Raven emailed me a few months ago inquiring about me photographing her miracle baby’s birth, and her spirit was just so amazing that I KNEW I had to document this life changing day for her. Do you know how amazing your energy has to be for someone to feel so connected to you through email?! That’s RAVEN! Raven told me that she wanted to document this day so that women like her, could see things done this way. She was super intentional and asked me to document as much as possible. Soon after we set everything up, I followed Raven on social media to find that her journey to motherhood hadn’t been the easiest. I found that she’s been an inspiration to sooo many women that are traveling that (sometimes) lonely and dark infertility road. Her posts were all powerful and empowering! Raven remained faithful, changed her lifestyle, and continued on believing…and here we are. Raven may share her own birth story with these images, but I will say from my perspective…it happened QUICKLY. Raven labored at home ALLLLL day with her husband. She texted me on June 4th at 1:42pm “Hey love!! I’m thinking we’re going to have a baby soon.” She said that she’d be in touch with an update. The next text came at 6:38pm. She and her husband were headed to the hospital, and about 35 minutes later – Raven (or her husband) told me that she was being admitted because she was already EIGHT CENTIMETERS DILATED!!! I rushed to the hospital praying that I didn’t miss the actual birth. I kept thinking “WOW! This woman has to be THHHHE strongest!” The fact that she showed up to the hospital basically ready to push was pretty spectacular. Raven’s doula, midwife, and nurses all continuously praised Raven for doing a natural birth this way. They kept saying “This is how you do it!”…Raven labored for less than an hour before it was time to start pushing. She delivered her beautiful baby boy in about 10-15 minutes. I can’t even explain the joy in the room as Raven held her baby for the first time, with her husband beaming over her. All Raven could say was “Thank you, Jesusss! Thank you! He’s really here!” There are no words to describe the honor it was to shoot this birth for the Thomas family. I hope that you all enjoy these photos, and I hope that if you are struggling with infertility that this family’s journey will serve as a little (or BIG) reminder that God has the final say.

I’m pretty sure in the picture on the left, Raven was apologizing for screaming. Lol! Such a sweet soul that she APOLOGIZED about screaming out during her NATURAL laboring.

We all kept fussing and laughing at her for this. Dad was so overwhelmed with emotions after the delivery that he just had to take a second to sit down and take it all in.7 lb 9 oz of perfection! I came back the next day to get some Fresh 48 shots of Nehemiah in all of his newness…

Thank you for looking!

Love and Light,

Farrahn T.

You might remember a few of these faces from a maternity shoot I shared a few months back. If you didn’t check that shoot out, Casey is one of my closest friend’s sister. Chloé  is  was the little lady in waiting. I had absolutely noooo idea that Casey was interested in birth pictures. I’ve been trying not to put any pressure on any of my friends or their family in regards to birth photography so I’m not even sure that I ever asked. So again, I was shocked and thrilled when Ciera called and asked if I’d take these pictures for her sister. I believe my response was, “Wait. CASEY’S IN LABOR?! OF COOOOURSE, I’ll do it!!!! PLEASE MAKE SURE THIS IS WHAT SHE WANTS!!!” Chloé decided to make her grand entrance into this world a tad earlier than we’d all expected.

Now, I’m learning more and more that EVERY. SINGLE. EXPERIENCE. will be different. These experiences through photography have truly changed my outlook on life in so many ways. Prior to this day, I witnessed 4 precious babies come into this world. Besides intense pain and pressure at times, they’ve all gone pretty smoothly. I thought…”I could pretty much deliver a baby myself at this point”, but boy was I wrong. It’s not that I didn’t know this all along, but being there for this birth truly made me realize that if nothing else, we should always honor and respect our mothers. From day one a mother makes sacrifices for her baby, even if she doesn’t realize she is. We should appreciate our lives and new life because it is just so so sooo precious. Without going into TOO much detail, I’ll just say that I’m really thankful that Casey had the doctor she had because things did not go according to “plan”, but her doctor remained calm, delivered Casey’s baby via c-section instead of the plan that started out that day, and saved Casey’s life. Wait. Let me give Chloé credit as well. The doctor said that “Chloé’s refusal to come through pushing saved Casey’s life. Had she been delivered as planned, Casey wouldn’t have made it.” The doctors thought that they would have to resuscitate the baby when she made it here, but she came out perfect. 🙂 What an amazing birth story that Casey and Chloé will always have. Little angel baby.

Yep. She was born on THE 4th of July. “Doodle Bug”. So glad they decided against changing her middle name to something related to the holiday. LOL!

HUGE contractions. We were minutes away from “show time”.

Lol! I just love Mrs. Sally!

Ciera’s such a nurturing and supportive sister and friend. Nope, can’t tell at all that she’s working in the medical field. LOL!

Tron’s mom (one of Chloé’s grandmothers) waiting anxiously & Tron catching up on sleep.

So ready to love on her granddaughter. So sweet!

It was time….

As scared as everyone became…Casey’s support system tried not to let her see any type of panic and kept holding her hand and telling her all of the things she needed to hear at the time.

The last picture I got before things got to the point where I had to stop taking pictures and Casey had to be taken away to deliver the baby through c-section. 

