with the Mozak family and during every session, Nicki mentioned her Mom in one way or another. Nicki’s Mom passed away in recent years and she really wanted to honor her in some way during the session. Her mom loved snails and snail figurines. Nicki had pulled out some of her Mom’s snail figurines that remind her of her Mom. I love when a family incorporates elements of their lives like that. Truly, photo sessions are about the family, what’s important to them, and the focus in their lives. It was so moving to see the snails she had carefully planned out as being a part of the session just days after birthing a baby.
Corey is now surrounded by his team of girls and I think he couldn’t possibly love one more over the other. He laughs and jokes with them, lights up when he sees Nicki, is full of energy and fun for Kennedy and melts when he sees Kerrigan. This is a man who has his family of girls at the center of his heart.
Congratulations, Nicki and Corey, on the addition of Kerrigan and your new family of 4!
Something is hiding behind "door number one". For about a year now I’ve been doing something sort of behind the scenes that I have yet to tell you guys about. It’s time to come clean. Drum roll please…
For about a year now, I’ve been expanding my photography business into a different type of venture. I’m doing real estate photography in addition to my other photography you regularly see posted. Ha Ha and here you thought I was doing something scandalous ;)
It’s entirely different than what I normally do, but I definitely enjoy it! I’ve had the pleasure of working consistently with a couple agents, as well as Kaye Roberts with REMAX and Rob Niemira who is with Platinum Realty. They’re both fantastic agents who I thoroughly enjoy working with. They regularly post their listings on their Facebook pages and their houses are selling FAST. As Rob says, “Don't ever let an agent tell you there is a "season" to sell your house. The buyers are out there and the sellers are out there, it just takes the right agent to introduce the two." It's absolutely true. I've taken photos in every single season and of course we look for those beautiful blue skies and puffy clouds, but Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall; it doesn't matter. You can sell your house quickly with the right agent and the right photos.
Let me tell you a little personal story about our previous house we lived in to provide a little insight on why I advocate for professional photography when you go to list your house for sale. We looked for our last house for about 4 months. One of the very first houses we looked at was one we looked over. We even drove past it, but ultimately didn’t bother to actually go and look at it. The photos were much to be desired. We searched high and low for houses. We expanded our search to areas we never dreamed of living in because initially we felt they were too far. Our agent, Colleen McCoole Payne (now with Red Key Realty) was nothing short of amazing. She stayed with us every step of the way, listened to our needs, our wants, and desires. At some point we somehow came back around to the original house we had looked at but passed up on. We finally said, “What ever happened with this house? Why didn’t we decide to go look at it? Should we just go see it?” So we made the appointment. And finally, it was the first house we came across that my husband, Tony, Colleen, and I walked through and didn’t have a laundry list of items that were wrong with the house. We each went a different direction and were surprised at how much we liked it. We were shocked we didn’t see it sooner. And as we stood in the kitchen wondering why this house had been on the market for a year at that point, we all came to the same conclusion. The pictures were terrible. They were crappy. Maybe taken with a point and shoot. Maybe an iPhone at best. The pictures didn’t do the house justice which is sad because it was a great house. We decided we wanted to put a contract on it and by April of 2011, we were moving in to the very same house we had passed up 4 months prior because we didn’t even go to look at it. Nothing had lured us in initially.
Our old house:
So, although, you might say, “well it was meant to be — you got a house out of the deal, right?” We did. But think of the sellers. If their agent had just had a professional photographer they used to get ideal photos of the house, it could’ve sold a heck of a lot faster. I can say that with 100% confidence. Fast forward 5 years, and 2 kids later (with an additional one in the foreseeable future), and we had outgrown our space. It was time to move on from our first house. We reached out to our agent who had now become one of our friends. We started the process of getting our house ready to sell.
Actual Photos of Our Old House
Actual Photo of Our Old House
Actual Photo of Our Old House
Actual Photos of Our Old House
About two years ago, we had started on a decluttering journey (that’s another whole blog post for another day!), so a lot of what we had acquired over the 5 years we lived there had already been paired down. Admittedly, we didn’t have a TON to declutter, but we still had our work cut out for us to get it market ready. I decided that I was going to make our house shine in the listing (with some great writing by our agents, Colleen and her real estate partner in crime, Jenny Bickel). I took it upon myself to take professional photos of our own house. With some strategic moving of items still in the house from this spot to that coupled with my photography skills and equipment, we had our pictures ready to go for the listing. The house went on the market and we had over 5 showings the very next day. We had 3 offers on the house within 24 hours of it going live and we signed a contract that evening. Our house sold in one day. One day. That’s quite the difference compared to the previous homeowners having it on the market for a year. Say it with me. The photos make all the difference.
So, here’s the deal, if you’re looking to sell your house and you don’t have professional photos taken, there’s a very good chance it may take a while to sell. If you’re a real estate agent and you typically take photos with your iPhone or something similar, it’s time for a change. Whether you’re a homeowner or a real estate agent looking to sell a house, reach out to me and let’s get that house to SHINE like it should.
I am so honored to announce that I am officially a volunteer photographer for a wonderful non-profit organization called “On Angel’s Wings”. As a volunteer for On Angel’s Wings, “We provide free professional photographs and support for children battling a terminal condition from maternity to 18 years. This includes genetic disorders, chromosome defects that put the child at risk, childhood cancer, heart conditions, and birth loss. We strive to help our families celebrate life and encourage hope for the future.”
It is a type of organization I’ve wanted to be a part of for some time now. Photography is something I hold close to my heart. Being able to give back to the community with my photography means the world to me. Since immersing myself in the world of photography and becoming a mom, it is mind blowing to see how many pregnancies aren’t “typical” pregnancies with “typical” outcomes. Best friends of mine have lost their unborn children, my own sister was in a potential life or death situation whilst pregnant with her son who was diagnosed with Spina Bifida in her first trimester, people whom I’ve come to know through the photography world have lost children, and the list goes on. In fact, just prior to becoming an On Angel’s Wings volunteer, I did a session for my friend Jess who suffered from Peripartum Cardiomyapthy (you can read all about her journey here) and didn’t officially meet her newborn until a couple weeks after she was born. I mention these stories not in an effort to get anyone down or to scare people about pregnancy and birth, but rather to show why being a part of this organization has such meaning to me. I love pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and all things related to babies and usually those are happy, joyous things. The reality, however, is that sometimes joy turns to sorrow either in a predictable way or in chaotic, spur of the moment turn of events. Regardless of the situation, sometimes those memories are fleeting like in the case of a child who may have been known only by kicks and movements in utero. Sometimes those memories have been able to span for 18 years, but in the chaos of a terminal condition it can be difficult to process everything as it happens. As an OAW volunteer, I am able to give the timeless gift of photos to hold those memories alive forever and to provide a celebration of that child’s life.
Occasionally, at the discretion of the parents involved, I will be able to blog about my On Angel’s Wings sessions. To protect the family and their identities, names will be changed. Such is the case with a recent session I had with a mom (Ms. D) who is pregnant and due in early summer with her rainbow baby. If you aren’t familiar with the term rainbow baby, it’s a term used to signify a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss. The baby is considered the rainbow, the bright light, and the beauty after the storm. Her sweet rainbow baby will need to be taken into surgery soon after birth.
This mom hasn’t been dealt the easiest cards and yet she still holds a beautiful calm and peace about herself.
The day of her session, she was even stuck at the hospital because they were trying to stop contractions. Thankfully, they were successful with their efforts and Ms. D was able to make it to her maternity session. Ms. D was beautiful inside and out and it was so wonderful spending time with this mom allowing her to just enjoy her changing body and growing baby inside.
Thank you, Ms. D for allowing me to share a small part of your pregnancy and maternity story! I’m so thankful for you and On Angel’s Wings for this wonderful opportunity.
If you or someone you know may need or qualify for the services of On Angel’s Wings, please visit http://flyfreelittleone.org.
Over the last two days, I attended ShutterFest 2017 at Union Station and it was amazing! For those of you who aren’t photographers, graphic designers, videographers or something of the like, I’ll explain a bit about what ShutterFest is. ShutterFest is essentially a photography conference held over the course of 2 days. It is touted as “the UN-Conference” simply because it isn’t your everyday conference filled with PowerPoints, suits and ties, or serious business. It’s about having fun, enjoying yourself, networking, meeting and making new friends, practicing your photography and people skills, and absorbing everything you can over the course of two days. “Shoot. Learn. Party. That’s the mantra here.” There’s so much more to it, but check out https://shutterfest.com!
This was my first year attending ShutterFest and while I had a ton of questions leading up to it, I was mostly excited to just put myself out there and learn as much as I could. I put my focus into a lot of lecture courses regarding photography business, online presence, and building my brand. We all have our weaknesses, so I figured it was about time to turn mine into strengths. Education is everything. Growth simply cannot happen if you’re not willing to put the effort in. And I don't know about you, but I thrive on success!
I was lucky enough to know quite a few local photographers with whom I have networked and met up with in the past. The great part of ShutterFest, though, is that you are 100% encouraged to walk up to complete strangers and speak to them. Beyond that, attendees are encouraged to interact with the speakers from the courses, to ask for feedback on portfolios, and to ask questions which I loved. There is very much that attitude I love which is, "Community Over Competition." Love it!! Below are two of my favorite speakers: Eilleen and Phillip Blume of Blume Photography (who had this hormonal pregnant mama in tears before the end of their presentation!)
At ShutterFest, there are a ton of break out photo session opportunities. You can rent a human — there are models who have signed up for ShutterFest whom you can reserve for a certain amount of time for a specific photo shoot. People are encouraged to create their own sessions and that’s just what I did. Since I’m 26 weeks pregnant right now, it was a great opportunity to be on the other side of the camera. Prior to the event, I worked with another photographer, Laura King of Laura King Photography, to get a maternity Bodyscapes and Milk Bath Session set up. I’ve really been wanting to do a milk bath session with a client, but have yet to get the opportunity, so we created one!
It’s always eye-opening to be on the other side of the camera and such was the case when I volunteered for the Bodyscapes session. It was all female photographers, some of whom specialize in maternity, birth, and newborn. Bodyscapes is typically for fine art nude photography, but it is really an awesome concept to celebrate a woman’s changing body in pregnancy. I figured if another model would be willing to be the Milk Bath model, then I could step out of my comfort zone and be the Bodyscapes “model”. Was it a little intimidating? Absolutely. But it was also empowering and sometimes you just have to be vulnerable and put yourself out there. The other photographers were fantastic, put me at ease, and even had me laughing. It’s exactly what I always aim to provide my clients because that’s when I am able to get real life emotions captured.
The Milk Bath session was wonderful and so awesome to watch the set up. I learned tips, tricks, and techniques to set up and prepare for a session like this. Milk Bath Sessions typically involve a pregnant or newly postpartum mama and/or their baby as well. The purpose is to celebrate their body, their pregnancy, their beauty and their baby in a relaxing serene environment. A tub is filled with water and then milk, coffee creamer, or powdered milk is added to give the water a very milky look to it. Moms will typically wear either a lace maternity dress, a bra and underwear, or if they prefer, nothing at all and then they slip into this relaxing warm milk bath and are able to connect to their body and baby. It’s so great, though, because due to the opaque color of the milk bath, various things can be covered that the Mom may not want showing. Milk Bath Sessions will absolutely be something I offer from here on out, so if you're interested in setting one up, I am totally game for it! Celebrate those bumps, those babies, and those feedings!
I spent a total of 28 hours at ShutterFest in two days time! A majority of my time was spent in classes, some of it was spent networking, some spent speaking to the Speakers. It was grueling, phenomenal, empowering, and eye opening. I definitely want to go again next year, do some more learning, more shooting, and will challenge myself to get uncomfortable all over again! I learned a ton and have so much to put in to my business. My biggest challenge now is implementing these changes and making a plan!
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and to celebrate, I’m offering "Mom and Me, Coffee and Tea Sessions"! This is a great Mother’s Day gift and an opportunity for the mom in your life to actually get in the pictures. So often as Moms, we are the ones behind the camera, so now is your time to shine!
This is open to all generations, so if you have a special bond with your grandmother, mother figure in your life, or you want to see you and your little one in front of the camera together, now is your chance!
Includes: A styled coffee and tea time themed session at an outdoor location, April 22 and April 29, a 15 minute session, up to 10 digital images, open to Moms/Mother Figures and Kids (including adult children), up to 5 people, additional person $10 each, and print release. $100 session fee due at time of booking.
It’s April — a time for change, a time for new life, a time for new beginnings! The flowering trees are in bloom, the grass is a bit greener, and things outdoors are looking like they have more life to them. Thanks to the previous homeowners, we have all sorts of colors right out our front door — a purple tree, a pink tree, red berries, yellow tulips. Helloooo pops of color!
So, what sort of new beginnings are there over at Katie Gaeta Photography? I’m changing my Instagram name! I know some of you out there are probably sitting there thinking, “uhh…she’s on Instagram?” Well, yes, dear readers, I am (and not to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty awesome and you should probably follow me)!
For those of you who currently follow me, you know that my user name is katelynn364. I am officially changing it to KatieGaetaPhotography which will allow people to find me easier. I’ll still be posting my personal photos on there, but my photography work will be included as well with plenty of pops of color for you to ooo and ahh over like I do with our landscaping (Thank you, previous homeowners, you did a great job!).
And if you are reading this and you don’t yet have an Instagram account, you should definitely get one! It’s kind of like a highlight reel of people’s lives, but in the form of beautiful pictures and isn’t *quite* as censored as Facebook in terms of what they allow to be posted. Go ahead and follow me and I’ll follow you back. Then you’ll have made one friend already and I promise to contribute all sorts of awesomeness to your Instagram feed!
What changes are happening in your life? New pregnancy? New Baby? Milestone Birthdays? I’m totally a creature of habit, but I don’t always shy away from change. I usually discover in retrospect that change is what was best or what I needed. But as a photographer, I love capturing changes and documenting change in my life as well as my clients’ lives. Let’s document the change in your life — big or small— with a documentary session!
Nicki and Corey had an expected due date of December 27th and closer to her due date, she expressed to me that she was nervous about the baby coming at an inopportune time for me (she mentioned Christmas Eve or middle of the night or what would happen if she had a c-section). I was so happy to reassure her that as a birth photographer, I was 100% on call for her surrounding her due date and up until she had the baby — that included Christmas Eve, 3am Christmas morning, or any other event I was at. I was at her disposal and was ready to drop everything to be there. That’s the amazing thing about birth photography — babies come on their own time and as the birth photographer, I am absolutely committed to that.
As luck would have it, December 18th came and labor started for Nicki. She labored at home for a good majority of the day but there wasn’t a ton of consistency with her contractions. Late that evening she let me know they were headed to the hospital to see where she stood with dilation and once they knew more information they would contact me again. I arrived at the hospital around 2am just after Nicki had an epidural placed for pain management.
