I had the privilege of photographing Maegan and Jame's small wedding ceremony where their longtime friendship and ultimate love shone brightly and beautifully. Months later, Maegan contacted me again and asked if I would be interested in photographing her maternity session, because she and James were pregnant! Of course I said I say YES!
Fast forward to the summer and I pulled my car into the parking lot of the sprawling blueberry plains in Kennebunk, Maine. The sun was sitting low in the sky and the tall grass dotted with tiny, purple flowers was glowing with light. Moments later, I heard the crunch of gravel beneath car tires and Maegan and James pulled up. The second she stepped out into the sun, I gasped at Maegan's beauty. Her baby bump was draped with the soft, pink fabric or her frilly dress and she beamed with excitement and anticipation. I knew this shoot was going to be one for the books!
I helped Maegan carefully walk into the grass and brush of the open plains, and found the perfect spot where the sun was creating a circle of glowing light. This was Maegan's first baby (a little boy!), and I wanted this session to be absolutely perfect for her. I would be lying if I said I didn't have butterflies in my tummy! Once we began, however, I was blown away by how willing and open Maegan and James were to trusting me. The sweet mother-to-be let me dress her up and position her like a little doll and she told me multiple times that she trusted me wholeheartedly. My butterflies soon disappeared— I assume to flutter amongst the beautiful flowers of the field. She made my heart so happy!!
Sure, I hold the camera and take the photos, but Maegan and James were the true stars of this shoot. When I can make genuine connections with other humans and earn their respect to the point where they say "I trust you with this, just tell me what to do!", that's what keeps me going. The last thing I want is to just 'be the photographer.' I want to make sure that when we step out into that field together, you feel like you can trust me with this moment in your life that you can never get back. Magen and James will only be pregnant with this baby once. The time in their life where they share this particular pregnancy will only be now. The fact that they trusted me with the task of capturing this moment and turning it into physical memories is beyond an honor. I do not take it lightly!
When the shoot was over and it was time to say goodbye, I hugged Meagan and wished her luck. I knew she and James would be amazing parents, and I wanted her to know that I tried my best to reflect that in my photography. Looking back, it seemed silly because how could you possibly show someone's parenting skills through photos when the baby hadn't even been born yet? But here we are today, almost a year later, and Maegan and James have their baby boy, have framed their photos, and have kept in contact with me. Turns out, they both think the photos are a perfect reflection of the love their little family shares, even before their baby made an entrance into the world. I suppose that's the power of photography after all, and why I knew it was my calling.
Thank you Maegan, James, and their beautiful son for trusting me with this unforgettable moment, and allowing me to do what I love most: making magic through memories!