Some families come into your life as clients, but every once in a while, they become part of your story.
I first met the Norris family through a referral from another family whose birth story I had the honor of photographing. When Ashley reached out, she was expecting fraternal twins through IVF, and I was immediately ecstatic. I had never had the opportunity to photograph a twin birth story before, and I knew this was going to be something incredibly special.
We started their journey with a maternity session at Veterans Memorial Park in St. Clair Shores, where we found beautiful natural light, gorgeous backdrops, and a little magic in the park's gazebo.
Ashley was also in the Air Force, and she brought her maternity uniform along for part of the session. I had never actually photographed a woman in a military maternity uniform before, so getting to incorporate that part of her story was especially meaningful. Her husband, a Detroit firefighter, joined her in his dress uniform as well, and together they made the most beautiful formal couple.
And then there was Carmen.
Already a big sister before the twins had even arrived, Carmen joined us for the session, and the way she loved those babies before she had even met them was one of the sweetest parts of the entire experience. You could already see how excited she was to become a big sister.
Not long after their maternity session, Ashley had a scare with early labor and ended up at the hospital. Thankfully, they were able to slow things down and give those babies a little more time. I was able to join them at the hospital and document a few moments during what was undoubtedly an emotional and uncertain time.
Eventually, it was time to meet the twins.
Ashley delivered by C-section, and while I wasn't permitted inside the operating room, I was there to document the moments surrounding their arrival. Once Ashley was in recovery, I was able to join the family and capture those first introductions as Carmen met her baby siblings for the first time.
One of my favorite images from the entire story is of Carmen holding one of the babies for the first time.
There was something so incredibly special about that moment. After watching her love and anticipate these babies throughout the pregnancy, seeing her finally hold one of them made everything feel very real.
I returned the following day for their Fresh 48 session, giving everyone a little time to rest, recover, and clean up after those first whirlwind hours. The babies were absolutely perfect, and some of those images remain some of my favorites to this day.
Then, about two weeks later, I went to the Norris family's home for an in-home newborn session. By then, we had gone from a pregnancy with two babies on the way, to meeting them at the hospital, to watching their family settle into this brand-new chapter at home.
Being able to follow their story from beginning to end was one of the most magical experiences I've ever had as a photographer.
And then, eight years later, I opened an email from Ashley.
She was asking if I would do it all over again.
Of course, the answer was yes.
And just like that, the story continues.
There is something incredibly special about being invited back into a family's life after so many years. Birth photography isn't just about documenting the moment a baby arrives. It's about preserving an entire chapter — the anticipation, the nerves, the excitement, the first meeting, the tiny details, and all of the people who were there to welcome a new little life into the family.
Getting to photograph the Norris twins was an honor.
Getting to photograph them again eight years later?
That feels like coming full circle.
To follow along to the Norris Families SECOND birth story click the link below!