When I arrived, Nicki and Corey’s daughter, Kennedy, was there playing on there iPad and generally just hanging out. You would’ve thought it was 2 in the afternoon at this point. Little 2 year old Kennedy was happily playing with Daddy and joking around. She definitely didn’t appear to be tired or have any awareness of the fact that it was the middle of the night or that she was about to meet her baby sister. They made it a family affair and included her in this big life event. When things intensified a bit for Nicki, they opted to have her wait in the waiting room.
Nicki made certain to warn the attending nurses about her first birth -- things happened very quickly once she felt pressure. She made it very clear that they ought to be ready because it WILL happen quickly. I love when a laboring mom is so in tune to her body and knows herself so well. It’s can be so empowering to be prepared for what your body is doing.
Nicki was 100% accurate with her predictions. At 3:15am, she was checked and was 7cm dilated, 90% effaced. Nicki’s doctor was called and she was told the doctor was on the way. At 3:25am, she was feeling contractions and pressure. At 3:30am, she was crying and feeling pressure to push and Corey was right by her side supporting her and telling her she had nothing to worry about and that she could do this. The nurses tried in vain to get an OB in to her room. They called the OB (who was in another part of the hospital) to no avail. They called the “House OB” and not one of them was able to get there in time. The funny thing about babies is that they wait for no one and are generally on their own timeline. Additionally, when a woman's body has the urge to push, there isn't much hope of stopping it. At 3:40am, with two pushes, Miss Kerrigan Sue and was born weighing 6lbs 10oz and measuring 19inches long. Minutes later, Nicki had 3 OBs in her room, none of whom had caught her baby. Thank goodness for awesome nurses who are prepared to handle the unexpected!
Corey was right there throughout the entire thing and totally went into protective Daddy mode as soon as Kerrigan was out. He asked questions about what the nurses were doing and was involved from the first moment. He followed her and couldn’t keep his eyes off her for her newborn exams.
And my gosh, the eye contact Kerrigan made just minutes after she was born was oh so amazing!
The only time Corey left Kerrigan’s side was to go get Kennedy so she could meet her new baby sister. Such a strong, connected Daddy surrounded by his team of girls.
It does not get better than wrinkly tiny baby feet!! And leftover ink from her first footprints. *swoon*
Congratulations on your darling baby, Kerrigan. I'm sure Kennedy and Kerrigan will be the best of friends!
Here I am at 23 weeks pregnant with baby number three and suddenly a million things are swirling through my head thanks to questions from well meaning people. I’ve recently been asked again and again if we’re “ready” for the baby. Up until all these questions started coming at me, I’ve felt pretty calm and collected about everything.
Let me be clear (and knock on wood at the same time), I love being pregnant— once my morning sickness goes away. Like clockwork, with all three of my kids, morning sickness started at 6 weeks and ended some time around 18ish weeks. Once my morning sickness ends, again, like clockwork, I start experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions (This is probably my husband’s favorite thing I reference in regards to my pregnancy. For some reason, he thinks I sound funny using the term “Braxton Hicks” as opposed to saying something less official like "practice contractions".) and I get heartburn/indigestion. This pregnancy, I am also experiencing THE craziest nightmares and dreams. I wake up almost every single morning having had some bizarre dream just before waking up. I had the occasional odd dream with my first two, but this is a whole new level. All that said, I love being pregnant. I enjoy the baby’s movements, kicks, and rolls that I feel more and more every day. I love that my oldest, Zoe, is infatuated with this pregnancy especially since she had pretty much zero interest last time when I was pregnant with Finn. I love talking to both Zoe and Finn about what is to come with this baby. We talk about names, whether we think it will be a boy or girl, and how life will change. The kids kiss my belly and talk to it every time I leave the house or go to sleep. When the baby starts moving around a ton, I let Tony know and we feel the baby move together. Sometimes we’re in disbelief that we’re having another, but definitely in a good way! I love that my nephew is also excited about it as well as our friends and family. I am totally cool with the changes in my body and where life is at.
So, all of the sudden, when these questions from people have been coming in, I’m suddenly feeling like well, *maybe* I should be more concerned. Maybe I should be doing more prep or nesting or something. The closest I came to nesting with my first was mopping the floor hours prior to my water breaking. I never did nest with my second.
Here’s the thing, though, I feel like we have everything we need for this baby since we already have two kiddos. We have the gear - the swing, the baby mat, the boppie, the crib, the co-sleeper, the diaper bags, the baby carriers, the diaper changing pad to fit on the dresser, we have the gender neutral newborn clothes, we have the girl and boy clothes from both of our other kids. I have a pump for if/when I need it, cloth diapers, burp cloths, baby combs, nose suckers, pacifiers if this baby decides to use one (our second decided he wanted nothing to do with them). We also plan to have the baby sleep in our room for the first 4-6 months, so the fact that our second is still occupying his crib for naps and bed time is really not a concern.
I’ve been thinking lately that maybe the reason I’m not concerned about the “stuff” and prep is because I already feel prepared. Maybe falsely so? I think this time around, I am just trying to mentally prepare for the birth as well as afterwards. We’ve hired the same Doula we used last time, we switched care providers, we have a Birth Photographer, and I feel like we are all working together towards a positive birth experience. I’ve been really starting to look into Hypnobabies (a technique that is practiced to prepare for Labor and Delivery and used during Labor and Delivery). We do need to work on our birth preferences, though I’m going to base quite a bit on our preferences from last time. We will be taking a natural birth refresher course closer to the due date as required by the Birth Center. The other item on my prep list is what we will do for our older kid’s birthdays in August. I know it seems like a totally weird thing to think about in March when their birthdays aren’t til August. This baby is due at the end of July, though, and I don’t know that I love the idea of figuring out a birthday party plan with a newborn. So my only prep includes: practicing/studying Hypnobabies, birth preferences, refresher course, kid’s party plan. Am I nuts? Am I forgetting something?
Tell me, dear readers, what else am I forgetting?!
Those of you who are having a baby this year, hit me up and let’s talk pregnancy, birth, and newborn photos! I promise having a birth photographer will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make! I am working right up until I have this baby and my maternity leave will be brief, so don't hesitate to contact me for a session!
Angie and Andy welcomed sweet Lillian into their lives with open arms and hearts. This baby was immediately surrounded by love and after capturing her birth, I couldn’t wait to spend time with them again for her newborn photoshoot.
Lillian snuggled in quite quickly for me after a solid feeding, a nice warm room, and a sound machine. Angie as well as Maddi and Tyler (Lillian's two siblings) were home for the session while Andy was stuck at work though I know he so badly wanted to be there.
Angie told me that Lillian was sleeping relatively well, though Maddi and Tyler had differing opinions on just how much Lillian was sleeping verses crying. Ha! Nothing like older siblings giving their take on a newborn baby in the house.
One of my favorite parts of a newborn session is the details I can capture from their soft skin to their tiny baby skin rolls (and sometimes fat rolls with newborns!), their tiny fingernails, the silky newborn hair, and so on. It’s all so fleeting and something I never want new parents to forget.
Once we were finished with the posed portion of the session, Angie took some time to be with Lillian and snuggle in with her. It was so beautiful to see their bond during her feeding and to watch her lovingly look over Lillian with such awe and wonder.
Angie and Andy, I am so honored to have been a part of capturing your love story from your engagement, to your wedding, to your birth, all the way to your beautiful newborn baby girl. You have such a beautiful family and I know you are easing into your life as a family of five! Congratulations and thank you so much!
Erin and Mike gifted a Family Session to Mike’s parents for Christmas last year, and they chose Fall for their session which I loved. People often think that October is prime time for Fall colors, but usually St. Louis colors transform later in the season and stick around through November. This session was done in mid-November and not only were the colors on the trees gorgeous, but there was a blanket of fallen leaves on the ground plus relatively warm weather.
With Family Sessions that include couples, I love to break off into little sessions to capture them individually. I love the big family style portions of the session too, so I incorporate all of it into the session.
When you catch young couples who’ve been married less than 5 years, they aren’t at all surprised when you ask them to be lovey and doting towards each other. Often times these couples had proposal photos, engagement photos, wedding photos, and maybe even anniversary photos taken. And let’s all be honest here, in this day and age, we take enough selfies and pictures with friends to know what our good angles are! Mike and Erin, Jenna and Brad fall into the category of married in recent years. I love to capture the connection between these couples. It may not be “young love” or "new love" per say, but it’s sweet to watch them interact and dote on each other like they did when they were first dating.
When you photograph couples who have spent 30+ years together, photo sessions generally aren’t something they’ve gone out and had done recently. They may have had some family photos done for their grown children’s weddings, but beyond that, sometimes it’s been over 20 years since they had a photo session done. My how photography has changed! It can feel awkward or silly to them to really loosen up and show their true personalities. I make it my goal to get them to have fun, to open up, and to break out of the old style of photography they may be used to. Mike Sr. and Verna, Mike and Brad’s parents, loosened up quickly thanks to Verna’s contagious laughs and smiles directed right at Mike Sr. I was a bit nervous Mike Sr. would be a hard smile to crack (even though in normal conversation, he’s hilarious and lively), but he jumped right in and embraced the moment.
Thank you, Dunnigan Family, for your patience and laughter during your session! I always enjoy a good Dunnigan Family story and I’m glad I had the opportunity to capture this one!
Let me start by saying, as a Birth Photographer, I believe each and every birth is truly unique to each of my clients. It is one of the very rare moments in life where absolute raw, real, true emotion and character is revealed. Birth can be empowering, beautiful, healing, emotional, and humbling. Birth is normal and yet, awe-inspiring.
I never knew I would be able to witness the miracle of life multiple times over. It is a miracle to see what the human body is capable of. I see it in a laboring person deep in labor land, the strength in a partner's eyes and hands as they care for the love of their life while simultaneously tending to their new child, the brave faces that medical professionals put forward to tend to their patients in regular and dire circumstances, and the emotional and physical support that comes from Doulas as they seek to center their clients. It is my joy and absolute honor to be a birth photographer in this ever-changing world that has begun to accept birth and all it's variations of normal.
I love birth and all things related to birth. One might even say I’m a “birth junkie”. There was a time in my life where I seriously considered becoming an OBGYN because even at a young age, pregnancy and birth astounded me. I have channeled my love for birth into Birth Photography and am fiercely passionate about it. I swoon over other birth photographer’s work, I love hearing labor and delivery stories, and one of my favorite things is to sit down with a client and hear about how their pregnancy is going and what they envision for their birth.
I have had the honor of witnessing birth in an OR of a hospital. It is fascinating. I watched as a client of mine labored for hours trying to work her baby out of her body as her husband and best friends stood by her side. She had words of encouragement, she was supported, she was loved. After it was determined that her baby wasn’t progressing as she had hoped, she and her husband spoke at length to their doctor about their available choices. They then had some time to themselves to discuss what a cesarean section might mean for them and if they were ok with it. It was beautiful seeing the communication on all fronts. This couple was then brought to the OR where her team of medical professionals got to work. They spoke to her, they reviewed protocol with her, they asked her if she was comfortable, and they made sure her husband was ok. Cold washcloths were provided to the mom and dry ones to the dad to wipe his tears of joy. Within minutes, she birthed and met her beautiful baby girl surrounded by a team that loved her, cared for her, and genuinely had her, her husband’s, and their baby’s best interests in mind. She gave birth. Period.
As a birth photographer, I feel it is extremely important for ALL pregnant persons to feel supported in their birth choices. My goal as a birth photographer is always to capture the story as it unfolds because each story is unique and beautiful. It is always an honor to be allowed in to *any* birth space-- be that in an operating room for a cesarean section, a traditional hospital room, a birthing center, a home birth, or wherever. It is tragic that there is a stigma surrounding certain ways of giving birth. And so it is in the parenting community. There are mommy wars about birth, vaccinations, cloth diapering, co-sleeping, natural and organic foods, pureed verses solid, breastfeeding verses formula. It seems there will always be someone out there that has something negative to say about any choices available for a parent to make. And when it comes to something such as how a person chooses to birth their child, it is absolutely not up for judgment, shaming, or discussion from any outside source. This is not ok. Birth shaming in any form IS NOT OK.
Recently birth photography has made a wave in the news. Great, right? Well, maybe, maybe not. This depends on how you choose to look at it and how you choose to take what the media and the Internet tells you. Maybe you’ve seen this possible publicity stunt making its way around the Internet. A screenshot of a text was taken regarding someone’s birth. It is reported to be a conversation between a birth photographer and a potential client with the photographer shaming the person for how they were to give birth.
Why am I writing this? It is in defense of birth. In defense of the birth community. In defense of every person who has given birth, has longed to give birth, who will give birth. In defense of every Birth Photographer, Midwife, Doctor, team of nurses, Doulas, husbands, wives, partners, intended parents, and anyone who partakes in birth.
What true birth professionals care about is whether a pregnant person feels supported in their birth, that they had a voice in the decisions surrounding their birth, that they felt loved and cared for, and they were treated with the respect a human being deserves.
I am a birth photographer and I care about how my clients are treated from the moment they first contact me to discuss birth photography to the moment they receive their images from their birth. It is my promise, my vow, and my duty as a Birth Photographer to make sure pregnant people feel supported and never judged. If someone looking for a birth photographer were ever shamed for how they were going to give birth, I would advise that person to immediately look elsewhere. Birth is birth is birth and NO ONE deserves to EVER have such hurtful words said about how they brought or plan to bring their child into the world.
Cesarean section births, I support you. Home births, I support you. Hospital births, I support you. Births accompanied by an epidural, I support you. Natural birth, I support you. OR births, I support you. Surrogate births, I support you. Free births, I support you. I support ALL forms of birth because ALL birth is beautiful. I am your birth photographer. I support you.
Both of my kids have super curly hair. They get it from my husband — along with their beautiful complexion and dark color hair. I think it’s probably unlikely that I’ll have a kiddo that resembles me quite the way they resemble him. I’ll continue to be the redheaded, pale skinned anomaly in my little family, but I’m ok with that (I would also totally have a party if I had a redheaded child of my own!) :)
Zoe is 4 1/2 and had never had a haircut. When we wash her hair and pour water over it, it reaches all the way down her back. We talk about how long and beautiful it is whenever we can. It’s not so she can get a big head about it, but so she’s confident in herself. We want her to know how to handle criticism as well as compliments since she will undoubtedly face both and at 4 1/2 years old, already has. I absolutely cringe when someone talks about her bouncy curls, but follows up with the backhanded compliment, “She’ll hate it when she’s older.” I always think, “Well, yeah, geez if she hears that enough she’s going to think she’s *supposed* to hate it as she gets older.” I so hope she will always embrace her hair. As the only redheaded girl in my family (I have 3 brothers who also boast red hair), I learned from a very young age that my hair is a conversation starter, a defining characteristic, and it’s part of who I am. My hope is that Zoe embraces her unique, crazy, sometimes frizzy, sometimes perfect ringlets, of thick gorgeous curly hair.
