One of the most special parts of being a newborn photographer here in Columbia is being able to document the start of a new chapter in your story. When Gabrielle and Justin reached out about newborn photos, their baby girl had made a surprise early arrival, and they were hoping to schedule a newborn session as soon as possible. I was so glad I was able to find space in my calendar for them, and I loved getting to hear more about their love story and journey to becoming parents!
Gabrielle and Justin’s story starts when they were kids. Their grandfathers built cabins next door to one another on Lake Hartwell; growing up, they knew of each other’s families, but hadn’t met yet. As they grew older, their moms tried (unsuccessfully) to get them together, but the moment was never right until the spring of 2018… and the rest was history!
An Earthy, Peter Rabbit-Inspired Nursery
As they were preparing for their daughter’s arrival, Gabrielle said that she and Justin especially enjoyed working on projects to make their new house feel like home. She loved putting together the nursery, which she told me her brother describes as “poetic Peter Rabbit.” The whole space was so soothing and calm! I loved how she tied together a palette of mauve and subtle earth tones on a classic white backdrop and then pulled in a few botanical elements.
Including Family Heirlooms in Your Newborn Session
When we were planning for their newborn session, it was really important to Gabrielle to have a few photos of her and her daughter in the rocking chair. Her grandfather made rocking chairs for all the women in the family, as well as one for the family lake house (remember the lake house?). He had always planned to make one for Gabrielle’s mom as well, but unfortunately was unable to get to it before he passed.
Well, unbeknownst to her, her grandmother had decided to pass her chair on to Gabrielle’s mom at the right time… but both of them decided to pass it on to Gabrielle instead! When we designed their newborn album, it was so special to be able to incorporate photos of Gabrielle and her daughter in that chair—a piece of her family history, a nod to Justin’s and her story, and now a part of their family legacy!
Thank you again, Gabrielle and Justin, for trusting me to capture this new chapter in your story together! As you grow together through the challenges, the joys, and adventures, I hope you always remember to lean on one another. I’m already looking forward to our next session—big hugs to both of you! 😊
Are you expecting a little one this year and looking for the perfect newborn photographer in Columbia, SC? I’d love to get to know you and chat about how we can capture all the memories of this season and create beautiful artwork with them for your home! Send a hello through my contact form, and I’ll take it from there!