A little while later,…in walks this proud dad.
I hate that I don’t have any more pictures from this special day with Casey in them, but I am very happy that she can experience those first moments that everyone saw her baby girl through these photos.

Kisses anyone?

Look at these looks. PURE LOVE.

The woman that came in on her anniversary to MAKE SURE that Casey had a safe delivery. I know this family is forever grateful. 

aaaand a few newborn shots.

So excited to share another birth story! Ever since (maybe even before) photographing my first birth, I have prayed and waited patiently for another.

Laura and I went to high school together, and she happened to comment on a birth post on my facebook page “I don’t think I’d ever do this, but if I did it would have to be with you.” Then, imagine my shock and excitement when I received a message from her a few months later saying that she was pregnant and considering birth photography.

I know that having someone in the room during such an intimate time is far fetched to most people, but as I stated with my last birth, your comfort comes first in my book. Being a rather modest person myself, I turn around during moments when you need that private time, and everything that I shoot is from the head down. I really try to take pictures that you, your family, and even your little one will enjoy looking at for years to come. I go over the images with my clients before publishing ANYTHING. I get approval for every single image.

With all of that said, Laura and her husband were all aboard, and I was there to capture sweet Cady making her entrance into this world. I also want to just say that I am very proud of Laura. She was very knowledgable about the entire process, and although she became exhausted during the process she hung in there and kept saying that she wouldn’t give up (although I don’t think Dr. Joseph would have allowed her to anyway)! She was comical throughout her delivery and exhibited SO much strength. I’m sure that her and Jeremy will be amazing parents to Little Miss Cady! Enjoy Cady’s birth story images!

Their last family of TWO pics! <3 

Waiting…

I’m sure everyone was laughing at something Laura said here!

I technically can’t see the progress made from where I’m standing, but I can ALWAYS tell when the baby is about here from the smile or tears on the proud dad’s face. One of the best moments during the entire process.

Dr. Allan Joseph is probably the most amazing Doctor ever! He welcomed the idea of Laura getting these images and covered her up well for pictures. He was funny when necessary and also very caring. Loved him! 

The other awesome moment is when the new mommy gets her precious little one placed in her arms for the first time. I think at this point I had tears in MY eyes. LOL!

Mrs. Laurie stayed by her daughter’s side through the entire labor and delivery. Then, it was love at first sight for her with her sweet granddaughter.

More grandmother love!

Grandparents 

The new family of THREE.

Cady had tons of visitors anxious to see her since she came into this world. She’s one loved little girl! Again, I feel honored that I was able to be the one to document such a HUUUGE moment in Laura and Jeremy’s lives!

 

 

Thanks for looking!

Ah. I’m going to try not to make this TOO TOO lengthy, but there is SOOOO much to say about this family…and this day. In the first week of January 2012 I blindly sent Craig Obrist an email. He did one of my classmate’s wedding early in the year, and his work really stuck with me. It wasn’t even just that he did an awesome job, but it was the blog that accompanied it. His beautiful work matched by beautiful words. I’d reached out to several photographers…some responded and some didn’t, but I hadn’t gotten the response I was seeking. I was almost desperate around the time I sent him an email. I thought…”He’d never respond, but I just want to know where I should start” & sure enough…The Obrists responded! I learned quickly that they were a team. It wasn’t just Craig…but it was Craig and Unchong. Not only did they respond, but they invited me to have coffee to talk about photography. Craig held nothing back…He told me where to begin & mistakes he made starting off. From that day forward…we’ve spent many weekends together shooting weddings and families and talking about photography. Without them, this blog would not exist & neither would my business. I thank God soooo often for bringing them into my life. They are genuinely an awesome family and I look up to Craig and Unchong on so many levels. Fast foward ONE year later…

Craig texts me on New Years Day, “Unchong is in labor! Are you willing to shoot the birth?” Woooo-hooo! I’d been trying to convince a family to do this for some time. I have yet to hear from a family that has had it done that they regret it. I’ve heard from birthing photographers that it is soooo fufilling to capture this moment in time. I was ECSTATIC that although it was a little uncomfortable for Unchong she wanted and trusted ME to do this. I did everything in my power to keep her as comfortable with my presence during the labor and delivery. I always left the room or turned around when she needed a private moment. I didn’t care about missing certain shots if it meant that I would have to make her uncomfortable. During the labor and delivery I was at her end of the bed. I didn’t care to blog ANYTHING without getting her stamp of approval for each picture…and now that I have that…I would love to show you the last little Obrist.

So funny now, we would be joking and talking and Unchong would be laughing with us…& then she’d say, “Ok guys. I’m gone again…here comes a contraction.”I’m not sure how Unchong would have done without Craig’s constant coaching and encouragement during the delivery process. The nurse said he used the bathroom as soon as he came out so really Unchong delivered a 9 lb baby. Unchong’s mom was there for the delivery as well. She stuck by her daughter’s side every second of the process.

There is nothing like a mother’s love…& that never changes.LOVE.Being a photographer, Craig couldn’t resist getting a few shots of his own.One of my faves!

THE NEXT DAY, THE BIG SISTERS, EMMA & ELI CAME TO SEE ETHAN FOR THE FIRST TIME…

Eli was a litte overwhelmed at first, but didn’t take long for her to want to love all over Ethan.

I adore The Obrists!

Thanks for looking!