I cannot take credit for these gorgeous photos, I have to give a huge thank you to Jessica Flynn of Capture Photography and a new dear friend Brooke whitis. I cannot speak to the magnitude of how grateful and blessed i am that these two women came though for us in a huge way, by capturing the most beautifully intimate day of our lives in such a stunning story of photos.
Parenthood and the love you instantly have for your child is a feeling that just can’t be put into words or understood until you’re in it. My brain couldn’t wrap around the thought being pregnant with this belly, then literally one second later its a baby, and I’m a mother, and we’re a family. That’s it. One second, in an instant… my life changed forever. And thanks to these photos I will always remember that second in time, that moment my life became infinitely richer.
Please take the time to actually read this blog… their story is one to be told and one to be respected. The Hidalgo family came into my life over a year ago and since then they’ve gone from being my client, to being my dear friends. They’ve allowed me into the most intimate, tragic, hopeful, and miraculous times of their lives and I couldn’t feel more honored. This blog is a perfect example of what we strive to do here at Ker-fox photography… photobiography, telling your story, all of it, and hopefully doing so with grace and love.
The Hidalgo’s story with us started last year when Caroline called me to schedule a maternity session, she was due with her first child Cale. She quickly wanted to capture some maternity photos to surprise her husband who was stationed overseas at the moment. So we did, and got some gorgeous photos of her sweet belly and baby Cale. A mere few weeks later I got a phone call from her sister, and immediately I assumed the call was to tell me that Cale had arrived and get Caroline on the calendar for a newborn session. the news couldn’t have been further from that… Caroline and Miles lost Cale. I sank into the kitchen floor and just sobbed. I just could not wrap my head around the news. My heart ached, and words escaped me. There are no words that comfort that kind of loss.
As some time passed Caroline and Miles contacted me to thank me for the session, and for capturing those moments with their sweet Cale. The first time I got to see them after their loss was to deliver their album, which was also the first time I’d ever met Miles. Delivering that album was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do for one of my clients. The bad news wasn’t done raining on this dear family… Miles and his entire family all serve in the military, graduates of the prestigious West Point, even Caroline herself graduated from West Point where she and Miles met. So to say that this is a patriotic family would be a massive understatement. Miles brother, Daren paid the ultimate price for that patriotism, as he was killed by an I.E.D. in Afghanistan in February. It all seems too much for one family to endure in a lifetime, much less in the timespan of under a year.
Sometime early in the year I get a phone call from Caroline… she was expecting again! Another little boy, Finley Daren (Daren, after his courageous Uncle), due just weeks before what would have been Cale’s 1st birthday. Our journey together had begun once more. Again Miles was deployed but this time we waited for him to get back then scheduled her maternity session. She also asked if I would consider shooting the actual delivery, I didn’t hesitate and immediately said of course! Little did I know that I soon too would be pregnant and shooting a delivery a few short months before my own arrival! But I was totally game for the experience, after all what could be a more miraculous thing to photograph than a new life coming into the world.
This blog isn’t about me, but I must tell you what an amazing, beautiful, spiritual experience it was to witness Mr. Finley’s birth. It was just Caroline, Miles, and myself… I mean what an honor. Caroline was such a trooper and seriously only pushed for 7 min…. let me repeat that, 7 min. I even checked my time stamps on the photos to make sure. She was full of grace considering just a year earlier that she lost her precious Cale. I say lost, but he isn’t lost at all. They include him in so much that they do, his memory is strong, and I know they will always have it that way. Finn will always know about his big brother Cale thanks to his mom and dad. He was even wrapped in the same blanket as his big brother Cale. They also have a gorgeous bench and garden in their backyard in his memory. Caroline is a strong outspoken mother of losing a child, please take the time to check her blog and read all of Cale’s story by clicking here. Also check her blog to see posts of Finley and just their life in general by clicking here.
To say that these 3 mean so much to me is an understatement. Every single client that walks through my door effects my life in some positive way… but meeting these two has completely changed my life. I don’t think even they know quite what they mean to me, being a part of their lives and the way they allowed me in it. Yes it was my job, and my purpose was to capture these moments for them. But for me this was so much more than “work”.
I love all of my newborns I get to shoot, but I watch fondly as this little one grows and always remember Cale. Cause if it weren’t for Cale, I wouldn’t know these two amazing people.
Below are some of the images from the month long journey from her maternity session to the delivery to the newborn session… I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