Finn is 2 1/2 and also had never had a haircut. His curls started out just like Zoe’s did — one little tuft of curls in the front that soon became a head full of curls. I love them and he’s used to getting his hair done right after we do Zoe’s. If we don’t stay on top of maintaining their curls by combing through them with our fingers, water, and some kid’s leave in conditioner (We use California Baby’s Calendula Leave In Conditioner and no I’m not getting paid to advertise for them. It’s a product we love and stand by!), they get serious tangles and it’s a bathroom war. As Finn’s hair started falling in front of his eyes, and draping down his neck into a curly mullet, we decided it was probably time to give him his first hair cut. And since we were taking Finn in, we figured it would be a great opportunity to get Zoe her first cut as well simply to keep it healthy and strong.
I’m making it my mission to photograph our daily lives’ more. I am constantly taking photos of other families as part of my job, which I love. Sometimes my own family gets the short end of the stick though, so when it was time for haircuts, it was time for some documentation, especially since my husband was stuck at work that day. Documentary photography is my new greatest obsession and ranks right up there with birth photography for me (and really, birth photography is a documentation of labor, delivery, and birth, so this is a natural transition for me)!
I took the kids to Amber Sky Salon for their first haircuts. Per their website, they’re a “family centered St. Louis hair salon.” Their motto is very cool and I was sold on them the instant I read, "Whether you need to breastfeed or your toddlers need to stand on their heads and belt “Old McDonald” at the top of their lungs, there is no need to be embarrassed." Seriously, if you’re looking for a place for a child’s haircut, I definitely recommend them!
I was nervous Finn would cry and hate it, but he sat like a champ the entire time and listened to everything Kelsey, the hairstylist, had to say. We used FaceTime to let my husband in on the fun and the cuts went surprisingly fast. We were also the first appointment of the day so there weren’t many distractions for the kids, which was nice. After Finn got his luscious locks cut off, we saved some of his hair and Zoe was next.
The goal for Zoe’s hair was just a trim and some shaping so it would lay nice. As I mentioned, some of her hair was all the way down her back, so with some sections of curls, she got about 3-4 inches cut off and other sections just a half inch. The intricacies of curly hair are no joke, which is why we made the appointment with Kelsey, who has naturally curly hair herself.
I can already tell Zoe’s hair is healthier and easier to comb through with my fingers. Finn’s still gets a little styling on top, but he’s not so frustrated with me getting through his curls. We’ve decided we’ll likely let the sides of his grow out a little bit more so his curls show more, but aren’t so mullet like in the back. It was absolutely bittersweet watching both of my “babies” get their first haircuts and watching those adorable little curls fall to the floor. Thankfully, we have their story documented so we can always look back on their first haircuts!
If you are looking for an area of YOUR life to be documented, let me know! I'd love to be there to document your "regular" day, your child's first big hair cut, your Saturday morning breakfast ritual, or any other aspect of your life you don't want to forget!
Dan and Grace brought their sweet pup, Coco, along with them to their crisp Fall morning session. Coco kicked things off right away with a warm welcome of prancing and dog kisses for all of us!
Coco is an energetic dog with a little pep in her step! She definitely saw every opportunity to romp and play and made sure Dan and Grace knew she was ready to go at a moment’s notice. As it turns out, they both agreed it’s totally her personality to do so. She was just being true to herself!
Grace and Dan easily fell into poses and have some great chemistry between them. Despite it being about 35 degrees out during their session, they wrapped each other up in warmth and love and we made it our mission to make it feel warm. I love this because cold weather shoots can be really difficult for people to embrace, but Grace and Dan nailed their session!
Thank you, Dan and Grace for braving the weather and enjoying the last snippet of beautifully colored Fall leaves on the trees and ground!
Angie awoke in the morning to contractions, but wasn’t sure if “this was it”. It’s a doubt which a lot of moms experience despite this often happening when they’re right around their expected due date. She opted to not send her two older children to school that day because by that point she had convinced herself that this might, in fact, be “it”.
Her husband, Andy, had gone into work that day. Angie called to let him know this was it and to meet her at the hospital — there was suddenly no time for him to come home as contractions were picking up. What Angie did next is something that even she would agree isn’t recommended. She drove herself to the hospital whilst having contractions! I remember that once my contractions started with both of my kids, I couldn’t do anything during a contraction. I stood there with my face wincing and clutching my shirt until it passed. I’m still in awe with how she drove during that state! Oh, and it was raining that day too. Not like a piddly little nothing rain. It was a solid full on downpour.
Andy called me after he got to the hospital at 9:48am and let me know she might be in labor, and they were ready for me to join them. I safely but swiftly made my way up to the hospital. I texted Andy that I was parking and bolted in to the hospital just under one hour after I spoke to him. I got a text as I was getting on the elevator. It was Andy with the words, “She’s 9cm. It’s goooooo time!” And of course all I could think was, “Run! Run! Get there!” Thankfully when I walked in, Angie was mellow and happy. She had gotten an epidural and was just waiting for her body to work it’s magic.
Shortly thereafter, she opted to have her water broken and things immediately began to intensify. She kissed and bid goodbye to her two older children and sent them out to wait in the lobby. While she felt ready to push, her baby had a little bit of work to do to get down the canal and in position where it needed to be. Andy has shown me time and again between their engagement session, their wedding, and now their birth how he is absolutely one of the most loving, supportive partners/husbands I’ve ever seen. He gently stroked her hair and whispered sweet nothings to her while she was in transition. And the best part is that it’s such genuine love between them. He’s encouraging, positive, calm, and uplifting and so perfect for Angie to have by her side to deliver their first baby together.
Angie worked and pushed for about a half an hour and the doctor determined it would be beneficial to use the vacuum to help assist the baby out. I absolutely cannot speak highly enough of a woman in the throws of labor who questions everything. It is so important to be involved in the decision-making in your own birth and I was so proud of Angie when she asked all the right questions. The same goes for Andy who also didn’t let anything slide past unnoticed. He was full on in the discussion regarding breaking her water and what it entailed. Additionally, I love when a team caring for a woman in labor aren’t bothered by these questions and take the time to explain things to the parents. They didn’t end up using the vacuum because Miss Lillian was ready to meet the world.
Lillian let out one tiny squeak upon being placed on Angie’s chest, but needed a little assistance breathing after that. The pediatric nurses noted that she had a good grip, great muscle function, and was perfectly pink in color. Angie and Andy were reassured that Lillian was perfect. She just didn’t want to let out those strong cries we are so accustomed to hearing.
Maddi and Tyler got to meet their new baby sister while she was still on the warmer, followed by Andy’s parents, and then Angie’s mom. Lillian was immediately surrounded by so much love. I’m sure Lillian will be spoiled in the best way possible! Congratulations, Andy and Angie, on your baby girl and thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing me in to your birthing space!
And to my loyal followers out there, if you are pregnant or someone you know is pregnant, I absolutely recommend a birth photographer! These are the moments you will want to remember and cherish forever and you won’t want to be stuck behind your iPhone or camera for it. I'm now booking 2017 births!
Johnny and Teri decided on a lifestyle session to commemorate not only the upcoming arrival of their second baby, but also their son, William’s second birthday. They chose to do the session just a few weeks before Teri’s expected due date but it was nice because the holidays were completely behind us and we were able to focus just on their beautiful family.
A lifestyle session was perfect for them in so many ways. It was bitter cold the day of their session, so in home Lifestyle meant we didn’t have to be outside with pink noses and a shivering 2 year old! Their house is absolutely filled with gorgeous natural light. They’ve decorated everything beautifully in their home and yet it’s super inviting and usable space, which I love. Lifestyle sessions can be so fun because I get to capture the family in their everyday surroundings where they are most comfortable.
William and Johnny played games, jumped on the bed, and enjoyed each other’s company while I captured Teri in her 9-month pregnant glow. Johnny is my cousin and growing up with him, I always thought he was fun loving and awesome. I never saw him without a smile on his face or a joke to be had. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that the more I see him in his role as Dad to William and husband to Teri, I see his parents shine through in such an incredible way. He actively takes a role and genuine interest in what William is doing and their bond is unbreakable.
I saw Teri weekly throughout her entire pregnancy and never once did I hear her make one complaint. She is the kind of pregnant person you totally want to be around and enjoy. She has such a kind heart and soul and I love the way she looks at Johnny and William and interacts with them. She has all the patience in the world — even for Johnny’s crazy antics and funny quips. And of course even more patience for her firstborn, William, who has all the energy you can imagine a 2 year old would!
Johnny and Teri, I’m so happy you guys chose the lifestyle session and thank you for making these beautiful images happen! Stay tuned for their newborn session!
This Birth Story started with middle of the night contractions as so many birth stories do (my theory is babies like to get a head start with the whole waking their parents in the middle of the night!). I met Crystal and her husband, Ben, at the hospital around 3am. Crystal was monitored for a little while and it was determined she was not in labor. She apologized profusely for the "false alarm" but I kept reminding her there was no reason to apologize. Not only was I honored that as a fellow photographer she had asked me to photograph her birth, but I go into the job knowing full well that things don't usually go as planned or expected!
The following day was her scheduled induction. I met Crystal and Ben at the hospital as well as their support team — her two kids, her sister, and her mom. It is always amazing to me to see a mom in labor who is still tending to her kids. Crystal had ordered lunch before things really picked up and of course, she ordered knowing what her two littles would like the menu too. Her littlest at the time, Kameron, couldn’t resist cuddles with mom and being near her.
Crystal’s contractions were consistent but she made the decision to not get an epidural until she felt she was really ready for it. When she got to the point of tears and the pain was too much, she requested the epidural. She handled her contractions so well throughout — breathing through, concentrating and using those guttural grunts and moans to work past them.
Once her epidural was placed, it wasn’t long before she was ready to push and holy cow did that process happen quickly! Crystal gave birth to baby boy Cole after just 2-3 very productive pushes. Looking at her, though, you’d never know that just minutes before she was experiencing painful contractions and birthed a child!
I love that everyone’s birth story is uniquely theirs. Minutes after Cole was out, there were probably ten people in the room between her support team, her nurses, the doctor and the baby’s care team. They are quick and efficient at what they do, that’s for sure!
Crystal’s family was right there for all the firsts — the initial clean up of Cole, weighing, diapering, dressing him for the first time, first bath and first feed. What an amazing way to bring your baby earthside — surrounded by those who mean the most to you!
Congratulations, Crystal and Ben, on your adorable baby Cole and your new family of 5! Thank you for allowing me in to your birth space for such an intimate life event!
I’m way behind on blogging my sessions and if you’ve been paying attention, it’s because I am currently growing Baby Gaeta #3! We usually do some sort of creative Christmas Card every year. Here’s ours from this past Christmas:
Yes, I really have felt that way for the past 3 months. Every time I’ve tried to sit down at the computer and work, I end up racing to the bathroom with “morning” sickness. I’ve purposely put quotes around morning because in my experience with all three of my pregnancies, it’s been all day, every day. So, all my time I’ve spent on my computer has been dedicated to editing client’s sessions and getting their photos out to them. Blogging took a back seat, but I’m back!!
So, take a step back to the *very* end of Fall when I was newly pregnant and we’ll pick up where we left off! I traveled over to a gorgeous park in Illinois that was filled with fallen leaves and a field of tall grass to meet up with the Russo Family. You may remember them from one of our past photoshoots!
Logan and Brett look so much alike that they could easily be mistaken for twins, but they definitely have their own unique personalities and traits. One thing is for sure, Andrea and Tony have two of the most loving little boys ever. They’re crazy, fun, high energy, but man, I think a parent’s dream is having kids who adore them and look up to them and that is exactly what they have in their boys.
They love to hold hands, to be carried, to laugh, to play, and run. They explore, they’re curious, and they’re so cute! I love a child’s outlook on the world and when they find interesting things all on their own. They were totally willing to explore the leaves, the pathways, and the wooded areas all on their own. I love nothing more than allowing a child to explore the world around them and to capture that genuine curiosity in the world.
Andrea and Tony brought along their red Chevy Camaro. Tony has this car as a hobby and frequently tinkers with it and fixes it up. And my favorite part is that he lets the boys get under the hood and ask questions. As a parent, I know full well that kids enjoy doing what their parents do. This is the type of thing that Brett and Logan will never forget growing up and certainly will always be a memory they cherish.
Andrea and Tony, thanks again for choosing me to capture your family in this wonderful stage of life!
Andy is a Senior this year at Mehlville high school where he is playing Volleyball and preparing for the big leap off to college. He is still weighing his options when it comes to a decision on where he will be headed but he has been accepted at Mizzou, Wichita State, University of Arkansas, University of Memphis, University of Alabama Birmingham, and Colorado state.
Andy has spent a bit of his free time enjoying nature and climbing trees as a kid as well as honing his volleyball skills. Andy plans to seek out a volleyball team in college to keep up his game while away at school which I think is a great way to spend time away from studying!
Throughout our session, I found Andy to be somewhat quieter, but he’s definitely a great guy with a lovable personality, excellent people skills, and a crazy smart mind. He will be seeking out a degree in engineering in college. Impressive to say the least! I’m always blown away by young minds that are so sure of pursuing such an an astounding degree.
Andy, thank you so much for spending the afternoon with me and best of luck to you making a decision on so many excellent college choices!
I love repeat clients and the Watsons are about as loyal as they come! I’ve photographed many sessions for them over the past two years, but one of my favorites was their newborn session for their daughter, Abby, who is now 2. I was so honored to be asked to do a newborn session for them again for their brand new baby, Jack Thomas.
Jack (although technically a Watson) has “Plumley” written all over him. He makes these faces and it’s like looking at a baby version of his Uncle Tim, although I’ve only known Tim since high school when I became friends with their sister, Christy. Still following? Ha! The point is, I’ve known the Plumleys a LONG time and any photo session with them is always so easy and carefree and their like little replicas of each other. Adorable.
And speaking of the Plumley’s, I just so happened to do Jack’s cousin’s newborn shoot about 6 weeks prior to this. Such a good all around family — they’re down to Earth, tight knit, lovable, they genuinely care about you, and they’re so welcoming.
We held Jack’s newborn shoot at Lisa’s parent’s house. It was a nice way for Lisa and Matt to get rid of a little cabin fever and also it meant they didn’t have to get their house in order just after having a baby which I’m sure was a sigh of relief!
When I do a newborn session, I absolutely encourage family — including siblings to be in some of the photos. Their lives just changed drastically and will continue to do so for a while, so it only seems right to me to include them in all the excitement of a newborn. Abby is no stranger to my camera, and warms right up without much prompting at all.
Matt and Lisa are both glowing in their role as parents to two kiddos. Matt has such a bond with Abby and it’s pretty awesome to see them carrying on and playing despite this squishy newborn that’s come in to their lives. The cool thing about Matt and Lisa is one picks up where the other left off without missing a beat. Abby rarely gets anything past them and I’m sure it will be the same for Jack, though for now he's totally got them wrapped around his little fingers (and toes)!
I can attest to having kids two years apart being a challenge at times, but man is it rewarding. Matt and Lisa, congratulations on baby Jack!
