One of the sweetest parts of being a photographer is getting to document more than one chapter of someone's story.
I originally photographed Melissa and Nathan's wedding at Veranda Elegant Events in Orlando, capturing the beginning of their life together as husband and wife.
Then came another incredibly special chapter.
Melissa and Nathan were expecting their baby girl, Juliet, and I had the opportunity to photograph their maternity portraits at Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Today, Juliet is already a year old — which somehow makes looking back at these photographs even sweeter.
A SUNRISE MATERNITY SESSION AT COCOA BEACH
For Melissa and Nathan's maternity session, we met at Cocoa Beach for sunrise.
And Florida absolutely showed off for us.
The sky filled with gorgeous early-morning color, giving us the soft, romantic backdrop that makes sunrise beach sessions so beautiful. There's something about those first few minutes of light along the Florida coast that simply can't be recreated later in the day.
The beach was peaceful, the light was beautiful, and it gave us the perfect setting to celebrate the little girl they were so excited to meet.
ONE VERY PERFECTLY TIMED PHOTOBOMB
One of my favorite photographs from the entire session happened during a silhouette.
With Melissa and Nathan standing against the colorful sunrise sky, I captured the two of them together with Melissa's baby bump beautifully outlined.
And somehow, at exactly the right moment, a boat passed through the background of the photograph.
It was one of those tiny, completely unplanned details that made an already beautiful silhouette even more special.
Sometimes Mother Nature — and apparently passing boats — understands the assignment.
FROM WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS TO MATERNITY PORTRAITS
What made this session especially meaningful to me was knowing that this wasn't the first major milestone I'd photographed for Melissa and Nathan.
I'd already had the privilege of documenting their wedding day.
Now I was photographing them preparing to become parents.
That's one of my favorite things about photography.
A wedding doesn't have to be the end of my relationship with a couple. Their story keeps going.
There are anniversaries. Pregnancies. Babies. Growing families. Birthdays. And all of the ordinary moments in between.
Getting invited back to photograph another chapter is one of the greatest compliments a previous client can give me.
CELEBRATING BABY JULIET
At the time of these photographs, Juliet was still someone Melissa and Nathan were eagerly waiting to meet.
Now she's already celebrated her first year.
That's what makes maternity photographs so incredible to look back on.
Eventually, the baby you were waiting for is running around your house. The nursery changes. The tiny clothes disappear. Life moves incredibly quickly.
But the photographs remain a reminder of that brief season when everything was about anticipation.
Before they knew her personality.
Before they heard her laugh.
Before they knew exactly what their family of three would feel like.
There was simply Melissa, Nathan and all of the excitement surrounding baby Juliet.
COCOA BEACH MATERNITY & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Cocoa Beach is one of my favorite locations for portraits because every session can look completely different depending on the weather, clouds, tide and light.
And sunrise sessions can be especially magical.
Whether you're celebrating a pregnancy, engagement, anniversary, senior year or simply a season of life you never want to forget, you don't need a huge occasion to create photographs that will eventually mean everything.
I offer maternity, couples, family and portrait photography throughout Cocoa Beach, Orlando and Central Florida, creating photographs centered around genuine moments and the people you love most.
Because sometimes the chapter you're living right now becomes the one you'll most want to remember.
