{newborn} The Montemuro Family

It started as our ‘circle of trust.’ Many, many years ago...before we got married, before we started having babies, Lauren and I were both working at Roxborough High School. Our friendship is one of the many things I will always love RHS for. Since then, I have taken Lauren and Phil’s engagement photos, maternity photos and all three newborn photos for their babies. We hadn’t seen each other in a while, but walking into Lauren’s house on Friday afternoon, it was as if no time had passed since she told me she was pregnant. We talk about so many things on our runs and when Lauren told me she was expecting months ago, I remember thinking that these little miracles are the things to hold on to...these are the things that make life so full. A few months later, Lauren told me she was having a girl and my heart exploded. I knew Owen and Logan would be the best big brothers and this little girl would be the icing on their cake.

I walked in to Phil holding baby Chloe on the couch and the tiny pink bundle was not something I was used to seeing in their house! She was sound asleep and so cozy on her dad. It was great to catch up with Phil and Gail (Lauren’s mom). The boys were napping which allowed the perfect window of time to take pictures of Chloe first and then get the boys with their new sister when they woke up.

We stayed in their living room for the whole shoot, also being quiet and mindful of the sleeping boys upstairs. Things certainly change as you have children and Lauren and Phil, with their easy-going personalities, knew not many props were needed for Chloe. Lauren and Phil wanted some pictures of just Chloe, to capture this precious, short-lasting time of her being a newborn. We used a few blankets, headbands, and a Boppy pillow to cradle her. I stand firm in my belief that less is more...especially with newborns. Nothing should take away from their perfect innocence and tininess. This is exactly what was photographed with Chloe. Just her beauty and her newness and the awe you see in Lauren and Phil. I say this not to take away from the amazing tutu she wore that accentuated just how precious she is. The tutu was perfect.

Lauren came down a few minutes after I got there and she looked absolutely beautiful. You’d never guess she had just had a baby and two toddler boys. I was able to move around quickly and take pictures of Chloe alone and also with Lauren and Phil. Owen woke up first and I was able to snap some pictures of the oldest and the youngest of the Montemuro family. He was so adorable and so proud of his sister. The smile on his face is completely genuine. Logan was a little sleepy-head and slept in a bit, but when he woke up, I got a picture of all the kids.

Life with three kids is crazy--there is always something happening, something going on. Capturing children in photos is capturing their essence. Owen, Logan, and Chloe were all well-behaved and cooperative and Owen and Logan even got to watch some of their show and have a lollipop while I took the pictures of them holding Chloe. It worked! Lauren and Phil and their family are always laid back and so much fun to photograph. The love and joy is evident in these pictures.

Lauren and I started the running club at RHS and continued to run races and challenge each other years after, we were at each other’s weddings and have been raising our kids together...taking Chloe’s pictures made our circle of trust come full circle. Our circle continues to grow. I could not be happier for my friend and her beautiful, growing family.