This gorgeous gal is my cousin. She is glowing with anticipation of her little girl’s arrival, and I feel like I should blog her session before she gives birth…so here is Melissa and her sweet husband, and her adorable little pup, June. Melissa is radiant, she smiles like this all the time because she is just that happy with her life, her marriage, and her little girl still tucked away in her belly.

Pregnancy is one of those things for me…I miss it more when it is over. There is no comparison to having that baby in your arms for the first time, but I do sometimes get a little nostalgic for that time when the baby was all mine  😉  there is this special bond formed between a baby and a mama even though they have not yet met.  I am sure it is the same for my sweet cousin. There is something magical about this time, right before baby arrives, when the nights are still quiet, yet you know that something amazing and wonderful and really, really cool is going to happen.

She was in town for her baby shower and I made sure to get some time with them. At sunset, of course 🙂 the pretty light and even prettier mama made for some lovely images.

Maternity sessions are best scheduled between 32 and 36 weeks, when mama has an adorable bump, but is still comfortable. Maternity shoots are meant to show off more than the belly, they are (for me anyway) meant to show the love that these future parents have for each other and their growing family. As the belly grows, so does their relationship. It is made stronger by the fact that they have MADE something together that is bigger then themselves. It is always an honor for me to document this time in someone’s life. Truly an honor. I am ecstatic for my cousin…cannot wait to meet her baby girl so very soon!