Angie and Andy planned their outdoor ceremony at Queeny park hoping for a beautiful Fall day and the stars aligned for them because that is EXACTLY what they got! Just look at that dreamy golden sun shining through!
Angie was walked down the aisle by her two children, Madison and Tyler, and had her Father close to her heart all day with a locket containing his picture on her bouquet. It’s such a wonderful thing seeing two families join together as one. During the ceremony, Andy, Angie, Madison, and Tyler all participated in a sand pouring with 4 different colors of sand representing the merging of their family into one. After a sweet reading prepared by Madison, Angie and Andy officially tied the knot!
These two have so much chemistry and so much love for each other and it’s honestly just so much fun to witness. They naturally fell into beautiful embraces and loving gazes towards each other as their wedding party “oohed and ahhed” in the background.
The reception was held at the rustic Grant’s Lodge and though it was a bit cooler at night, outdoors they had a massive bon fire, a wooden swing, and plenty of seating to go around for all the party animals indoors and out.
Andy’s parents were the life of the party, cutting up the dance floor, and his Dad even took over the DJ booth for a bit! Between the little ones, Andy’s employees from his hair salon that he owns, their friends, and families, the dance floor was lively the entire evening.
Andy and Angie, thank you again, for having me be a part of your special day! You two are absolutely made for each other! Congratulations!
Nicki and Cory are expecting baby #2 which means little Miss Kennedy is about to become a big sister! Look at this beautiful growing family and Nicki’s adorable bump! This baby is going to be GORGEOUS!
After a change of plans for their session date and pushing it back a few weeks, we were able to do their session on a fantastic fall evening. November can be so hit and miss, but this particular evening was great — not too cold and definitely warm enough that Kennedy wasn’t bothered by it either.
One of my favorite things to do with sessions that involve little ones is to let them be free and run wild. It gives them a chance to get out some energy, they offer up belly laughs, and then typically will snuggle in with Mom or Dad at some point. Kennedy rocked it and her Aunt was there behind the scenes to help her stay on track which worked out so well. Between Daddy, Mommy, and her Aunt, Kennedy had her fair share of comfort to choose from!
And let’s just talk about this amazing goddess look Nicki has. Her hair and makeup are perfect and her outfit was on point. Couple that with Cory’s perfectly played outfit and Kennedy’s blonde locks — a family to model after, people!
I can’t wait for the arrival of your little one and am so looking forward to your birth!
Cameron is a senior at Rockwood Summit and his plans post high school include staying local at St. Louis Community College then transferring to the University of Alabama to persue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
I’m always so impressed when I come across a senior like Cameron. He’s poised, he not only has a great relationship with his mom, they respect each other, he’s funny, holds conversations well and is so personable. I look at someone like him and can’t help but think he will go far and excel in anything he puts his mind to – especially that degree in Mechanical Engineering!
Cameron comes from a very talented musical family. When he was younger, he was encouraged to choose one instrument he wanted to play. After a bit of consideration, he decided he would stick with drums and hasn’t looked back since. I’m honestly jealous. I’ve mentioned in the past, I have zero musical ability or inclination. Not only does Cameron have it, but he excels at it and his mom, Brenda, is a voice teacher. So cool!
There’s also a sweet pup, Cody, in Cameron’s life. He’s had him for a couple years now and they’re definitely best buds. I asked Cameron if Cody ever gives him kisses and Cameron’s look said it all. Of course Cody gives kisses and especially to his favorite person, Cameron! Cody is rambunctious but absolutely lovable and does very well when treats are involved. We happened to see some deer wandering around nearby during the shoot. Let’s just say Cody was for sure more interested in deer than dog treats!
Cameron congrats on your journey thus far – no doubt you will go far with your intellect, personality, and great support system behind you!
This year I was able to hold my Fall/Holiday mini sessions on a warmer day which made it so pleasant for both me and my clients!
Fall and Holiday minis are unique because sometimes clients are using those photos for their Christmas Cards and I don’t want to ruin their surprises to family and friends. So for now, I get to post a few from a couple sessions I had!
It just so happens that these two sessions were back to back and the little girls, Ava, and Remy know each other! They go to preschool together and they recognized each other when one shoot was ending and the other was starting. How cute is that?!
Thanks to all my clients for hanging out with me on a most gorgeous Fall day for your mini sessions!
I can’t believe it’s been one full year since I did Natalie’s newborn session! I also had the chance to do her 6 month photos and it’s been so sweet watching her grow into a little toddler over the last year. To celebrate her first birthday, Sarah, Dusty and Natalie joined me for a session at the park!
Natalie is definitely toddling around and has such personality with her big smile. I think she totally favors Dusty in her looks. She likes to play peek a boo, run as fast as she can until she plops on her tush and play with Mommy and Daddy. One of my favorite parts about one year photo sessions is that although they are getting to be so big, their baby features still show -- little dimpled hands, chubby feet, hair tufts over their ears and it's all so stinkin sweet!
We got to the point of doing her cake smash with the adorable cake Sarah made for her. As it turns out, Natalie has the opposite of a sweet tooth and actually detests sweet things. You can imagine how she felt about her smash cake. I’ve never seen a 1 year old with such distaste for their cake, but it just goes to show no two kids are the same! After exploring her cake, she was definitely ready for clean up and snuggles with her Daddy.
Congrats on surviving your first year of parenthood, Sarah and Dusty! You guys are doing great!
Megan and Eric are a sweet couple I met through a friend of a friend of a friend — it definitely felt like 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon, but I’m so happy to have been available for their wedding! They were married on a beautiful Fall October day with mostly blue skies, some fall colors in the leaves, and the perfect amount of wind.
When I met Megan and Eric, I noticed right off the bat that it was difficult to find a time where Megan wasn’t smiling. Though both she and Eric come off as slightly shy, they are two of the kindest sweetest people you’d ever meet. They’re made for each other and they knew it right away when they met all those years ago working at the one and only Target!
Megan chose a beautiful full white dress and shoes that reminded me of Cinderella’s. Her flower girl also wore adorable little gold shoes with a black ribbon to coordinate with Megan’s dress. The mood at Megan’s childhood home was love and laughter and a whole lot of ladies!
I met Eric and his groomsmen at Forest Park and soon thereafter, Megan and Eric had their First Look. Having their First Look before their ceremony allowed for gorgeous daylight and photos before the wedding which worked out perfectly since they were having an evening ceremony indoors. With Megan’s bridesmaids off in the distance behind her and Eric’s groomsmen off a ways behind him, Megan and Eric were able to have their intimate First Look moment together. It was so symbolic of the love and support they both have with each other and their friends and family.
Megan and Eric both joked that they were the most hilariously awkward people coupled with equally awkward friends and were so nervous for photos on their wedding day. I laugh when a sweet couple says something like that because they were not only fun and lovable, but the entire wedding party made for a great time during photos and throughout the day.
So, thank you, Megan and Eric, as well as to your family and friends for making it such a fun totally non-awkward day of wedded bliss! Many congrats and best wishes on years of love and laughter to come!
Cake: Comet Coffee
Caterer: Hendri's
Reception Hall: Hendri's
DJ: Now That's a DJ
When I met with Frankie and Rob for their initial wedding consultation, they gushed over details of their wedding but the one thing that caught my attention was when they mentioned they swing dance. I kind of instantly fell in love with them at that point. I knew their reception would be unique with Frankie’s attention to detail and Rob actively participating and enjoying making wedding day decisions with Frankie. The Swing Dancing, though, would be the icing on their cake!
Their wedding day was gorgeous and although rain threatened, it never really full came through and they had perfect temperatures throughout the day. October weather certainly pulled through for them. Rob and Frankie not only had great weather, but they had amazing little details such as matching "Mr." and "Mrs." mugs, sweet hand written notes to each other, Argyle socks for the guys and unique brooches for each of the girls.
Frankie and Rob opted for a First Look which always makes for such a relaxed time after the wedding for additional photos. It’s so sweet when you get to see couples take each other in for the first time on their wedding day and have a few moments to themselves to really soak it in. Frankie also did a first look with her dad and brother after her Mom helped her finish getting her dress and veil on.
Rob and Frankie were married under the shade of a beautiful pavilion surrounded by friends and family and their reception was in the gorgeous Carriage House at Fox Run with fantastic lighting and chandeliers. They kicked the evening off with such a fun bang — Rob and Frankie had a song they swing danced to for their first dance. I’m a little jealous. I took swing dance in high school as an extra curricular and I knew at the time it wasn’t the cool thing to do, but I really didn’t care. It still proves to be one of the most useful and fun things I learned as a high school extra curricular (right next to Typing and Art). But what I never learned during that time was the footwork and finesse of Swing Dancing. Rob and Frankie have that and nail it every time. They have such wonderful chemistry anyway and it shines through when they dance.
After some beautiful and totally fitting toasts by Rob’s sister, Frankie’s brother, and Frankie's father, they had dinner and then the rest of the evening was filled with dancing. They had a massive dance floor and they needed every square inch because of course all of their friends are dancers too. They have rhythm that I will never possess! But the best part was the fun and smiling faces on their guests throughout the entire night. It was such an uplifting environment to be in — and it’s no wonder since Rob and Frankie were the shining stars and hosts of the night along with their parents.
Rob and Frankie, thank you, thank you, thank you, for allowing me to capture your wedding day! I have had such fun with you both! As Sarah mentioned in her speech, as an ode to you two "Trekkies", may your marriage live long and prosper!
Cake: Harter's Bakery
Reception: Andre's at the Carriage House at Fox Run
DJ: Complete Music and Events
Catering: Andres
Hair and Makeup: Emily Miller Makeup & Hair
Flowers: Karen Burns
Videographer: Applause Productions
I worked with Rachael for a while to get a date that worked well with both my schedule as well as her family’s schedules and I’m so glad the timing worked out like it did because it was a gorgeous Fall day that was perfect weather for being outside for a Family Shoot especially with kiddos!
Ryan and Rachael’s youngest, Laine, just turned one shortly after our photoshoot! Isn’t she a complete doll?! Look at those big blue eyes and those sweet round cheeks! Rachael perfectly coordinated her family’s outfits and Miss Laine looked like she was right out of a catalog. All I could think was “Rachael, you can come style all my client’s outfits because they’d come out perfect every time!”
Mr. Jack is familiar with me behind my camera and he is such a sweet kid especially during one on one time. He’s rambunctious and playful just like any 4 year old, but he also had plenty of curious questions to ask me and happily obliged my requests. Plus, he makes a pretty adorable cowboy, don’t you think?!
Ryan’s sister and husband were so sweet and embraced the session with all the commotion of getting the kiddos to cooperate and coordinating every one. In bigger sessions, some of my favorites wind up being those sweet shots when I get couples and families during one on one time. Their personalities shine through and they relax more which gives such a sweet loving feel to their photos.
Ryan’s Mom and Dad live on some pretty awesome farm/acreage and Ryan’s Grandma lives about a mile down the road. Both of their houses and land have a very small town/big farm feel to them which I love. They’re not far from “civilization”, yet it’s peaceful and serene along their stretches of road out in the country.
Ryan’s Grandma lives in a house and on a farm that has been owned and operated by the same family for over 100 years!! Isn’t that amazing?! They still have cows, a fantastic merry go round with rich history and open fields to run and play. It’s like a childhood dream out there!
Arens family, thank you so much for having me out to your property and spending the afternoon with me! You have such a sweet growing family!
This Fall (especially October) has been full of amazing weather, so I knew we would have a great Fall family session with Mindy, Caleb, and Wesley when the weather was due to be in the high 70s that morning!
I first photographed Wesley for his 6 month photoshoot and that’s when I met Mindy and Caleb. It is amazing to watch parents grow and learn in such a short time frame. Mindy and Caleb both agreed they know so much more now and are so much more confident in various aspects of parenting — breastfeeding, becoming more carefree about their way of life, and slowing down to embrace Wesley growing, learning, and developing.
Kids like Wesley provide me with a challenge that I love to accept! I learned at his 6 month session that he’s not going to offer up a smile unless he really means it which just makes it that much sweeter when he’s romping around playing and his huge grin pops out! Mindy and Caleb have embraced Wesley’s expressive eyes and know that it’s true to his little personality.
So happy to have another session in the books with the Krueger family! You guys are so much fun and I can’t wait to watch Wesley continue to grow and change! Happy Fall!
It’s time to play a little game called “Where in the World is Katie Gaeta Photography?” (See what I did there? A little Carmen San Diego reference! Ha Ha Ha)
October was a busy month for Katie Gaeta Photography with 18 sessions in the books! It was crazy, busy, and super awesome, so I want you to join in on the fun with me! Take a look at the photo collage below and comment on my Facebook or Instagram post with the name of the park where you think these sessions took place (hint: they were all taken at the same location).
Those who guess correctly will all be entered into a random drawing to win a $10 Starbucks gift card! If you want a chance to be entered into the drawing twice, publicly share this post on either your Facebook page or Instagram page! If you aren't on social media, I'll forgive you for now (but you only get one entry), and you can comment on this blog post. The winner will be drawn on Sunday November 6, 2016!
During Jess’ hospital stay, life at home continued — in a very different way than before, but it continued. Jess and Kevin’s support system is beyond incredible — with thousands of people looking out for and caring for them. When I arrived for Amelia’s newborn session, there were about 7 people there — Kevin, Noah, Jess’ Mom, Patty, her sister, Emily, her sister in law, Julie, her sister in law, Rachel, her husband, and eventually Kevin’s Dad. It was an environment filled with love for Kevin, Jess, Noah and Amelia, and support all around. Everything was done with this family of four in mind. Meticulous feeding and changing notes were taken on Baby Amelia. Kevin's sister, Julia, flew in to stay with Kevin and the kids as soon as she heard the news. She took the night shift so Kevin could attempt to get some sleep. And sometimes in the middle of the night, writing on the mirror is just way easier than finding that pad of paper :)
Jess’ fine motor skills weren’t quite up to par at that point — it was something the doctors said would come back with her strength in time. With Kevin’s adoring help, Jess got to hold Amelia, feed her, change her diaper, and soothe her. She finally got to run her fingers through Amelia’s beautiful head of silky, dark hair. She gave her kisses and loved on her. Everything a new mom wants to do with their newborn, Jess finally got to do.
Noah was nearly oblivious to the situation at hand, which is likely for the best. He played doctor with his “telescope” (otherwise known as a Stethoscope) to Jess, to Amelia, and even to the frame of the bed. He got to help make a balloon glove, eat Cheez Its, and run around beating on Jess’ Congratulations balloons. But the best part was that Jess got to see BOTH of her kiddos and be together as a family of four together. As Jess kept repeating, “this is THE best!” And I couldn’t agree more!
