Maternity Photos...

Since getting pregnant, my life seems as though it's been a whirlwind... and that's both good and bad. I wish it would slow down a little-- but I also want to meet my babies, so I also wish it would speed up.

Real problems, people.

Anyways, I never knew if I'd actually be able to become a mother. There's a story there (to be told another time)... but motherhood was always in question for me. My twins are the results of prayers, miracles, and really smart doctors. Since this will be my one and only pregnancy, I made sure it was documented.  A lot.

My first shoot was with one of my dearest, best friends-- Charlie, of "Charlie Girl Photography". She's a photographer in Fort Worth, and to say she is multi-talented is an understatement. Long-distance friendships are so hard, but she's worth it. Besides being one of my best friends, I'm also her makeup artist and work in the glamour/pinup/vintage industry with her. A lot of the adventures I find in life are with her.

When it came time for maternity photos, she made sure they were nothing like the "standard" maternity pictures I wanted to avoid. I wanted something completely different from the average studio setting.

We created fairytales!

We shot at sunset for a really "bohemian" feel... complete with flower-draped tent in the background.

 We braved poison oak to create coral-daydreams and cotton candy skies.

 She also patiently walked with me (while I waddled) deep into nature, so she could turn me into Little Red Riding Hood.

And finally, I became a lacy princess in the trees in the early morning hours. I don't think I've ever been so tired from shooting... but then again, I've never shot while so pregnant!

I'm so glad she captured these. There will probably be more to come, but it's been hard to sit down and pick more favorites from nearly two-thousand raw images.

The last time I shot with Charlie, I was about 2-3 weeks pregnant and didn't even know it! It was, of course, one of my usual pin-up shoots-- and so that one has special meaning to me, as well.

I still had pretty dresses to shoot in, and wanted to do some at home (in Houston) on the beach with an even BIGGER belly... before it got "twin-ugly".

You know what I'm talking about. There's a point where it's no longer pretty, carrying two babies. Where you can't walk well, and going to the restroom feels like you just competed in the Olympics.

Essentially, that's where I'm at today. Thank goodness I've already shot my second session. LOL!

My second shoot was with Casey of "Three Little Chickadees Photography", a local photographer from my hometown. We shot in Galveston at sunset one day, before I got too far along...

My running joke on this is, "Listens to Lana Del Rey Once; gets pregnant..."

All kidding aside, it's so pretty! I love that she captured Galveston NOT looking like Galveston.

I also shot in a mint green dress-- my favorite color-- but with the wind from the ocean, it didn't like to cooperate the way I wanted it to.  Still beautiful!

It's not often you get to wear a long, fabulous gown on a beach in the water. Actually... yeah, I never do that. This was a first, even for me.

I always joke that I'm a mermaid at heart... so being near the water in my pictures was really important to me. Even though it made it an all-day process, I'm so glad to have had my feet in the sand for these images.

And yes... In case you were wondering, I made all of my flower crowns. I'm a little obsessed. My children will forgive me one day.

I'm posting these images, knowing that my babies are getting really close to making their grand entrance! I'll be 33 weeks along in a day or two, and the average set of twins are born at week 35. Let's say a prayer they stay in! My goal is to keep them safe and in utero until December 13th... I want the happiest, healthiest spawn possible (and that's the magic date).

Pregnancy has been the craziest journey... but I wouldn't trade the wild ride for anything.


Click here for more information on Charlie Girl Photography!

Click here for more information on Three Little Chickadees Photography!