I have so many things I would love to say about this amazing couple, yet I'm not sure I can put my feelings into words. Last year, around this time actually, I put out a maternity session model call and Christina responded. I decided to do this model call because I really wanted to try doing some lifestyle/documentary maternity sessions and see how they turned out. Christina filled out my questionnaire and submitted a few pictures. I don't think I got more than two questions in and I was already ecstatic to meet this adorable couple! The way she described their relationship just sent my imagination into a fit of creativity. I called Christina that night and told her that I would be beyond thrilled to work with them and, really, the rest is history! We did their maternity session and they booked their birth story and newborn session with me! More from those to come later.
I met with Christina and Jonathan to create a tentative plan for their session and I think I ended staying there in their apartment for at least a couple of hours. We just hit it off right away. I love meeting people for the first time and having that instant connection. I left their adorable Asheville, NC home knowing these pictures would turn out beautifully simply due to the fact that the three of us were already so comfortable with each other.
I wanted the focus of this session to be on the two of them as a couple before becoming parents. They told me that a typical weekend day for them consisted of going out for brunch, coming home and cuddling in bed (that's Jonathan's favorite!), and then catching up on Survivor or some of their favorite HGTV shows. Sounds like my kinda day for sure!
I want to stop right here for a minute. Whenever I talk to clients about their "typical" day, it never fails that they brush it off and say "We don't do much." or shrug their shoulders and say "We're pretty boring." Trust me, I totally get it. I say it about my husband and I all the time. It's so important for us to remember that these seemingly "boring" routines and traditions really are special. These are the things we will want to remember later in life.
Okay, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
For brunch, we went to Mayfel's in downtown Asheville. I'd never been so this was a fun, new experience for me! If you haven't checked them out before, make sure you do so! The food was delicious and Jonathan particularly enjoyed the bloody mary bar. I thought going out for brunch together was such a great way to start the session as it gave us all time to get more comfortable with each other before moving on to the remainder of the session.
After brunch, we headed out to a park nearby and did some portraits, because even though I love to focus on mostly documentary sessions, there's always a place for a few pretty portraits and with a couple this adorable, I knew their personalities would still shine through their portraits no matter how posed they were!
Back at the apartment, it was time for Jonathan's favorite part of the day. Cuddles! i just think these pictures are so special! Charlie is going love seeing how much love his parents had for each other even before he was born.
Once cuddle time was over, it was time to catch up on some House Hunters on HGTV. I seriously love the way these picture turned out! And I will never ever get over how adorable Christina's dimples are! She doesn't like them. Can you believe that?? (Spoiler alert! Charlie inherited them!!)
Christina and Jonathan, I know we've covered this already, but thank you!!! I feel so beyond blessed to have met you two! I know that a lot has changed in the last almost year since Charlie was born. I'm so happy you guys will always have these memories!
{If you're expecting a new addition to your family and would like to document this time in your lives, please reach out by sending an email! I would love to meet and chat with you!}