Jess refused to let this get her down and she fought for herself, for her family, for her newborn baby every step of the way in the hospital. She was beyond determined and by some miracle, just three weeks after they rushed to save her life -- many times over -- she got to go home!! As of this blog post, Jess is officially home, healing with her family. Her care is now out of her house with home health nurses. She’s been posting to Instagram and Facebook. She’s celebrating milestones like eating dinner together as a family and trying to get back to life as usual while marveling at how Kevin kept it all together. It truly is the little things in life that we take for granted. Congratulations, Jess, Kevin, Noah and Amelia, on your journey to become a family of four. Everyone is so proud of you and your army is still cheering you on. Jess, thank you for showing us what a Fighter looks like and that we need to be thankful for every day we have. Keep fighting, Grib family. You've got so much to give this world!
Katie Gaeta Photography is booking now for Fall & Holiday Mini Sessions! Be sure to contact me as there will be limited availability! If you're someone who typically procrastinates with your holiday cards, don't wait until December to get your family's photo this year. This is your opportunity to get ahead of the game and pretend like you totally have it all together ;)
Mini sessions are only offered once or twice a year with Katie Gaeta Photography, so don't miss out!
Christy and Jason just gave birth to a baby boy, Jordan Christopher, and my oh my is he adorable! I’ve known Christy for over 15 years and it was such an honor to be asked to photograph her first born while he was still in his newborn stage.
Seeing Christy in her new role as Mommy to Jordan was quite amazing. She’s handling it like a pro which is pretty fantastic as Christy is someone who isn't normally fond of changes. This, however, is a life-changer and Christy had plenty of time to prep for it. And her new-mom-glow is SHINING. She can feel it, Jason loves it, and baby Jordan is totally on board with it :)
It’s really amazing to see how one teeny tiny person can immediately change a person, change their relationship with their husband, change the way they see the world. Christy and Jason are confident and owning this Mom and Dad thing!
Jordan was bright eyed and bushy tailed when I first got there, but after a good feeding, he settled right down. He slept here, he sleep there, he slept in my arms, in Christy’s arms, in Jason’s arms. Once he was out, he meant business!
And one thing I should note, Christy and Jason moved in to their new house only about a month before baby Jordan made his way into this world. Bravo to you guys for accomplishing such a perfectly adorable nursery for Jordan with barely a month to spare before his arrival!
Congratulations, Christy and Jason! I’m so proud of both of you and so happy for you. Jordan is in great hands and is surrounded by so much love!
Having attended Gracyn’s birth, I was particularly excited to meet her again outside of the hospital setting. She was happily sitting in her baby swing when I walked in with all my gear, and she stayed pretty content throughout her whole session which made my job so easy! Snuggling with a newborn is definitely one of my most favorite ways to spend an afternoon!
Jordan and Misty had pretty much set up baby camp in their living room because it was just so much easier for them to be close by baby Gracyn that way. I love when a family is just so honest, open, and real about their journey into parenthood. You do what works best for you as a family and whatever gets you the best sleep. That’s totally the reality of parenting and I loved seeing baby central in their living room!
Gracyn initially started out wide awake for her session. Fewer things are sweeter than a days old baby staring lovingly up at her Daddy. But after a good feed, Gracyn settled into a nice sleep which allowed for some sweet detail shots of this sweet little squish! It’s certainly one of my favorite parts of photographing newborns. It’s those tiniest of details that you’ll want to remember forever.
Jordan and Misty have settled in so nicely to parenting and their support for one another is really fantastic. They have extreme patience and I loved watching them interact with not only Gracyn but their fur babies as well. Misty and Jordan, congratulations on your sweet baby girl and thank you for welcoming me into your home!
Sweet baby Gwen is officially no longer a baby! You may remember her from her newborn or her 6 month session with her BFF, Lia (the family pup). She just turned one and oh my goodness is she a sweet toddler!
I love hearing the very unique things kids take a liking to especially at such a young age. For Miss Gwen, it’s rocks and dogs. Yep, you read that right. Maybe she’s destined to become a geologist one day or for that matter, a veterinarian! But for now it’s about the cutest thing to see her get SO excited over either of the two. And while those two items are sweet, her love and affection is 100% for Colleen and Ryan.
Gwen has such a sweet dimpled smile and is all over the place these days. One of her favorite past times is putting things in her mouth and running away from Mom and Dad as quickly as possible, which of course, is right on par with her age! It’s part of what I find so fun about first birthday sessions.
Colleen made sure to pick up some giant balloons as well as a bunch of smaller ones for the happy birthday celebration. I should note, though, that Colleen also deserves to be celebrating — she’s made it to over a full year of breastfeeding Gwen and I know firsthand that’s no easy task! The love and connection a child has through breastfeeding is incredible. There is such a strong bond there and I just love that Colleen was totally on board with some photos to commemorate it when Gwen decided she needed a milk break during the session.
Colleen and Ryan, welcome to the next stage of parenting, toddlerhood!
Joining a couple as they prepare to welcome a newborn baby into their lives is something I will never take for granted. It is absolutely beautiful and awe inspiring. Jordan and Misty’s birth story is one I was able to be present for and I’m so honored to have been in the background of it. But, enough about me, let’s talk about this sweet couple and their birth journey to meet Miss Gracyn Carter!
Misty waited and waited for Gracyn to come on her own, but at 41 weeks and 1 day, they along with their OB, decided the time had come to induce Misty. So Jordan and Misty waited again. They waited for the call from the Labor and Delivery unit to give them the green light to head on in. They checked in around 10:30pm on 9/7/2016 and officially started the induction around 12:30am on 9/8/2016. Misty handled the induction quite well and by 11:30am her contractions were every 3 minutes apart and dilated to 3cm. She was surrounded by a strong group of supporters between Jordan’s step-mom, sister, and their best friends, not to mention those on the other end of the digital realm via texts and calls. But from that point on, Gracyn had other plans despite the efforts from Misty and her team. She decided she was a bit stubborn and wanted to test Misty and Jordan’s patience juuuuust a little bit more. Misty wasn’t progressing past that 3cm mark. Around 8pm, they collectively decided it was time to go forth with a c-section and to meet their baby girl.
In our meetings and talks during Misty’s pregnancy, they both agreed that Jordan would likely be the emotional one throughout the process and I can now say they were right. But I include this tid bit, because I think it’s important for a parent at the birth their child to know that there are MANY variations of normal as far as feelings go. Their totally laid back and confident anesthesiologist echoed this sentiment to Jordan as he handed him a clean wash cloth in the OR to wipe his tears when he said, “This is the miracle of life. I think it’s awesome. You’re about to become a Dad!” And this photographer sat back with a huge lump in her throat because who doesn’t want to hear statements like that as they sit watching the miracle of life unfold?
Misty stayed calm and collected and Jordan shot glances all over the room. It was amazing to see his Papa Bear instinct kick in when the procedure started. He was 100% behind Misty and was their holding her hand throughout the process. She was never without his support, loving words, and touch. And in a cold, stark, and bright OR, that’s exactly what is needed.
Their OB stayed calm and collected and kept it all very light hearted as they went through the c-section. From the time the first cut was made until Gracyn was born was about 7 minutes. A beautiful baby Gracyn greeted the world just before 9:30pm on 9/8/2016. And Jordan’s Daddy instinct was immediate. He checked on Misty, he checked on Gracyn, he checked on Misty and Gracyn and brought Gracyn over to Misty. I think so often the Dad can feel lost in the whole birthing process and it was incredible to see Jordan with an all-in attitude from the beginning. He cut the cord, he put on Gracyn’s first diaper, he brought Gracyn to meet Misty. He had all the right questions and I loved being their as a photographer but also as a Mom myself. I know the rush of having a baby and I know a million questions flood your head all at once. But Jordan didn’t waiver. He was confident and was a Daddy long before the birth.
Once Misty was sutured up, they were brought back to a recovery room where Misty, Jordan, and Gracyn got to have their bonding time. It was so great to see Misty being able to interact with her new baby, to get her skin to skin time that she so badly wanted, and to hear her speak to her daughter. Although things didn’t go as she had originally preferred, she handled it wonderfully and took the recovery time as an opportunity to bond with Gracyn. She made the most of the way her cards fell and she was in total Mommy mode in no time flat.
Thank you, Jordan and Misty for allowing me into your birth space!
The Sander Family Started out with an adorable couple, Art and Rita, over 40 years ago. They had three children, and those three children have helped to grow this beautiful family to over 20 people! Their grandkids are comprised of adults, teenagers, and school aged kids alike. Can you even imagine how big it will continue to get as they start getting GREAT grandchildren?!
Large families are something I can relate to. I’m the 6th of 8 children in my own family and we seem to take over places whenever we’re all together. I’ll hand it to this crowd, we sort of took over a space in the park, but they were tame compared to what I’m used to. I mean, sure it may have been difficult getting a word in amongst all the conversations going on, but that’s totally expected with large families! That’s what big families are all about and I love it! I feel right at home :)
And, hey, if you’re having fun and I’m hanging around with my camera, it’s all fair game and I’ll just keep going! One of the coolest things about big families is that it seems like no matter your age group, you almost always have a friend in a sibling, a cousin, an aunt or uncle. And as I looked around during the shoot, there were conversations and laughter and you can tell they genuinely enjoy each other’s company.
While I was covered up to my ankles in freshly cut grass by the time the shoot was over, the Sander family did an excellent job keeping clean, staying on task, and most importantly, smiling and laughing.
Thank you so much for allowing me to take these cherished family photos to remember such a fun time in all of your lives!
Mason just had his first birthday and his Mom, Erika, wanted to be sure to commemorate his first major milestone with a photo session! Mason happily obliged and was such a cooperative little guy throughout the entire session. Playful, brave, and oh so loving completely sum up this little one.
Erika and her family have had some pretty big changes in their life recently —they just moved back to St. Louis with Mason’s older sibling! Mason’s Daddy is about to get deployed so Erika wanted to be sure the family settled in before his big leave. I think it’s so great that Erika had photos done prior to her husband leaving so he could have some up to date photos of Mason with him when he leaves.
Mason is full fledged crawling and he’s just about 100% walking. He wasn’t shy at all about showing off some steps for me and man can he bolt when he crawls!
My favorite part about Mason was his affection. The first time I held him, he squeezed his little arms around me for a hug! How cute is that?! I’m sure Erika would be happy to report that *she* was the one who got the most love from him throughout the shoot. He gives hugs, kisses, and not once did he let out a single whimper!
Happy 1st Birthday, Mason!
Adam is a Senior at BTHS East in Belleville graduating this December. He has plans to attend SWIC in January right after graduating and then to SIUE. I love that he’s so determined to jump right into college after graduating.
I met Adam through his Mom, Kristie that I used to work with back in the day. I used to hear all sorts of fun stories about Dave, Kristie’s husband, and Adam, so I was excited to be doing this session.
Kristie is one of Adam’s biggest cheerleader’s and is such a proud Mom. My favorite part is that she’s supportive and protective yet has a relationship with him that allows them to exchange light-hearted banter, to be funny, sarcastic, and have a good time together.
Adam told me he might be considering pursuing a degree in video game development. He currently has a pretty big interest in video gaming and Manga, which are Japanese comic books like Assassination Classroom and Nichijou. I love when someone has an interest in something and they 100% own it. And what better idea than to get into a field that you already know a lot about and enjoy?!
My favorite thing about Adam was his confidence and ability to talk to a complete stranger (me!) for hours on end. He’s mature, he’s got the looks, and he’s witty to boot. He’s definitely going to excel in college!
Thank you, Adam, Kristie, and Dave for spending the evening with me and for sticking it out despite the questionable weather at the beginning!
You may recognize Jessica, Kevin, and Noah from here. This time, Jess and her family gave their Mom, Patti, a wonderful Mother’s Day present and gifted her a family photo session! I’ve known Mr. and Mrs. Gilham Patty and Charlie (We joked about whether I'm old enough to call them by their first names now. ha!) since grade school when Charlie used to be my softball coach in grade school. I don’t think either of Jess’ parents have aged a day since then! They both look fantastic and their girls have grown into such beautiful young women.
There are about 7 years between Jess, Emily, and Carlee, but the relationship they share and the bond between them says they are much closer than that.
Jess and Kevin’s little guy, Noah, is Patty and Charlie’s first and only grand baby. He’s about to have that title taken away later this year when Jess and Kevin welcome another baby into the family! As you can tell, Jess has a cute little baby bump taking shape and she’s no doubt growing another super sweet baby in there!
Noah has stolen the heart of his entire family, so he may be in for a surprise when baby #2 comes along and he has to share Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Aunt Em, and Aunt Carlee.
Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your Mother’s Day gift! It was so good to spend time with a family I’ve always enjoyed being around and who are never short on laughter and good times!
I don’t think she’ll have any problems living up to any expectations — she’s an awesome girl with looks, personality, *and* brains. She’s hilarious, totally laid back, and confident. Becca plans to study Food Science in the College of Agriculture at Mississippi State. Science. Never my strong suit, so I’m instantly impressed that she’s pursuing a degree in it.
Congratulations on graduating and best of luck to you as you go after your degree! Your future roommates and people you meet at Mississippi State will be so lucky to have you in their lives!
Nikki and Zack’s wedding day was full of close friends, family, and laughs. Nikki and Zack have been together for about 5 years and they have a great dynamic between them and their families.
Nikki and Zack, thank you for having me capture your wedding day! May the rest of your days as husband and wife contain the same amount of laughter and stress free times that your wedding day did!
Stay tuned for more after Mother’s Day! If you’d like to be notified about upcoming events and specials like these before the general public, be sure to request to be on my mailing list (and no, I don’t send spam) http://www.katiegaetaphotography.com/contact.html
Annie mentioned at one point that she had about 3 or 4 changes of shoes for various things throughout the day and man oh man, they did not disappoint! She had shoes for the wedding (Fancy super tall purple heels that matched her bridesmaid dresses and got her a tad closer to Brian's height!), shoes for after the wedding (Converse!), and shoes (Gold sparkles!!) for her first dance with Brian because they had taken dance lessons just for their reception. She was certainly prepared with footwear for her day and she rocked every last pair she wore plus she had a shorter dress which allowed for you to actually see her awesome shoes! Speaking of shoes, her bridesmaids and Man of Honor (look closely -- they're blue!!) also had some awesome footwear for the day as well!
Annie and Brian, here’s to many years of continued laughter, random musical break out sessions, good food, good booze, and great friends and family to take the journey with you! Congratulations and thank you for letting me capture your day!!
Cake: Susie G's Specialty Cakes
Band: Fanfare
Florist: Lesher's
Caterer: SLU Catering
Hair/Makeup: Maggie Hurley
Wedding Coordinator: Events By Lauren - Lauren Robinson
As soon as we got out of the car, someone needed to throw something away in the dumpster. And wouldn’t you know it, a “friendly” raccoon sat waiting inside that dumpster as a surprise to the unsuspecting park visitor…also known as…us. We gave the raccoon a giant stick to climb out on and moments later, it scampered away swiftly thanks to the ferocious barking coming from their sweet pup, Scout. It was too good to be true and brought me right back to our hilarious childhood shenanigans. 
Occasionally, I get a request for something a little different than the photography work I typically do which usually includes birth, maternity, families, engagements and weddings.
