Photographing a full love story: From wedding to newborn photography

Jess

Dallas, TX

Some stories don’t fit neatly into one chapter. They unfold across years and life stages, deepening with time. As a wedding and portrait photographer, there’s nothing more fulfilling than walking alongside a couple through multiple milestones, building trust, continuity, and connection with every session.

Jess is one of those clients. What began as a bridal portrait session turned into a multi-year long creative relationship: her wedding, her maternity portraits, and most recently, welcoming her first child with a cozy newborn session at home.

Working with the same photographer over time doesn’t just make the process easier, it allows for something deeper. The familiarity, comfort, and shared understanding shape the way each moment is captured. There’s less need for direction, and more space to just be. Over time, the photographs begin to tell a fuller story - not just of events, but of evolution.

Bridals at the Dallas Arboretum

Jess originally contacted me for her bridal portraits. She came accompanied by her mother, mother-in-law, and future sister-in-law Sarah (who eventually also became my client!). To skip the Texas heat, we scheduled her session during the holidays at the Dallas Arboretum - a beautiful, festive setting full of nature and sparkly lights. Jess brought such calm elegance to the session and was a natural in front of the camera. The Arboretum gave us quiet corners and garden backdrops to work with, and we created portraits that felt gentle and grounded like her.

Bridal sessions are always a treat to photograph. They give a bride space to feel radiant without the time pressure of a wedding day, and Jess embraced that fully. Needless to say, she also hired me for her wedding photography.

Save the wedding day

By the time her wedding day arrived, we had already established a special connection. What we didn’t anticipate was that I woke up that morning incredibly sick - so sick I was forced to look for a replacement. But when I realized there was no one I trusted to step in on such short notice, and knowing how much our working relationship meant, I made the call to push through.

That trust and commitment worked both ways. Despite how I felt, I documented their day and created a wedding gallery full of joy, presence, and authenticity. Jess and her husband Ryan appreciated me coming through for them so much. It reminded me of why I do this work: because it matters to show up for people when it truly counts.

(Check out their wedding day here)

Maternity portraits in Austin

A couple years later, I got a message that Jess and Ryan were expecting and my heart soared! By that point I had moved from Dallas to Austin, and didn’t expect to continue working with my former clients. They made the trip down (accompanied by their siblings Sarah and Dylan whose wedding I also photographed) and we did their maternity session at the beautiful McKinney Falls State Park.

It felt like a full-circle moment: a celebration of love, family, and the growth of Jess’s journey into motherhood.

(Check out her maternity session here)

Newborn session at home

A few weeks after their baby boy arrived, I drove up to Dallas and visited Jess and Ryan at home to document this new special chapter. Newborn sessions at home are my favorite, as there’s something so natural about capturing families in their own space. I even got to witness my previous work framed all over their walls!

After all the previous chapters we shared, it was incredibly meaningful to meet their little sweetheart. The shoot was filled with quiet joy and tender gestures. Ryan’s guitar even made an appearance in the photos as a symbol of creativity and connection that’s already part of this baby’s story. These are the moments that don’t just mark time, they define it.

Why working with the same photographer matters

Photography is more than just documenting events, it’s about building a visual legacy. When you work with the same photographer across life’s milestones, your images begin to hold a deeper continuity. The trust grows. The process becomes more relaxed. And your story unfolds with cohesion and care.

Jess, thank you for trusting me across these sacred chapters. It’s been an honor to walk this path with you, from “yes” to parenthood and everything in between.

Ready to tell your story?

If you’re looking for a photographer to walk with you across the seasons of life, from engagement and wedding to growing your family, I’d love to be part of that journey. Reach out to learn more about wedding packages and portrait sessions in Austin, Dallas, and beyond.