Lincoln Square In-Home Maternity Session | Steph & Kyle
This ended up being the most beautiful, unplanned maternity session with my dear friend Rachel and her husband William. I was in Indianapolis to visit friends for the weekend so I didn’t even bother to bring my camera with me. I had thrown my film camera in my bag to encourage myself to shoot more film for fun while I was away. And then I realized Rachel’s due date was just a few short days away, and I needed to jump at the opportunity to capture this special moment in both their lives.
Rachel and William had recently moved into their home in Fountain Square to prepare for the arrival of their baby girl, October. Rachel was born on October 1st and had always dreamed of the day she’d have a daughter and name her October and call her Toby for short. It was so surreal for me to see that this day was nearly here. Rachel and I became good friends in high school when we were on the same cheerleading team. We’d carpool from practice to school and sometimes she’d even let me drive her car before I had gotten my license…what rebels! So needless to say, we spent a lot of our high school years together. And then adult life got the best of us as it tends to do, and I moved to Chicago and Rachel moved to Hawaii where she stayed for several years and eventually fell in love with William. Her and William had a wonderfully intimate and romantic wedding in Hawaii during the peak of COVID times, and then eventually moved back to Indianapolis to begin their journey as a family of three.
Getting to document such monumental moments in the lives of people I love is truly the most fulfilling part of my “job”. These moments feel far from work and more so like an extension of my soul - a reaching out for connection and appreciation for the beauty of life. Having known someone for so long certainly makes it easier to create photographs that speak to who they truly are. You see your friend or loved one let their guard down much quicker than a stranger would. They warm up to you and trust you almost immediately. It’s a vulnerable thing to be photographed, and I am always so honored when my subject lets go and trusts the process. They truly give me their heart and let me run with it in the best way. What a privilege.
After 24 hours of labor, October “Toby” Rae was born on February 17th, 2022. Rachel and William couldn’t be more elated to welcome their healthy (and adorably cute) baby girl into their lives.