Sometimes it includes me helping someone with a funny joke for a friend, sometimes I photograph my own family (and I'm never in the photo because it's a little hard to take the photo AND be in the photo (not saying it can't be done, because it totally can. I just can't do it. Ha!). And let's be honest, family selfies aren't always the greatest. *Someone's* arm usually looks like it's the size of the kid's head and they're leaning in all crazy with about a million extra rolls of skin because of the weirdo angle. And then there are times were I randomly have some free time before a client arrives to their session and I get to capture unexpected moments like this:
And then there are the times on the way home from a shoot where I just have to stop my car and get that sunset...
Anyway, I digress. I love a request that's out of the ordinary and I love when it opens a world of possibilities! If you never reach outside of your comfort zone and cross that bridge that leads you down another path, you will never improve.
I recently had the opportunity to do some head shots and one was for a realtor, Rob Niemira, with Platinum Realty of St. Louis LLC. Platinum has a great bio up about Rob and his family who are truly some of the most genuine people I know. You should probably go read it and see what I mean :) They took the words right out of my mouth and it's nice to see when good people get to be bragged on. They deserve it and I'm just riding the coat tails of what they already stated. While you're at it, feel free to "Like" his Facebook page so you can find out the latest info on the realty market in St. Louis. Plus, who wouldn't want to get the opportunity to work with a realtor who knows the streets of St. Louis like the back of their hand?!
I was also able to do some head shots for my graphic designer, AJ McBride. Speaking of moving out of your comfort zone, AJ recently made the decision to get out of his and went for a pretty awesome job in Graphic Design. With the change of position, he needed a new head shot, so we got to work! I'd say he's looking pretty dapper in his head shot he chose! I've mentioned before that AJ has done my graphic design work. You know his work is top notch already, so if you're in the market for a Graphic Designer, reach out to AJ at: [email protected]. I promise you won't regret it.
I love photographing newborns and I love even more when there’s a great story involved! What better thing to share on Valentine’s Day than a true love story?! Little baby Stella’s love story started with adoption and it gave me goosebumps in the best way possible!
Stella’s parents, Robyn and Tim, had longed for, hoped, and prayed for a child for years. They went through IVF with an egg donor after Robyn was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve which meant there were no eggs to make a baby. Though they were devastated, the next move they chose was to go for an adoption.
It was less than a year after they started the adoption process that Tim and Robyn’s adoption dreams suddenly evolved from wishing and hoping to reality. Robyn was out to lunch with her work friends when the call came in from the woman at the adoption agency letting them know there was a baby at the hospital waiting for them! She was told they had until early that evening to come get their baby. They literally had mere hours from the moment they found out until the time they needed to pick her up from the hospital! **Can we all just pause for a moment and think about the absolute insanity that must've ensued and the thoughts that raced through their minds?! Talk about a whirlwind!!** Robyn called Tim to tell him the life changing news and he thought she was joking. When she made it very clear that she wasn’t, they sprang into action and went to get their baby.
They went to the hospital to meet their baby girl and the baby’s biological parents (who, by the way, had hand picked Robyn and Tim to become this tiny brand new baby’s Mom and Dad!!). They had just one question, “What are you naming her?” And just like that, Robyn and Tim became Mom and Dad to beautiful baby Stella!
Tim is a huge Star Wars fan and they have light sabers as the night lights in the nursery!
Tim and Robyn are huge St. Louis Blues fans and have already started adorning Stella with the appropriate team colors.
Robyn and Tim are some seriously awesome people! I mean, you guys, they woke up one day like it was just another day and suddenly hours later, they were parents. Can you even fathom?! Oh my gosh so cool!! Robyn and Tim were very open about their story and I absolutely loved getting to hear all about their journey to becoming parents. The greatest part is that their journey has just begun as a family of three and I think even the dog is adapting well despite the commotion :)
Congratulations, Robyn and Tim! Stella is beautiful and you guys are absolute naturals! Your journey to becoming Stella’s parents began as a love story long ago and it is one that I will never forget!
As a photographer I get to be part of some pretty cool events and surprises — sometimes that’s a proposal, sometimes it’s a labor and delivery that’s gone differently than planned, and sometimes it’s a birthday party! I don’t know about you, but I.LOVE.SURPRISES. So when I had the chance to capture Kenny’s 50th birthday party surprise, you bet I was excited about it!
Melissa, Kenny's wife, told him he was headed to someone else's surprise birthday party, so he was a *tad* surprised when he walked in and the surprise was actually for him. My favorite was when his skin tone changed from completely normal to beat red in a matter of moments ;)
The cool thing about this birthday was this was not only the first surprise party Kenny has ever had, but it was the first ever birthday party he has ever had! INSANE, right?! Melissa, Kenny’s wife, thought so too and decided it was about darn time all the attention was on him!
Melissa and Kenny are huge Blues fans, so naturally Melissa threw him a Blues themed party and had every detail worked out from the invite to the decor to the snacks on the table. I’ve told Melissa she really should look into being an event planner. She thinks of EVERYTHING!
If you photograph a party at The Cardinal Rigali Center and you have some connections, you might be lucky like I was and get a chance to go up into the bell tower to get a 360 nearly birds eye view of St. Louis. Seriously, amazing!!
Happy 50th Birthday, Kenny!
Al and Evan opted for a December wedding and while it was chilly, it wasn’t nearly as cold as it could have been! It’s pretty awesome when it’s December and you can take some outdoor shots on the day of your wedding without immediately freezing!
We started out the afternoon at the DeMenil Mansion with the gents and the ladies met us there a bit later. I had never been inside of the DeMenil Mansion but always wondered what it was like. Grand would be an understatement. If by today’s standards we see this as a large home, I could only imagine what they were thinking back when it was built!
Al and Evan chose to do a “first look” on their wedding day. The front balcony and gorgeous sky made for a perfect setting. It can be SO great when a couple wants to do a First Look and see each other before the wedding especially when the wedding and reception are back to back with no time in between. The First Look still allows the couple to have that special moment they would’ve had walking down the aisle. The main difference is after the First Look, they immediately get to have some time just to themselves — to share a kiss, a dance, a laugh, some intimate moments just with each other (and the photographer from a distance) before the fast paced day picks up.
Once we were finished with all of the wedding party shots, we all went over to the church. But this wasn’t just any old church. This was The Shrine of St. Joseph. Growing up Catholic and attending Catholic weddings over the years, I had become accustomed to what the inside of Catholic Churches can look like. But this one was truly magnificent beyond measure. From the architecture, to the paintings, to the statues, to the balconies, and so on, this church was magnificent! There was no doubt in my mind as to why Al and Evan chose this church for their wedding — it’s truly one of a kind!
The reception was held immediately after at the Lodge at Grant’s Trail. It is gorgeous inside and boasts some serious woodwork throughout. It has a very woodsy feel to it and even has awesome features like a deer head on the wall, dear antlers as a chandelier, and so on. Not only that, but it was decked out for Christmas with a massive Christmas tree and other Christmas decorations.
Despite some of the wedding party and family coming down with that awful stomach virus on the day of the wedding, the celebration continued into the night with dancing, friends, drinking, eating and laughter. Congratulations, Al and Evan and thank you for allowing me to capture your wedding day!
For my last session of 2015, we went out with a bang — a family of 22 people and they did NOT disappoint! Once upon a time, I had a job in a cubicle and Tish sat just across the aisle from me. I heard so many fun stories about her family while we worked together, and it was so cool finally putting some faces to names. And I was totally “that” girl who was like, “Oh my gosh, I remember when Tish talked about you graduating HIGH SCHOOL and look at you now!” I’m sure her son who is now in his twenties was like “ok, you can’t be THAT much older than me…”
But I knew when Tish’s family started showing up that it was going to be a good time when they were just immediately laughing, joking around, and having a genuinely fun time together.
The thing about big families is that there is always some form of entertainment right around the corner…whether its all of the adults goofing around, the kids being silly, or a combination of all of the above, there is never a dull moment! And that’s what makes it so great!
Thank you, Tish, for allowing me to capture your beautiful, energetic, fun loving family!
The Grib family was all in town for the holidays and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be able to squeeze in some family photos before all the fun was over!
The Gribs are such a fun and down to Earth family. I know Jess, Kevin, and little Noah well and you may recognize them from their photoshoot last year. Noah is bigger now and is a playful running machine next to his cousin, Kate, who is just a tad older than him. It’s funny, though, in the world of cousins, it’s almost like age differences don’t exist. These two are total BFFs and they’ve absolutely stolen the hearts of their family.
While formal photos can be nice to have, I love to capture families at the point in the photoshoot when they’ve warmed up to me, warmed up to each other, and have completely relaxed. Those are my favorite photos because it shows true personalities and family dynamics which is so fun.
Jess and Kevin, thanks for letting me capture the Grib family this Winter!
I got the message from Diana that she thought she was in labor and they were headed to the hospital to confirm she was actually in labor. I later found out that her husband, Jordan, scoffed at this “confirmation” because she was so CLEARLY in labor and had been having contractions all day. It’s funny how you spend 9 months waiting for this little bundle of joy and when the time comes there’s almost always some doubt or questioning whether you should go in or prep for it. Diana didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, so she wanted to be 110% sure she was in labor. And that’s a little snippet as to how sweet of a person Diana is. Here she is IN LABOR and she didn’t want to inconvenience people like her husband, her doctor, or her birth photographer.
When I arrived, Diana was having some serious contractions and decided to get the epidural. The anesthesiologist arrived at her room pretty quickly and got her all set up with the epidural. He had a great sense of humor and not only did it ease Diana, but it kept the mood in the room very lighthearted and fun which can be much needed during labor.
When it was time to push, Diana was a CHAMP. She put her game face on and was so effective with her pushing and in her strength despite the fact that she momentarily doubted herself. It’s totally normal for a laboring woman to get to the point where they feel like they just can’t do it anymore. Many people compare it to running a marathon and I can attest to that. You’re using every muscle in your body and you have to dig down deep for the strength to get through and support is always such a help. Jordan was right by her side the whole time, coaching, holding her hand, and supporting her. They have such a great connection between them and you could really feel it in the room.
There is nothing quite like a mother seeing and holding her baby for the first time. It’s in that moment that you really feel every ache, every pain, every doctor’s appointment, everything was ALL worth it. And then there’s the pride in like you see here in Jordan’s face. And I could just cry big ‘ol happy tears looking at these photos of them beaming with pride and emotion.
Diana chose to do immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding after birth. It is becoming common practice in hospitals to have mothers do this because it has been found to be SO beneficial to the baby. The cleaning, weighing, measuring, testing, etc. can all wait and some of it can be done right on mom’s chest.
In the meantime, the placenta is checked out to make sure all was well in there. I know not everyone is interested in seeing organs, but the placenta is by far one of the coolest organs around. Yep, I just said that. The placenta is a cool, fantastic, amazing life sustaining organ. And it’s even cooler when the doctor takes the time to educate their patients, family, and let’s be honest, the photographer on the various aspects of it. So freakin cool.
After a while, little baby boy Isaiah, had his footprints done, his step test, and his first diaper. And his first official “let’s see how this little dude fit inside mom’s belly” test — performed, of course, by Dad :)
This is super sweet, super sleepy, super awesome baby Natalie. She was SUCH a calm newborn who I heard fuss maybe once the entire session. She was all about the swaddle and just melted into her poses like she’s had years of experience!
Natalie is the daughter of a friend of mine from high school, Sarah, who I hadn’t seen in years. It was so great catching up with her and seeing her in her new role as Natalie’s Mom. Sarah’s husband, Dusty, is charming, sweet, and such a good host -- talk about Southern hospitality! It came as no surprise to me that Sarah and Dusty found eachother. They make a great pair!
Many congrats on your new family. You guys are absolutely impressive and you already wear parenting well!!
I recently had the opportunity to work very closely with a pregnant mama and her loving husband, Jordan. You may recognize them from their maternity photos a couple months back. Diana’s baby decided he wanted to keep himself in the breech position for quite a few weeks towards the end of her pregnancy. They decided on a procedure called an external cephalic version (ECV) to get the baby turned head down and in optimal position for delivery.
Diana told the nurses and her doctor that she had Googled ECV’s and watched YouTube videos of other people having them done. She was instantly met with “Oh no! Never consult Google for something like this! It’s not going to be anything like those! You’re in good hands”. And they were right.
Diana’s ECV literally took 2 minutes start to finish. There was one point where she said she was in some pain, but that was it. It was so easy peasy and nothing like she had feared. Her doctor and the other doctor who assisted were so gentle and kind.
And after it was over, she got to see her baby one last time on an ultrasound before he made his grand entrance a few weeks later. Stay tuned for part 2 — the birth!
Abby just celebrated another milestone — she’s 18 months old! Or if you’re like my husband, and think after a baby turns one that they should no longer be referenced in age by months, but instead by years and months, then she’s 1 1/2 :)
Abby is a walking— er— running fiend and she’s got quite the vocabulary to boot! Really, it’s truly impressive to hear the things she has to say not to mention the cute faces she makes!
Abby took a little spill at the beginning of our session, and wasn’t too thrilled with the whole concept from that point on. I will say, though, when she was left to her own vices, she was happy as a clam running around, hiding behind trees, sliding down slides, and clutching on to her Minnie Mouse cup. My favorite is when I get to capture kids in their element and that is very much Abby’s element.
At this stage, Abby is very much Mommy’s girl, but if Lisa isn’t around, she takes quite nicely to her Dad and isn’t afraid to let you know she’d prefer to stay in his arms which is adorable.
And come on, aren’t toddler kisses just the best? They give them willingly and at this stage, they don’t usually involve too much drool. Add some cute little pig tails on to that and oh my gosh — instant cute!
Thank you for letting me capture Abby's personality once again!
I love a good challenge, and Zack brought me just that since he wasn’t too excited about the whole engagement pictures thing. Really, though, my secret is that these two were so easy and fun to work with. It was hard to keep the smile off *my* face during their session!
I love when I get to do a maternity shoot for a family and then also get the opportunity to shoot the newborn photos as well. I can’t help but think to that tiny newborn, “I knew you when you were still a growing baby inside your mama’s belly!” Baby Elena was so sweet and tiny and about the only time she made a peep was when she was ready to eat. And poop. Just a little bit. On me. :)
Big Brother Blake was so sweet all over again for me, but also pretty much just went about his business and didn’t worry too much about the lady behind the camera. He had breakfast, his mom and dad, and cartoons…and occasionally an interest in his little sister. He was a happy camper.
Elena was pretty calm for her session. Occasionally she got hungry and decided she’d had enough of me messing with her, but dangit, she looked pretty stinking cute in her bows, tutu, and just in a diaper!
Mike and Blake have an awesome relationship and while Diana tended to baby Elena, Mike and Blake conquered the morning together. It’s so fun to watch the new family dynamic once a little one arrives and this was no exception. Both kiddos getting snuggles from both parents is just the best.
