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6.29.2014

Wherein I share a bunch of family and maternity photos

{All photos in this post were taken by Jenn of Bend the Light Photography.}

It wasn't until after Iris was born that I began to appreciate photography in the way I do today.  I think I gave my memory a lot more credit than I should have pre-Iris.  It turns out, it's pretty abysmal, at least in its ability to remember things photographically.


My interest in photography was ignited as I was determined to capture Iris' newborn (and baby) details.  Babies change so much, so quickly.  In my heart, I was trying to soak it all in, but I wanted to also have the photos to jog my memory later on.  I didn't want to forget the details this time.


I also wanted to capture the day-to-day of our family life. As I did so, I found it brought into sharper focus the good and the lovely and the fullness of heart that I experience with my kids.


I can say without hesitation that I much prefer to be behind the camera than in front of it.   But I also want to have documentation of our family together - all in one frame.


We had actually never really hired a professional photographer before.  (Though a friend of ours took family photos for us twice as she was building her portfolio.)


I had never had maternity photos taken, either.  Heck, I didn't even personally document my growing belly until this, my fourth pregnancy.   (I'm doing something like this 40 Weeks and a Mirror series but with more clothes on.  Don't worry, I won't be sharing those photos here.)  ;)


A year ago, I was searching for Ethiopian adoption groups and happened upon the blog of an adoptive mama of two.  She and her husband adopted a teenager from Rwanda and an infant girl from Ethiopia.  We exchanged emails and it turns out our daughters were born in the very same city in Ethiopia!


I also learned she was a photographer.  And that I really love her work.



What surprised us most was that we had hired her to take family photos with a few maternity photos thrown in the mix, but Dan and I particularly cherished the photos of us together.


I can't tell you the last time we had a photo taken, just the two of us.  We didn't even order any prints from our wedding day!  So these were really special.


I love this guy.  He's the rock our family is built on.


We are so thankful to finally have official family photos.  They mean so much to us.

14 comments:

  1. That's the problem with being the family photographer, right? You're never in any of the pictures! I'm so glad you got these done! They really are beautiful! And I love iris's face in that last photo! She's got spunk for days!
    Ben and I had some family photos done right before our second was born and I love 99% of the photos but we tried yo do a couple maternity ones with the two of us and they are awful. I felt like a total doofus the whole time and I look so uncomfortable in the pictures. Oh, if only I actually liked having my picture taken...

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  2. love these photos! I would dream to have a family photo session like this! you look so good!!

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  3. Lovely photos Rachel! You're positively glowing!

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  4. Oh wow, these pics are wonderful. I think I like the last one best. What a beautiful family! You look gorgeous!

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  5. These photos and your family are beautiful! Congratulations!

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  6. Such lovely pictuers, I especially like the last one! Your family looks fantastic, you're one lucky lady! X

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  7. AWWWWWW. You are positively glowing, Rachel, and I love the shots of you and Dan, and of the whole family ... I don't know, I can't choose a favorite! So sweet! I love that tank dress. That looks like the perfect maternity wear (I hate maternity clothes! all of those bands and things are so insanely uncomfortable!!!!). Sweet sweet sweet.

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  8. Gorgeous family photos. Just beautiful. Love that you captured this pregnancy, esp. since you look so stunning:) I totally know what you mean about not having many photos of you and Dad - my husband and I experience the same problem. I'm trying to get better at fixing that though, as I think those photos will be important to us someday, as well as to our kids. The family photos are gorgeous. Especially love the one of you looking adoringly at Dan:)

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  9. You have such a beautiful family Rachel! These photos are so precious. Thank you so much for sharing these with us!

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  10. Beautiful shots of a beautiful family!

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  11. Beautiful pictures of your beautiful family!

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  12. Rachel: I'm just getting caught up on blogs (not mine--hee hee) after a couple of months away, and I'm blown away by these pictures. Y'all have a gorgeous family! I'm also loving Jude's piano awards (and his attitude toward the whole thing)--just made me smile. I'm going to try to keep reading and catch up...

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