By Lynn:
I met the Ryan family on a warm July afternoon. In the 3 days prior, I had just photographed a surprise proposal, an engagement, and I figured I could round out the weekend by capturing a brand new little life! I arrived at the hospital and headed to the family waiting area so I could meet the whole family and play with the (NEW) big sister! Have ever seen such gorgeous curls? I was melting from the cuteness of her big blue eyes and golden curls, and I hadn’t even spent time with the newborn yet!
While Grandma and Grandpa took her for a walk around to burn some toddler energy, it gave me some time to take some photos with Mom and Dad. Is there anything sweeter than a Dad holding his tiny newborn baby?! 
The only thing that MAY be sweeter is Mom cuddling her new little man! Its a toss up. I can’t be asked make this decision!
The tiny feet, tiny hands, and tiny little faces are my favorite things to photograph at these sessions. I have two children who aren’t much out of the toddler years themselves, and it already seems impossible that they were ever this little. Time truly does go by all too quick. The details you swear you could never forget start to fade in your mind.
Once big sister came back from her walk (where she no doubt charmed the nursing staff) we took a few moments to get the family together for their first photos of a family of FOUR! My favorite thing about these Fresh 48 sessions is that they are low pressure. There is no worry about perfect smiles, and coordinating outfits. They are relaxed, and are about just preserving the moment. Children have all types of reaction to the newest member of the family, and I love trying to imagine what they are thinking.
Having unlimited ice cream from the nurses may be the 2nd best thing to having a new baby brother.
Some of my favorite images from these sessions are the ‘imperfect’ ones. The ones that show how Mom and Dad are learning to juggle another little person; and how although they may be tired and feel a little spread thin during those first few days and weeks, they are also finding out how their hearts are fuller than they ever could have thought possible. Thank you to the Ryan family for allowing me to photograph such a special time for you all.
I always love the moment when I am ‘discovered’. 🙂
I was so honored to play a small role in capturing this surprise proposal and wish Logan and Lindsay the most beautiful future. OH! And I promised Id go back to the coolest thing Ive seen at a proposal. Did anyone notice the plume of smoke drifting into one of the photos above? It was the remnants of this!!! There is no other way celebrate a proposal on the 4th of July weekend!
Meet Tony and Ashley. Beside being a sweet, and genuinely kind couple, they were also the winner of our 2016 Photo of the Year contest. I came to meet Ashley when she volunteered to be a model for a new kind of session Erin and I were trying out at the studio. We spent about two hours together that day and we all had a blast sharing ALOT of laughs. When she contacted Erin a couple months later to ask if we would photograph her wedding that coming fall it was hard to say no because Ashley is so easy to be around! Erin and I don’t often photograph weddings, but after learning that it was going to be an intimate beach wedding, with close family only (with a GIANT celebration the following summer) we happily accepted!
The place that we drove out to had long gravel roads, a lake, wooded areas and an open, sun drenched, grassy field. Basically a photographers dream! Ashley was wearing four inch heels and a full length gown and yet was up for traipsing around to any spot I suggested. We scaled rocks, climbed INTO bushes and walked through mud patches. She never complained once which is more than I could say for myself if I were (literally) in her shoes! 
As the sun began to set we raced to the last location we knew we would be shooting at before we lost the sun. It was a big open field with sun pouring in from all directions and Tony and Ashley had some fun dancing.
I loved spending time with them and sharing a lot of laughs. By then end of our session I was so excited to play a small role in their wedding ceremony that upcoming fall. And if you think these photos showed a couple SO in love with each other, wait until I get to blogging their beachside wedding! But that will have to wait for now. 🙂 
I have had SO much fun getting to know this couple, and witnessing their love survive and THRIVE through the distance between you. I wish you both a future filled with love and happiness.
After cleaning up from one shoot I set up for another the next morning. I pulled a cream and gray Flokatis, a pink blanket, and coordinating hats and wraps then locked up and headed home. That evening I received the session form and read the parents preferences… “I’m thinking pink, gray, cream.” What a sweet feeling that was. I knew it was meant to be!
mercystreetstudio 