A Long-Awaited Arrival

When Melissa and Jake welcomed their daughter Oakley, it was the culmination of a long and emotional journey to parenthood. After a difficult road to conceive, Oakley made her grand entrance to the world in June. :,) Her first few weeks were spent in the NICU, but when Jake and Melissa were finally able to bring her home they contacted me to take their photos and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to capture this for them. Here’s a peek at their newborn session in Tri-Cities, WA.

Honoring Her NICU Story

One of the most touching parts of this session was incorporating the beads Oakley earned during her NICU stay. Each bead represented a milestone she reached in the NICU. It was such a testament to the strength and resilience Oakley demonstrated so early on in her life.

Sentimental, In-Home Sessions

Photographing Oakley in her home allowed us to create images that were not only beautiful but deeply personal. The soft summer light filtering through their windows, the familiar surroundings, and the relaxed pace all contributed to a gallery that truly tells their story.

Oakley was a little fussy during the session, but being at home made it a lot easier to soothe her throughout the session. Jake and Melissa had access to all her comfort items in their home, and not having to commute and transport those items to another location provided for a convenient, stress-free session.

Preserving the Memories

As a full-service photographer, I work with my clients to help them preserve and display these memories in their home. Jake and Melissa opted for a beautiful, heirloom album to showcase all of their photos in their home. I can’t wait until they have their album on their coffee table and can look back on how little baby Oakley during her first few months of life. :,)

A Message to New Parents

If you’re a new parent worried about how your baby will behave during a session, remember this: the goal isn’t perfection. It’s connection. As a family photographer in Tri-Cities, WA, my role is to capture your love, your joy, and your unique story—even if the day doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Oakley’s photos are a reminder that sometimes the sweetest memories are born from imperfect moments.

Curious about what a session could look like for you? Fill out my contact form here and let’s chat about bringing your dream photos to life.

The lions above are such a special touch. The lion on the lift is Baby Oakley’s new lion and the lion on the right is Jake’s lion from when he was a baby. :’)