Jenny’s magical rainbow baby maternity session celebrates both of her daughters
Jenny and I actually met 17 years ago when we were both students at Texas A&M. She was one of 13 freshmen girls in the Bible study group I led – and what an amazing year all of us had together! We stayed in touch throughout school, and then lost contact after I graduated.
I was thrilled to hear from her this spring with the news that she is expecting a baby girl! Jenny wanted to incorporate lots of bright flowers into her nature-themed maternity session, and I had the perfect location in mind for a gorgeous evening.
Summer evening in a botanical garden
Jenny and Sam met me Mercer Arboretum in Humble, TX for their maternity photography session. It’s absolutely stunning there no matter the season – but this summer is especially breathtaking! So many flowers are blooming that there are endless options for bright, cheerful backdrops.
View the sneak peek video from Jenny’s maternity session!!
One aspect of Mercer that I love is how peaceful it is. After the stress of the COVID-19 shutdown, Jenny and Sam deserved a fun evening out to celebrate the upcoming birth of their baby girl. There’s just something about being surrounded by the beauty of nature that helps you relax and enjoy the moment. That’s exactly what this this sweet couple wanted!!
A rainbow baby maternity session
Not only did we celebrate Claire Marie, who will arrive in July, but we also honored Sam and Jenny’s daughter Mary Grace. She passed away last year.
A rainbow baby photo session celebrates pregnancy after loss. It represents the hope and joy of new life, while honoring any children who have passed. Over the years, I’ve photographed a number of rainbow baby sessions. Each one is different and beautiful, and I’ve worked with parents in all kinds of ways to incorporate their Angel babies.
Jenny definitely wanted to include Mary Grace in her maternity photos. She settled on using a small bouquet of flowers and a letter board to symbolize her daughter in Heaven. The bouquet included light pink spray roses, baby’s breath and eucalyptus leaves, which coordinated perfectly with two gowns from my studio closet.
Lace and a bright splash of pink!
It’s been challenging for lots of my clients to find gowns or dresses for their maternity sessions because of the COVID-19 shutdown. Many of them haven’t felt comfortable going out to shop, and ordering online can be hit or miss.
Fortunately, I have a studio closet full of gowns and dresses for mamas to use for their maternity photos!
For her photo session, Jenny wore my ivory lace gown and my pink lace gown. Both options are super feminine and perfect for a summer session celebrating the upcoming arrival of a baby girl!
We kicked off Jenny’s maternity session with her in my ivory lace dress, perfectly complimented by her heels and pearls. She loved that it flowed over her baby bump and highlighted her gorgeous pregnancy curves! Sam’s off-white jacket worked perfectly with this dress, which he only wore for photos here and there due to the Houston heat!
A little drama with flowing sleeves
Next, Jenny changed into my pink lace gown. It features an elegant off-the-shoulder stretchy lace top and a long, romantic mermaid train. The long bell sleeves are my favorite part! Although there is quite a bit of fabric, chiffon and lace keep it from feeling heavy or binding. Jenny paired this gown with her own pearls and heels again, along with her gorgeous curls and gorgeous makeup.
We incorporated Mary Grace with the small bouquet and letter board during this series of maternity photos. It was a beautiful way for Jenny and Sam to celebrate both of their girls.
Wrapped up in bright pink!
After the neutral shades of my studio gowns, it was time for Jenny to shine in her own bright pink dress! I love how she pops off the photo in this amazing shade of magenta. It fits her cheerful personality just perfectly! Jenny wore my flower crown for a couple of photos as we wrapped up her maternity session.
I knew this dress would look great along a walkway dotted with bright flowers, along with a section filled with happy yellow sunflowers. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful evening!
Coming soon: a sweet newborn session with Claire Marie!
We’ve got Jenny’s newborn session on the calendar, and sweet photos starring Claire Marie will debut here in early August! Jenny will wear the ivory lace gown from this session for her newborn photos too. It works very well for expectant mamas and post-baby bodies, too! I love when mamas wear the same outfit for maternity and newborn photos; the symmetry is just beautiful.