Meet NICU Graduate Marley Rae!
Meet NICU Graduate MarleyRae! This little fighter just turned 3 years old, and I had the chance to photograph her right before her birthday. This Boise NICU Project portrait session was so fun and this little girl just sparkled, literally!
Marley was born at 33 weeks weighing in at 3 lbs 10 oz. Mama had a difficult pregnancy from the beginning, starting with a strange rash. Turns out this can happen when pregnant with twins. Sadly, MarleyRae's twin was lost early in the pregnancy 😢 Poor Mama had all the difficulties of a twin pregnancy without the reward of both babies.
Mama spent over a week in the hospital due to high blood pressure and she was being monitored for severe #preeclampsia. She awoke early in the morning to the worst headache she had ever experienced. Shortly thereafter, MarleyRae was born via emergency C-section.
Meet NICU Graduate Baby Baylor
Meet Baby Baylor! This little fighter was born at 27+5, weighed just 2lb 1oz at birth, and spent 85 days in the NICU.
It was Sunday evening and Momma Taylor was over at her mom's house for dinner when she started experiencing a very bad headache. They were headed home and she didn't want to go to the hospital because she had a doctors appointment the next morning. She was already being monitored for pre pre-eclampsia because she had high blood pressure. When the migraine became so severe that Taylor told her husband that she felt like she was going to vomit, he immediately pulled off the highway and took her to the hospital (Good job Dad!!). At the hospital, there was a whole line of people and they were taking everyone's temperature and blood pressure as they were checking in. Taylor said she did not even get to sit down and wait before they came to get her and took her back. Taylor was immediately given two steroid shots to help speed lung development of the baby.
Since Taylor was less than 32 weeks pregnant, and they were at St. Luke's Meridian, they had to stabilize her so that she could be transported the next morning to St. Luke's Boise, which has a Level 4 NICU. Learn about what level of NICU care is provided at the different St. Lukes locations in the Treasure Valley.
What are the different Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) levels?
Level I: Basic newborn care. Level 1 nurseries care for healthy, full-term babies.
Level II: Advanced newborn care. Level 2 can care for babies with a gestational age of 32 weeks or greater.
Level III: Subspecialty newborn care. Level 3 NICU can care for babies born at 27 weeks of gestation or greater.
Level IV: Highest level of neonatal care. Level 4 NICU can care for babies as young as 22 weeks gestation and weighing less than 1 pound 13 ounces.
Taylor was in the hospital for 2 days before baby Baylor was born. Afterwards, Taylor spent 12 hours a day in the NICU with her baby. For the whole first month, she was not even allowed to hold him because he had such a bad gag reflux and would sometimes throw up just from being touched.
One of the hardest parts of their journey was that so many people knew that Baby Baylor had been born and wanted to meet him, but no one was allowed in the NICU because of restricted visitation. One of the great things about this journey was getting to know so many of the nurses on a more personal level. The support of her husband was what helped her get through, especially during the early days after delivery when she was tired and loopy from birth and the magnesium she was being given. Dad actually learned from the lactation consultant how to express milk and pump for her because she couldn't wake up to do it on her own. Then he taught her how to do it 👏
#StLukesBoise #nicumama #preeclampsia #boisenicubabyproject #StLukesNicu #nicubaby #NICUmom #NICUgraduate #NICUstrong #Boisephotographer #BoiseMoms #NICUwarrior #BoiseNICUbaby
Fatherhood Portraits for a Happy Father’s Day!
To my Dad, my step-dad, my grandfathers, my uncles, and the father of my child - Happy Father’s Day!
Motherhood and Breastfeeding Portraits on the Ranch | Boise Motherhood Photographer
Home on the ranch
No, I did not grow up on this ranch. But Colorado is home. And my sister lives on this ranch. So I was home in Colorado staying with my sister on the ranch. I did not have child care for a few weeks and so, knowing that I would have to take time off of work anyway, I decided to go to Colorado and visit family while I was taking time off to care for my son. This ranch in Sedalia has such stunning views, I had to take advantage of it while I was there. Plus, it was close to Mother’s day and I wanted to do something special for my sisters who are both mothers. My stepsister, who is about 4 months older than me, was also pregnant at the same time I was pregnant with my son and we both had the same exact DUE DATE! What are the odds? We also both did not know the gender of our babies until they were born. Her son was born 3 days before mine was.
Outdoor breastfeeding portraits
I was so excited to take professional motherhood photos of my stepsister and her children, including my nephew who is the same age as my son. When I asked if she would like breastfeeding portraits, I got an enthusiastic YES! She has breastfeed all of her children for at least 3 years. The youngest is only one year old and is the only one still breastfeeding. It was so special to be able to capture some beautiful photographs of the mother-child bond and their breastfeeding journey. These are the tender moments that us mothers want to look back on and hold in our hearts forever. Thanks to photography, we can!
