Remember in THIS post, I mentioned recently being in front of the camera and feeling the vulnerability of it all. Being a photographer, I’m so incredibly lucky to be friends with many very very talented ladies. One of my most talented friends, happens to be well known amongst all of us photographers, is from KY, use to go to the same high school I did, and currently lives in the same county Bret and I visit just about every summer. Stacey Woods of Stacey Woods Photography is truly one of a kind. I have never met an entire family that is more kind than hers. She just so happens to be sisters with another one of my very good friends, Amy Parsons of Amy Parsons Photography (who happened to photograph my sisters wedding…allowing me to actually enjoy it…and will be photographing the birth of Steffen…which I could just cry right now thinking about). I actually knew Amy first (and she is the one who helped me get started in this style of photography), but met Stacey first…all the way in FL. I talk about their family all the time. I don’t think I’ve ever met a combo that is more generous, kind, amazing at mommyhood, calm, and just truly peaceful to be around. Stacey and I photograph each other every year and I was thrilled when I realized that I would be in just the right place in my pregnancy for her to do my maternity pictures! I prepared to photograph her and her beautiful baby bump (yep…SHE is awaiting a beautiful little girl…maybe miss C and Steffen will fall in love one day) and GORGEOUS children (you may remember them from THIS post last year) the same time she was photographing us. Well, somehow that ended up being Stacey JUST photographing us. I was blown away. “You mean it’s just me today?” I honestly didn’t know what to think. How did I get so lucky? All I wanted to do was cry the entire session. I. Am. Blessed. Blessed to have this amazing friend. Blessed to be where I am after our journey. Blessed to have this amazing man by my side. Blessed to feel so great. Blessed to be in one of my favorite places on Earth for my maternity pictures. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed. Blessed.
I did feel vulnerable. I had forgotten that feeling. You have no idea what you look like. You are just trying to be natural and not pay attention to the person with the big camera in your face…unless they say to pay attention. But Stacey did a fabulous job making me feel comfortable. Reassuring me the entire time. Of course, when Bret was standing beside me, I automatically relaxed and just focused on him and my belly (yes…I was touching it constantly).
So…here are some of my absolute favorites from the day. I could really show all of them because I am so in love with Stacey’s work and how she brought out exactly how I felt that day and have the entire pregnancy. Believe it or not, I still feel this wonderful. Everyone assumes that I’m miserable right now. I’m so not. I have my days when I’m exhausted, but that’s it. Did I mention how blessed I feel!?!
Okay folks…I am normally so much more modest than this. Never imagined I would stand in the middle of a park, in a bikini, and let some one photograph me. I really never imagined I would post them on Facebook or my blog. I’m telling you though. I think there is nothing more beautiful than a pregnant belly…on any one. I think it’s something we should all be proud of and not hide. You should feel nothing but beautiful.
BE PROUD OF THE BABY BUMP LADIES!!!
Peace and xoxo,
Cilla
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