Thank you for letting me capture your sweet new baby girl!
We have been SO lucky with the weather this fall, and I was really excited for this Fall family session when we still had beautiful colors on the trees! And I also get really excited when I have returning clients wanting me to do more sessions for them and their families! Earlier this year, I shot Ava’s 1 year photos when she was barely walking. Nowadays, Ava is running around with her cousins while their parents (and Grandparents) chase them around!
Erin wanted to get these photos done for her parents for Christmas so they could have some family portraits. And it’s usually in my experience that the guys aren’t really thrilled about the whole process, but I’ve got to hand it to these gentleman. They bit the bullet and let their personalities shine with their wives, kids, and grandkids!
Thanks for letting me capture your spirits — big and small!
I met Kristen at a party at my sister’s house a few years back. She’s one of those people that is instantly likable and you’re left feeling like, “hmm…I could totally see myself being friends with her outside of this party. I wonder if that would be weird for me to say to her? I should probably not come off as stalkerish and leave that thought alone.” Ha Ha Ha! I decided it might be weird, but we did exchange information after she found out that I did photography. Fast forward about a year and a half, and Kristen reached out to me to do family photos for her! I was so happy to hear from her and to get the opportunity to capture her adorable little growing family.
I was so excited when the date was approaching because the weather was going to be gorgeous and it was going to be perfect weather for photos. And then guess what? I got that nasty bug that was going around and there was just no way I could do the shoot when we originally planned. Thankfully, this family is so awesome and flexible that they were totally ok with the reschedule when I was healthy again!
Layla is the adorable little toddler you see here. We actually met on the morning of Hallowen for this photoshoot and she was pretty excited to tell me all about what she and her sister were being and what she intended to say. It was hard for me to actually concentrate on what she was saying because I was so focused on her cuteness and fabulous style!
And this adorable little baby? Her name is Kate. Sooo, extra brownie points for her as well as Kristen and Andy because CLEARLY Kate is an awesome name. Plus, hello, look at those eyes!! This brown eyed Katie is totally jealous of that little blue eyed baby Kate!
Andy and the girls interact and get along so well. Obviously, this is good for so many reasons, but Andy’s going to be outnumbered in the girl vs. boy department for some time, so it’s a good thing that things are going so well! And if there wasn’t enough girly business happening already, he had his sister, Susannah, join us for a part of the shoot as well. You know how Mom’s get — even as grown adults they want photos of THEIR babies together!
Thank you so much for spending your Halloween morning with me and soaking up the last of the fall foliage!
When Faith contacted me about scheduling a newborn session, I was beyond excited because Faith had just given birth to TWIN girls!
When we arrived, the little ladies were snoozing away together in a bassinet. Sometimes you forget just how teeny tiny newborns are until you hold one. And not only were they newborns, but they made their entrance into the world slightly early, so they were itty bitty :)
Faith told me that while they were born a bit early, they didn't have any sort of health issues that would require a stay at the hospital, so they were able to go home right away. With newborn twin girls, I'm sure that was nothing short of relief!
Kaelyn and Adelyn’s Mom and Dad were both there as well as big brother, Kyler and Grandma who was in from out of town to help with the babies. Kyler was a little shy at first, but once we started talking Iron Man and little sisters, he was front and center and wanted to be part of the action. He was SO sweet with his sisters— loving on them, giving gentle kisses to their foreheads and helping feed them mama’s milk. Something tells me these girls will be well protected as they grow up!
Thank you so much for allowing me to capture the essence of your beautiful newborn twins!
I have known Annie for as long as I can remember. We grew up on the same street together and our families were friends. We carpooled together, we borrowed text books from each other when one of us forgot ours at school, we played sports together, and we went to the same grade school and high school together. When I was about 5 years old until I was probably about 8 (really, it was just an embarrassing amount of time in retrospect), I would go down to Annie’s house in my little blue jacket to see if she could come out and play. The running joke between us is that she will always remember me in my little blue jacket. I told her I might just show up to her wedding wearing a blue jacket ;) When Annie asked me to shoot her wedding, I was thrilled!
Annie is a pretty awesome person and she and her future husband, Brian, are both in the business of repairing musical instruments. And I don’t just mean a kid’s flute they’ve beat up. They’re working on big time things that cost tens of thousands of dollars. Annie isn’t one to gloat but I pried enough and found out she is actually one of the top in the industry and she keeps getting bigger and bigger clients seeking her out to repair their instruments. I’ve always been a bit jealous of her musical inclination, because guys, I can’t even read music, let alone play anything OR for that matter keep any sort of beat. It’s pathetic. Anyway, Brian and Annie both share their love of musical instruments and that’s actually how they met!
There’s a bit of a height deficit between Annie and Brian. He’s over 6 feet tall and Annie is just over 5 feet tall. She chose to wear some wedge heels for the shoot to make an attempt at being *slightly* taller. Ha! The best part is that they were Annie’s sister’s shoes. Annie’s sister, Katie, passed away just over 3 years ago and I know she misses her dearly. I have to say the way Annie speaks so highly of her sister and is able to laugh about the good times and the funny things like “stealing” your sister’s shoes is the best. There’s so many ways to remember our loved ones who have passed and I think she handles the day in and day out with such grace.
Brian is a romantic and Annie’s engagement ring is actually a family heirloom. It is so fitting and true to Annie’s personality and style. I couldn’t even picture her with a different type of ring! I love the thought that went into that decision! I can’t wait to photograph their wedding this Spring with all the details and funky awesome elements they’re incorporating to suit their style!
I’m excited to announce that I'm offering Christmas Mini Sessions on November 21st and 28th!
This is a perfect opportunity to get photos for your Christmas cards. You have the opportunity to get family photos, couples, just the kids, or incorporate your pet! Check out the details and contact me today to schedule yours!
I met up with Al and Evan at the Missouri Botanical Garden on a gorgeous Fall evening. We jumped right in and they both warmed up immediately!
I met Al a few years back through one of my brothers, but hadn’t met her Fiance, Evan, until the day of the engagement shoot. I think sometimes it can be nerve wracking for someone to show up to a photo shoot having not met the photographer before that. I imagine the guys are usually thinking, “Ok, my fiancee found this photographer and now I have to spend an evening with this lady while she points a camera in my face celebrating our engagement? Right? That’s what we’re doing here?” And while Evan wholeheartedly admitted he didn’t really get the point, he was totally on board once I explained to him how awesome engagement shoots can be, how the photos can be used as a guest book at the reception, how it commemorates this very unique time in your life.
You know those people who are funny but you don’t know it till you spend some time with them? That’s Evan. He’s sneaky funny. And I like it. Evan was great at whispering “sweet nothings” into Al’s ears as I was behind my camera. I would have no clue what he was saying until Al’s supposed to be serious face turned into huge smiles. That’s when I discovered he’s that “sneaky funny”.
Evan brought along a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Al because he thought they would look good in some of the photos and they did not disappoint! Also, how romantic is that?! I maintain that he was playing coy (wait…get it? Koi. Like the Koi Fish at the Botanical Gardens. Come on, guys, I’m hilarious and you know it!) and he knew exactly how to win over *both* Al and I.
Al had one spot in particular picked out at the Botanical Garden that she wanted to get photos. She calls it her “reading spot” because she always felt like she could just curl up to a good book under this tree. Once we got to her spot, I totally understood. It’s picturesque, it has just the right amount of light, and it’s somewhat secluded. A perfect reading spot, indeed.
The last spot Al wanted to make sure we visited was the garden with the chimes and bells. Every time she comes to the Botanical Garden, she rings all of them, so she asked Evan to join her in her little tradition and they enjoyed some quiet moments here before we left.
I can’t wait to see you both on your big day that I’m sure will be full of more sneaky (and maybe some not so sneaky) laughs!
Shooting weddings is fun and exciting…young love at it’s best, but you know that saying about fine wine getting better with age? I think that can be found in marriage as well — as the years tick by, it gets better and better if you work hard and dedicate yourself. This amazing pair, who also happen to be my Aunt Jan and Uncle John, just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They are most certainly a great example of true love. They are absolute soul mates and holy cow does it show! They’re two people who have that “young love” feel about their relationship even though it’s 40 years (not including the years they dated) in the making!
John and Jan raised four rowdy boys who have become loving, caring, genuine young men who have a zest for life. They’re all unique in their own ways and yet they can all be so alike in their mannerisms, their smiles, laughs, and their interactions with each other. Two of them, Nick and Johnny, have given John and Jan their first two grandsons (with one more due any day now!), 4 year old Jack, and 11 month old William. It would be an understatement to say that John and Jan are smitten with them.
Nick’s wife, Sara, told me she’s pretty much over the whole being pregnant thing this time around, but my gosh, does she wear pregnancy well! She even rocked some boots with heels for this session and humored me with some maternity shots :)
When you’ve got an awesome piece of land like John and Jan have and you get the opportunity to do a photo session on it, you get to ask the family to do all sorts of fun things!
Joe and Madelyn were good sports about me asking them to do all the “weird" things like sit in the grass, sit in a bed of rocks, lean against an old barn, and so on but when you’ve got property that’s as awesome as John and Jan’s, you just can’t pass up those opportunities!
Johnny and his wife,Teri, were also subjected to sitting in weeds and grass by the barn and on an old wagon but in my defense, it was Teri’s idea! ha! And with that, we let William and Jack have a turn “driving" the old tractor.
John and Jan have lived in the same house together for the last 40 years. John has built on to their house and despite them having raised four boys in it, it still looks impeccable. John never ceases to amaze me with the care and tireless effort he puts in to their house and land. He planted every single tree on their property including one he planted for their 20th wedding anniversary. It was such an honor to be able to capture them in their element, on their land, where they spent day after day, week after week, year after year growing and nurturing their family. It has begun to grow and develop into a beautiful extended family and I’m sure will continue to grow as the years go on!
Happy Anniversary, John and Jan! And a shout out to their youngest son, Mikey, and his fiancee, Toni, who couldn’t make it in from out of town for the shoot!
Being a photographer can be so exciting, so fun, and so amazing. I LOVE capturing my client’s stories and lives. I am so honored and humbled to be welcomed into one of the most miraculous moment’s in some of my clients life. That moment is birth. When they welcome a new life into this world. When a baby goes from being kicks, nudges and rolls inside a mother’s belly to a squishy newborn on the outside world — THAT, my friends, is the miracle of life and *I* get to be there for it. You guys. I love my job. Like really, really, really LOVE it. And guess what I have to share with you? Not just a singleton birth. But a birth of twins, a Mama who rocked it, one proud Daddy, and the most patient Grandma around.
Birth photography. I’m here to tell you it’s not all about the gore during labor. Labor, delivery, and birth are SO much more than that. It’s a story of new life being captured, the support offered to a woman in labor, the love and care surrounding her, it’s about new life, and the journey up to, during, and immediately following birth. Allow me to walk you through what birth photography is. And if you’re squeamish, there’s only a couple photos that you might just quickly scroll past, but I promise, you’ll be able to hold your lunch down regardless :)
It was a beautiful October evening when Jess was in labor with her twins. She was awaiting the arrival of her second and third children. Her sweet daughter, Piper, whom I photographed one year ago for a Fall mini session, stayed with her other Grandma during the birth. Jess’ mom, Sarah, was at the hospital with Jess and Jason waiting on the babies to make their arrival. She and Jason were originally planning on both being at the birth, but since it was twins, the hospital preferred Jess to deliver in the OR. Jess made the decision to have the birth photographed and have her Mom wait for us in the recovery room.
Need I remind you, Jess was carrying twins?! She looked great and I swear if you didn’t know it, you would’ve thought there was only one baby in there. Rest assured, there were two :)
At 7:00pm, Jess’ contractions were spaced at 2 minutes apart. By 7:25, she was dilated to 4cm and had been like that for a couple hours. By 7:34, she was approximately 5cm. At one point Jason commented, “We better enjoy this now because we won’t get a break for another 18 years.” Ahhh I can only imagine that statement was rife with truth! So Jason decided a little before 8:00 that he needed some coffee to help him stay alert. We joked that we would call him if anything happened while he was gone. Sure enough, Jess was checked again at 8:10 and she was fully dilated and ready to go. Sarah sent Jason a text letting him know it was go time and naturally, Jason walked back into the room going “Yeah, yeah, very funny.” When he realized it wasn’t a joke and that it was time to get scrubbed up, coffee was the last thing on his mind as the adrenalin clearly kicked him into high alert.
We left Grandma Sarah behind in the recovery room, and headed for the OR. The team of medical staff assembled like a well oiled machine and before we knew it, Baby A, little Miss Remy, made her way into the world weighing 6lbs even. As they situated Remy with the typical weighing, swaddling, and APGAR scores, Jason tended to the first of their set of twins. It was so sweet seeing Jason ooh and ahh over his brand new baby.
A mere 22 minutes later, Baby B, Max, joined his two big sisters Earthside. Jess was given the option of pulling Max out the rest of the way and up to her chest when he was born. It was so surreal and so very cool to witness a mother deliver not just one, but two sweet little tiny squishes. To see her being able to be such a present and active force during labor was so incredible. Baby Max weighed in at 6lbs 3oz.
Neither of the babies needed any time in the NICU, and instead they both got to go straight to Mom and Dad. They were completely healthy newborn twins who just an hour prior were snuggled up nice and compact in their mother’s womb.
Once they had Jess cleaned up, we all walked back to the recovery room where Sarah waited for us. I can only imagine it was probably one of the longest hours of her life. But do you think she’s a proud Grandma or what?!
The babies practiced working out their lungs for a bit while they had their measurements done, heel pricks, and official first baths. Needless to say it was a tad loud in the room during this debacle, but once they were all swaddled up, they barely made a peep and were happy as could be nursing, snuggling in to Grandma, Mom, and Dad.
This little go-getter is Lucas and he just turned 2 years old! Lucas holds a special place in my heart since he’s my Godson and nephew. He also reminds me so much of my own little guy— it’s pretty uncanny! It's hard to believe it's been 2 years since they welcomed this little nugget Earthside. I had the honor of photographing Lucas and his parents in the immediate post labor time frame when he was just a squirmy fresh little newborn in the hospital. It was truly a moment to behold.
Lucas melts my heart when I see him. Those big blue eyes, those chunky cheeks, that curly hair, and that sly but adorable little smile get me every time!
Lucas is also all about sports. We saved his bat and ball and Soccer ball until the end of the shoot because once he gets his hands on some sports equipment, you can forget anything else. He would literally play baseball all day long if they let him! He’s only two years old and he can already swing away at (and hit) pitches thrown to him!
Happy 2nd birthday, sweet "Lukie"!!
Andy, Theresa, and Olivia are familiar faces to me and you might recognize them from Andy and Theresa’s wedding earlier this year. We got together on a chilly fall morning for a Fall Mini Session. Lucky for us, despite it being a bit chilly, the sun was shining and the Fall foliage was looking great!
Olivia was pretty excited to show off her brand new outfit that Andy picked out for her. Fewer things are sweeter than seeing a (Step) Father and Daughter interact and truly enjoy each other like these two do.
