This post is sort of a part 1 of 3 from a recent visit I had to the Santa Cruz Mountains in June. I was there for a week visiting family and friends while Scott was still in Colorado competing in a month of freestyle kayaking events. During my visit, I went to 2 baby showers, on the same day, my friend’s zydeco band’s gig, went to the boarwalk and beach, visited with friends, and of course did several portrait sessions with my friends and family.

So this first post is from a maternity session I did with one of my dearest friend’s Lorraine in her backyard amongst the redwoods and ferns. She is due in August with a baby girl, Lily. I can’t wait to meet her!

For Lorraine's baby shower, each person brought a special bead and gave her a blessing with the bead. Lorriane will bring these beads with her to the labor to remind her of the support and love that surrounds her, her husband Abdul, and Lily.

You may remember the “shotgun wedding” post I did awhile ago for Adelia and Dave. Here is a new post with a few of her maternity photographs I did for her when I was visiting the family last week in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She is due in about a month with a baby girl!

One of my dearest friends Sara came to town this summer for her baby shower and we took some time to get these maternity photographs at Lake Tahoe. It was a beautiful, crowd free evening at the National Forest beaches on the East Shore, and the water was calm and warm. Sara was a trooper and got in the water at the end of the shoot, and the 15 minute hike each way didn’t stop her! Hunter was born on August 10, and I can’t wait to meet him!

I had a great time photographing Nancy and Juan for their maternity photography session in South Shore recently. Nancy found me with a simple online image search of maternity photography and told me she absolutely loved the images I posted of my sister in the redwoods and wanted a similar session at Lake Tahoe. We met on a Sunday morning at the Tallac Historical site in South Lake Tahoe, before the summer crowds were out and about. Nancy and Juan are expecting their son Hector any day now, he is due on August 12!

I have had the honor to be present and photograph 4 births within the past 4 years. The most recent birth that I photographed was my amazing sister Nanette and her husband Cliff’s baby girl Lyla Rose, who born on May 29 at 3:29 p.m. at the Sutter Maternity Center in Santa Cruz, CA. It is so great to see the progress, from those first “baby bump” maternity photographs, through the birth and then following a child as he or she grows up. My style of candid, story telling lifestyle photography really captures those precious moments for each family, and the images become part of their family history. The majority of the birth experience to document is the interaction between the mother and her partner, and the mother and her mid wife or doula if they are there too. The graphic part of course is part of the documentation, but just a small part. (Don’t worry, there are no graphic photos in the this post!) I love to tell the story of the day as it unfolds, from the intensity of the contractions, the support given to the mother by her partner, through the precious time spent with a newborn on that first day of life.

Nanette is getting a massage from her doula Gisselle during the beginning stages of labor.

The contractions start to get more intense around 10:00 a.m.

Gisselle was such a great coach, she really helped Nanette get through her contractions.

Cliff is an amazing husband and dad.

Nanette trying to get some rest before the pushing begins.

Time to push.

A huge mirror was brought in so Nanette could see the birth.

Lyla was immediately placed on Nanette's chest and stayed there for almost 2 hours, she took right to nursing.

Lyla weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces, she was 4 days past her due date when she was born.

Cliff gives Lyla her first bath at the birthing center.

Cliff and Nanette with Lyla a few hours after she was born.

Their 2 and a half year old Rowan meets Lyla for the first time at the birthing center.

Rowan holding Lyla the day she comes home.

A family portrait, Nanette and Cliff Barber with 4 day old Lyla Rose, big brother Rowan, and Talus their Weimaraner.

Lyla Rose takes a nap in a basket