Without rain there would be no rainbows
I don't even know where to begin in writing this blog post or how to do it justice for my amazing clients and friends, Malani and Chris. It is heart wrenching, yet hopeful, inspiring and happy all at the same time. I am already getting emotional in just writing this first paragraph...
I met these two several years back when I first started out in photography. They had hired me to do their maternity photos for a sweet baby boy they were expecting. We got some great photos at Victoria beach in Laguna (seriously by the grace of god because I look back at other shoots from that time period and cringe and thank my lucky stars that I have since improved!) and our personalities clicked right away. Sadly, shortly after their session I learned that they had suffered a still birth - a parent's worst nightmare. I can not even imagine how they were feeling. A couple years ago I had a miscarriage and it took a huge toll on me emotionally and physically, yet I know how I felt couldn't even come close to how it must feel to lose a baby at full term. They seemed to have handled their grief with such grace and hope and it was so inspiring.
Malani contacted me earlier this summer and told me that they were coming back into town and wanted to plan another photo shoot because they were pregnant with a rainbow baby! Her message completely made my day and I looked forward to their shoot for months leading up to it. We went back to the same beach and they had come up with some amazing ways to honor their son and their rainbow baby girl.
She not only had a cool crochet rainbow scarf that she turned into a top, but had also found a beautiful rainbow flower crown. The most special part of the session was the bear that you see below. This bear contains the ashes of their son and they had put him in a "big brother" shirt. It was so meaningful and I know their baby girl will grow up to cherish that bear as well.
Last week I got another message from Malani with this below photo of their insanely perfect and beautiful baby girl! She had a natural birth (go girl!) and I just love how the same crochet scarf she wore in the photos is used to wrap her little girl!
I am so honored to have been able to capture both of their pregnancies and to have been a small sliver of their story. I can't wait to see more photos and watch her grow!