Maternity Portraits in the Boise Foothills | Boise Maternity Photographer
Fall Maternity Portraits in the Boise Foothills
I had such a good time getting out in the Boise Foothills last fall for this maternity photo session. The couple was so endearing and there is just something about the sagebrush at that time of year. Oh yeah, it makes me sneeze! Sagebrush flowers in the fall. So does rabbit brush. Does anybody else get nostalgic in the fall?
Why get maternity photos?
There is nothing quite as beautiful as a pregnant woman! Even if you are self conscious about the pregnancy weight gain, or you just don’t feel as attractive when you look in the mirror, chances are the rest of the world is looking at you and thinking you look amazing! Pregnancy is the beginning of motherhood. Pregnancy is huge and dangerous task - growing another human! There is a reason the world looks upon pregnant women with a sense of awe and wonder! But I digress… anyway, even if you don’t feel like a pretty pregnant woman, chances are your maternity photos will become one of your most valued keepsakes as you fondly look back on this time in your life in the years to come. There is pretty much zero chance that you will regret getting maternity photos taken. There is a much bigger chance that if you don’t have any maternity photos, you will look back to this time years down the road and wish that you did.
Have I told you about my sister who had kids more than 10 years before I did? Unfortunately, at that time in my life I did not specialize in maternity and motherhood photography and I did not boss her into doing a maternity photo shoot. I did, however, show up at her house near the end of her second pregnancy and convince her to take some photos in her living room and in her back yard. She was not very willing, but she went along with it anyway. I guess it’s hard to say no to your little sister? She never had any photos taken during her first pregnancy. Now, all these years later, she has told me how much she appreciates having those photos, because they are the only ones she has of herself when she was pregnant. Those photos marked a special moment in time. Those photos show the amazing power of her body to carry a child and the early days/years of her motherhood journey.
Motherhood Photography in the Boise Foothills | Boise Motherhood Photographer
Breastfeeding and Motherhood Portraits
I had such a wonderful time meeting this gorgeous mother in the Boise Foothills for an outdoor breastfeeding and motherhood photo shoot! Mama was so brave and baby girl was a trooper staying up way past her normal bedtime of 5:30pm so that we could take photos during the golden hour. But more importantly, what 6 month old baby goes to bed at 5:30pm? What I would have given for my son to go to bed at 5:30 when he was that age (or even now)!!! I remember those days… I would spend hours every night trying to get him down. I always hoped he would go down by 7:30-8pm, but he usually wasn’t sleeping until 11pm. I count this mama as lucky in the “sleeping baby” department!
Photo of mother holding baby in a field of grass and flowers at sunset.
More about Outdoor Motherhood Photo Sessions
Outdoor motherhood photography sessions are so much fun! The boise foothills make such a beautiful backdrop for photo shoots. I love the light at Golden Hour and prefer to always photograph during the 2 hours before sunset in order to get the best light. Outdoor photo sessions can be held at a location that is special to you, or I am happy to recommend a location as well.
Photo of a mother breastfeeding her baby in the Boise Foothills
In-Home Studio-style Newborn Portraits | Boise Newborn Photographer
Yes, you can have professional newborn photos taken in the comfort of your home!
In-home studio-style photos are the perfect option if you want clean and timeless newborn photos without the hassle of traveling to a studio or having to clean and organize your house for a lifestyle portrait session.
Photo of a newborn baby lying tummy down on a white blanket, with a white swaddle draped over her back. Baby has her eyes closed and a big smile.
How does it work?
We bring our traveling photography studio to you! We just need a clear floor space approximately 8’x6’ in a room with a window where we can set everything up. You get to sit back and relax in the comfort of your own home. No more worrying about packing a diaper bag, getting everybody ready and out the door in time, driving through traffic and being on time, or forgetting a change of clothes when baby spits up on you or you has a blowout. A what?? It’s ok, if you don’t know what I’m talking about, just keep reading. We make it simple for you. All you have to do is be there and be ready for photos. You don’t even have to worry about outfits for your baby (although if you have a special one picked out, we are happy to incorporate it into some of the photos). So, sit back, relax, and let us come to you!
Photo of a newborn baby wrapped in a white swaddle with toes peeking out.
Worried about your home not being perfectly decorated, clean, or organized?
There is no need to worry! With a studio-style photography session, we set up a backdrop and voila! Your home is not photographed in the background, so you don’t have to worry about it being clean or perfectly decorated like a magazine. Because who really has a house like that anyway? I know I don’t. Don’t get me wrong, I love my house, but it is not picture perfect like a magazine. With studio-style in-home portraits, you would never know if the photos were taken in a small manufactured home or a large mansion (yes, I’ve done both)!