Theresa and Andy have had some big changes this year — one major change is that they’re hosting a foreign exchange student! Lilli is from Germany (which, hello, I’m 100% German, soooo I’m was pretty excited about this!) and she will be staying with Andy and Theresa for an entire year! How great is that?!
Olivia is one lucky kiddo to have such great people in her life! I thought it was so sweet that they lovingly refer to Lilli as Olivia big sister :) Such a fun family dynamic that they embody!
Lilli doesn’t think our Winters are too bad because it gets quite a bit colder in Germany, but that St. Louis heat was kind of a surprise to her :) As we always say, “It’s not so much the heat, but the humidity that gets ya!" Ha!!
Thanks for braving the chilly fall St. Louis morning with me!
You know those days where it’s so beautiful outside that you think, “Geez, today would be a perfect day for someone to get married. I hope there’s a lucky couple out there somewhere today tying the knot!” No? Just me? Ok, well, Jess and Becca’s wedding day was one of *those* days and it was pretty awesome considering they were having an outdoor wedding at Jess’ parent’s house.
Jess and Becca opted for a “first look” instead of seeing each other for the first time as they walked down the aisle. It’s so great when couples choose to go this route because it provides so much more time for the couple to get photos before the wedding and before they meet and greet all their guests.
They started out the day with some mighty touching gifts to one another that just may have had them in tears right after their makeup was done.
We all went to a local park for some photo opps before their early evening wedding. Let’s just say, they had a pretty fun wedding party who was up for whatever! I love a good down to Earth wedding party, and they certainly fit the bill for fun and excitement.
Jess and Becca chose to make their own bouquets the morning of their wedding. They picked out fresh flowers and created their bouquets together. How romantic is that?!
The moment you walked up to Jess’ parents house, you were greeted with Becca’s handmade art and signage which carried through the rest of the wedding and reception. Everywhere you turned, there was another adorable detail. Everything was painstakingly thought out and not a beat was missed with the tiniest of details. It was so lovely and you could really see the time and effort spent on each item.
During the ceremony, Jess and Becca read each other vows they wrote themselves and began to initiate their union with a knot tying ceremony. It served as a symbol of their union and the bond between them.
Between the vows during the ceremony and the speeches by their Maid of Honor, Jess’ Dad, and Becca, there was barely a dry eye in the house. It was pretty clear to me and everyone that these two were made for each other and will certainly be living out their happily ever after!
After the wedding and all the glorious food they served, they danced the night away in Jess’ parents pool area. And if you’re wondering, not a single person fell in :)
They capped off their beautiful detail-filled day with a grand sparkler exit surrounded by family and friends.
Congratulations, Jess and Becca! May you have many more beautiful days to come!
Diana and Mike along with big brother Blake, are about to welcome a baby girl into their lives! We spent an evening at Tower Grove Park to capture them as a family before baby girl makes her appearance.
Diana told me she has had some complications come up with this pregnancy in terms of fluid around the baby and she also told me she felt SO big so she wanted to get the session in as soon as possible. I have to say, I thought she looked so sweet with her baby bump and I was glad we were able to get the session in before baby got here.
She is glowing with that baby bump and was totally up for any suggestions I had throughout the shoot and you'd never know she had a few hiccups with this pregnancy!
Little Blake started out the session sleeping in Mike’s arms. But his little siesta left him well rested and ready to play!
He could not keep his eyes off the ducks in the pond nearby. He really just wanted to chase after them and point out every last one which was mighty adorable!
It was so sweet to watch Mike interact with Blake and Diana, and I can only imagine that this baby girl will have him wrapped around her fingers!
I can’t wait to meet your new baby girl when she decides to make her appearance!
I recently had the opportunity to capture the Southwest High School Class of 1975 40 year reunion* and it was nostalgic to say the least!
Some of these classmates had not seen each other or walked through the halls of their school in 40 years. It was so neat to witness the memories flooding back for them and some of the emotions they were experiencing were palpable to say the least.
We started the day with a meet up to walk through what was formerly known as Southwest High School and is now The Central Visual and Performing Arts ROTC school. As we walked into the halls of their memories from long ago, I was immediately asked to join two gentleman…on the roof...for a reenactment of their more rebellious days. You could actually see the spot that had been washed clean of their graffiti paint job.
I heard so many great stories about “the good ‘ole days” as I walked through the halls with them. I found out where students old homerooms were, who was part of the band, how everyone distinctly remembered the statues in the courtyard area that still stand today.
Others commemorated the day with photo op reenactments from the yearbook that is now 40 years old.
Walking through, I was told which hallway floors were the same but lacquered over due to the probable asbestos below, how the lockers that now look dated were the “new” lockers 40 years ago, which signs and quotes on the wall originated from way back when, and even cooler relics of the past like the painted floor signs that said, “Out of Bounds”. The floors had been painted in various locations to let students know they were not allowed past these points without a hall pass and if they were to go past, they would face consequences if caught. My curiosity has me wondering if they use this method today at CVPA :)
I listened to stories of who dated who, who passed love notes through the locker slits, who met in French class, who had which teacher, and how much time they had between classes. There was reminiscing about loosely supervised class trips, as well as teenagers bolting from and subsequently getting caught by the authorities. One of the craziest things I learned was that they had a dedicated smoking room for students. Yes, seriously. Imagine that in this day in age! Needless to say, the smoking room has been transformed into something else.
While the school has a new name and purpose nowadays, it hasn’t lost it’s luster to these former students who will always lovingly refer to it as Southwest High School.
Later that night was the actual reunion at St. Margaret Mary Alocqoue and the stories kept flooding in. It actually made me feel nostalgic about my own high school days.
Seeing these former classmates all in one room together gave a sense of a tight knit community that just belonged together.
For most of these classmates, it was like not a day had gone by and nothing had changed in the last 40 years — with the exception of their hairstyles and clothes, of course! They jumped right into laughter, stories, and remembering all their times together.
They even had THREE former teachers attend the reunion! How cool is that?!
They managed to get an impressive amount of groups together — students who went to grade school AND high school together, those who played on the same hockey teams, poms, those who worked at Ponderosa and White Castle, a couple guys who all went to kindergarten together, and even a group of “alley kids” — kids who spent their days playing in the alleys. And to that, I can relate. I grew up in South City and I, myself, was an “alley kid”. As the night wore on, it became clear to me that his reunion didn’t just span the 40 years gone by since high school! For some of these friends, it was like a life reunion.
They hugged, they laughed, they ate, they drank, they danced. I can only hope that when my 40th high school reunion comes along that it is half as fun as this was! I found myself smiling all night long looking on at all these people enjoying and rekindling old friendships. Congrats to the committee for pulling off such a fun night for a bunch of rebels, classmates, childhood friends, and just all around good people!
Happy 40th reunion, Southwest Class of 1975!
*To view all 600+ photos from this event, please visit the full gallery:
http://www.
Colleen and Ryan just became brand new parents to this tiny little sweetie, Gwen Elyse. She’s adorable not to mention the spitting image of her mama.
You may recognize Colleen (and Ryan) from her sister’s wedding I shot earlier this year. At the time, Colleen was rockin’ her bump and looking oh so fab. Colleen was oh so calm during the shoot and it was like she had been in this new role for years. Also, can we just talk about how Colleen continues to look fabulous even days after having a baby?!
Colleen “warned” me about their dog, Leah before I arrived at their house. She said she’s pretty excitable with a new visitor, but will calm down easily if I met her outside. Leah was in fact super excited outside and worked it out with a little frisbee action from Ryan. Once inside, though, Leah was all about baby Gwen. Everywhere Gwen went, Leah was there to follow guard and it was so sweet. I think she makes a pretty great big sister already!
Gwen already has a beautiful mop of hair and if it’s anything like her mom’s, it will just become even more gorgeous as an adult!
I love seeing new dads interact with babies, and Ryan was an absolute natural. He jumped right in to any pose or task that I had for him, had sweet words for Gwen, and was oh so loving to her as well.
Colleen and Ryan, parenthood looks good on you both! Enjoy your brand new squishy baby girl!
I love sunset sessions. I love maternity sessions. Add in an adoring husband and one of the sweetest little boys and I am in love! Meet Diana, Jordan, and their just-turned-two-year-old, Lincoln. They’re about to welcome a brand new baby boy into their family towards the beginning of November.
The first time I met Diana it was to discuss her birth session and she brought Lincoln with her. This little boy is a wild thing and oh so sweet! He and I took a liking to each other right then and there. He did not disappoint for his session either :)
I wanted to be sure to capture this special time for all three of them individually as well as a family which proved to be interesting because Lincoln saw an open field and decided it was his for the taking. Let’s just say Jordan got a good work out that evening!
Diana was GLOWING. GLOWING, I tell ya.
And she’s totally one of those super fabulous people who can pull off lipstick like it’s her job. If I ever try to wear lipstick, I look like a clown. No seriously! Anyway, she rocked her beautiful long blonde hair, that lipstick, and her bump!
Jordan was such a trooper throughout this chasing Lincoln while I took Diana away for some sole shots, but I also managed to sneak in some photos when they weren’t looking :)
I can't wait to be there when you welcome baby boy #2 into this world! You are both such fun people and Lincoln will be a great big brother!
This happy little guy is Wesley and he just celebrated his 6 month milestone. Wesley was slightly suspicious of me and my camera and he made sure I worked hard to get his smiles :) Who am I kidding? He not only made me work hard, but he also made Mom and Dad work hard too!
A new outdoor place with all sorts of sights and sounds made for a very curious little Wesley.
Wesley’s Mom and Dad, Mindy and Caleb, were so sweet with him — interacting, playing, holding and loving on them whenever they could and he just ate it up! It was so neat, though, because you could really feel their connection to this little person who has only been in their lives a short while.
Happy 6 month milestone, little Wesley! Here’s to many more smiley adventures ahead!
Emily and Dylan just celebrated their 1 year wedding anniversary! What better way to commemorate the day they joined their lives together than a sunset photo shoot?!
Emily sent me some sample pictures of the type of setting she was looking for. She loves the rustic kind of feel and was looking for a cornfield and/or open field at sunset. We are lucky enough in St. Louis that we have the big city, but it doesn’t take a long drive to find some gorgeous scenery.
I was thrilled when Emily put her trust in me and allowed me to take them off the beaten path to this beautiful little hidden gem.
You guys are adorable and I was so honored to be a part of your 1st anniversary. Here’s to many more years of happiness!
You may recognize this adorable little red headed 2 year old, Jaden, and his mom, Lynn, from his 1 year photo shoot!
It’s amazing to see how much changes in just one year with these little ones! Last year Jaden was just crawling and walking with the help of his mom. Jaden is a little ball of energy and he was on the move!
Jaden has such a great smile, is such a loving boy with a kind heart, and I can’t wait to see how he grows and changes over the next year!
This accomplishment is just one example of Liam showing the world that he may have a disability, but he's not disabled.
And come on, who can resist some knucks with a proud Daddy?!
Wait and see what he does next...
I'm excited to announce my End of Summer Mini Sessions! There are three different types of sessions for you to choose from. Check out the details here and if you're interested, email me at KatieGaetaPhotography [at] gmail.com.
I’ve been having fun with some mini session ideas that I want to offer (stay tuned for more details!), and Audrey was my little model for my bubbles mini session! It also happened to coincide with Audrey’s 6 month milestone, so we wrapped it all up in one and here you have it!
Audrey took a little tumble in the grass right before our session started, but she recovered nicely after some consoling.
She had some great smiles to share especially with encouragement from Mommy and Daddy!
She was a little apprehensive of the bubbles at first, but warmed up nicely to them once she realized how much fun they were!
Happy 6 month milestone, Miss Audrey!
Chris is quite the outdoorsman and something tells me the apple won't fall too far from the tree!
Andrea is such a sweetheart and I think he'll get his softer side from his Mom :)
Hellllllooooo you sweet baby boy, you!! I am IN LOVE with this picture. And I kind of love him too <3
Happy Father’s Day to all the different Dads out there! Let’s take a moment to celebrate all these unique men; the Daddy’s, step-Dads, adoptive Dads, Father-in-Laws, seasoned veterans, and of course, the Grandpas. No matter your title, your babies (big and small, young and old) love you. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you. Today I’d like to give a special shout out to all of you whether you’re brand new at this and experiencing it all for the first time or a Grandfather to 15, we respect you, we love you, we appreciate you! Happy Father’s Day, gents!
There are the first timers…
Guess what tomorrow is? Father’s Day. What’s that? You don’t have a gift yet? Fear not, friends! I’ve got the perfect idea for you — give the gift of a photo session with Katie Gaeta Photography! Contact me for details and we can make you look like a rockstar with your awesome gift idea that you’ve *obviously* had planned out for weeks now ;)
Ava’s parents are a riot and she’s totally channeling her inner Tim and Erin (Dad and Mom) in a lot of her pictures.
You know those days in the winter where you simply can’t believe how warm the weather is? That’s exactly the kind of day we were so lucky to have for Cameron’s 1st Birthday photoshoot. We had planned to be indoors, but instead did the entire thing outside!
Cameron is a blue eyed, blonde haired sweetie pie!
I have known Heather since before she was married and well before she became Mom to Cameron, but I always knew she would make a great Mom one day. I mean, how sweet are these two?!
I'm pretty sure Cameron is in for some fun times and big laughs with her!
He has this hilarious crawl, but don’t let him fool you — the crawl is fast and he can also walk!
Cameron’s Dad, Todd, is from Alabama, so they’re big UA fans and Cameron is their #1 fan in training! Something tells me Heather and Todd are in for lots of weekends spent watching 'Bama football and Cameron out on the field playing football too!
Just checking out some Alabama player's stats, no big deal ;)
I am absolutely humbled. Katie Gaeta Photography was nominated for St. Louis' Best Bridal and St. Louis Post Dispatch Inaugural Best of the Best Awards (say that five times fast!) under the Photography and Video category. I would just like to quickly thank those who took the time to nominate me! It means so much and I am very honored to have been nominated and to see my name among other highly respected photographers in the St. Louis area.
Take a minute and head on over to STLToday.com to check it out:
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/bestbridal/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/bestbridal/features/inaugural-best-of-the-best-awards-honor-professionals/article_c6afe2bf-4a73-5480-85be-ff5992a37e70.html
To see the list:
http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/relationships-and-special-occasions/bestbridal/congratulations-to-all-winners-and-finalists-you-are-the-best/article_78ceeed5-445f-5962-bf37-2a9df9afd7b2.html
It’s so fun to go through photos from a session and find yourself grinning ear to ear because of the cuteness looking back at you on the screen. Ryker was no exception. His outfit and his baseball were so fitting for him. He’s always decked out in sports gear or a sporty outfit and for a one year old, he has an arm to be reckoned with. Pacifier? Bottle? Baseball? No problem. If you hand it to him, you can be sure it will be chucked across the floor in no time at all! Future MLB star? I think so!