Photo of mother holding and kissing newborn baby
Remembrance Photography - Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep | Boise Newborn Photographer
I was just wrapping up my work day when I got a text from the regional dispatcher for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep - a nonprofit organization that I volunteer for as a photographer. Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep provides remembrance photography to grieving families who have suffered from stillbirth or pregnancy loss.
Several other members of the volunteer team had already responded that they were unavailable. I was available, so I accepted the session and headed over to the hospital. The same hospital where my son was born and had his stay in the NICU. Yes, I still get triggered when I walk in those hospital doors. But, this is part of my healing journey.
I volunteer for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep because, while my birth experience and time in the NICU was traumatic, I was fortunate enough to bring my baby home. I can’t even begin to imagine the grief of parents who are experiencing the loss of their child. It’s not fair. The loss of a baby must feel like the future has been stolen, like there is nothing to hope for anymore. It’s absolutely devastating. And yet, it happens much more frequently than anyone wants to recognize.
I showed up to the hospital to photograph beautiful newborn baby Emory, who was born at 37 weeks 5 days. I don’t know any of the details surrounding the loss of this precious baby girl, but I know that she was loved. Her family was so sweet and inspiring. Both sets of grandparents were there with the parents in the “butterfly room”. While they were obviously grieving, you could tell how much love was there in that room and they also seemed at peace. The family was so kind and so thankful that I was there to take photos for them - but all I can ever think is “it’s the least I can do”. Because, if there is anything I can do to help lessen the grief, or help these families along on their healing journey, that’s what I’m doing this for.
While I can’t share any of the photos from my portrait sessions with Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, for privacy reasons, here is a photo I took of a baby doll in my kitchen, with a blanket draped over the high chair, practicing a lighting technique for these types of sessions.
Motherhood Portraits For My Sister | Boise Motherhood Photographer
My sister is one of the best Moms that I know
My sister is only a couple years older than me, but she has been a mother for nearly a decade longer than me. She has always been an inspiration for me when I think about being a mom. She is such an amazing mom, I actually used to joke with her about whether she would raise my kids for me if I ever had them. Kidding aside, if I was not able to raise my child myself, she is the first person I would want to do it for me. So, for her birthday and for a million other reasons, I wanted to gift her this special “Motherhood” portrait session.
Photo of mother and two daughters sitting in a field at sunset
I styled my sister and her daughters for this photo session!
While I love my sister to pieces, the last time I offered to take some family portraits for her, their outfits were anything but coordinating! Blue, red, and yellow could work well together. However, each person’s outfit had a strong pattern and that’s where things got a little too busy. So, this time, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I was walking around Ross one day and I found the dress my sister is wearing in the photo above. I though it would look pretty in a photo shoot. So, I kept browsing around and I was lucky enough to find the two dresses that my nieces are wearing as well - both the only dresses of that style and in the right size. BINGO! Guess how much I spent on outfits for all 3 girls? That’s right, less than $50 total!
This is a wardrobe that had no styling guidance - notice the clashing patterns.
Worried about what to wear for your own family or motherhood portrait session?
Don’t worry! As part of my service when you book with me, I offer styling guidance for coordinating your family’s wardrobe. I am here to help you create and achieve the portraits of your dreams!
In-home Studio-style Motherhood Portraits | Boise Motherhood Photographer
It was such a pleasure to travel over to Nampa, ID to capture breastfeeding and motherhood portraits of this stunning Mama and her adorable baby girl. Their matching red hair was so beautiful. I think it is safe to say that baby girl definitely looks like her mama! We did the photo session right in their living room with my traveling photo studio setup!
Photo of breastfeeding mother holding and nursing her baby.
What is an in-home studio-style photography session?
In-home motherhood photography sessions are perfect for the busy working mom, the exhausted-sleep-deprived mom, the stay at home mom, the mom who doesn’t want to get everything ready for a trip out of the house, the mom who wants photos in the middle of winter but wants to stay warm and cozy, and really any mom! Don’t worry, your house does not have to be clean or perfect. I set up a backdrop and bring a light and we take simple, beautiful portraits that focus on nothing other than mother and baby and the special bond between the two.
What’s the difference between in-home studio-style portraits and lifestyle portraits?
Studio-style portraits utilize my traveling photo studio and have a classic, timeless look. Photos are taken against a plain backdrop with no furniture or props in the background. Lifestyle portraits, which may also be taken in your home, do not utilize any kind of studio backdrop. Lifestyle photos are taken with your furniture and home decor in the background. Studio-style portraits do not require any preparation of your home, other than clearing a 6'x6’ floor space in a room with natural light where I can set up the studio. Lifestyle photography may require a little more preparation of the home, including picking up all the clutter, and sometimes moving lamps or other pieces of furniture during the session. See some photos below for the difference.
