It’s been a while since I’ve posted any of my birth photography, so I thought I would re-visit a few of my favourite birth photography sessions over the summer…
A few years ago when I was still new to Brantford, we met Jay-Cee at an event; she had two kids in tow. It was a brief interaction, scattered, but there was enough in those sparse moments that I immediately messaged one of my good friends and told her I'd found my Brantford person.
For you see, Jay-Cee is vibrant, stunning, full of life. If you've been around her at all, you walk away wanting to spend more time with her as soon as possible.
Our lives - though not mirrored at all - have small resemblances and intertwining.
She met her South African husband, Ricardo, at a YWAM base in South Africa. Jonathan and I started dating in South Africa, and it is the place we've always talked about returning.
Yet we've all ended up in the small corner of the world known as Brantford.
Jay-Cee, Ricardo and their troop of gorgeous children lived in our apartment for a month or two a few years ago when we were out of town and they were transitioning homes.
(We moved back into our apartment to find Ricardo had fixed every dent and ding in our place.)
We've done a photoshoot for them before, we run into them in random moments and reconnect in short, beautiful moments.
And then this summer Jay-Cee asked me to document the pending home-birth of their arriving baby; she was due at the beginning of September. After many messages back and forth, we had our plan - she'd text, then call if I didn't reply. I'd started bringing my camera bag home every night at the end of August, and hoped she'd deliver before I commenced school which would put me out of town for two full days of the week. (And with her anticipated short delivery time would mean I wouldn't make it. Her last labour/delivery was so speedy her husband barely made it in time.)
She told me all of their kids had been born on a Monday or a Wednesday so we looked at the possible dates on the calendar and laughed at the options.
After weeks of waiting, but on the very perfect morning of September 13 (a Wednesday - she knew), Jay-Cee messaged that it was the day for baby girl to come. They were setting up the pool and preparing, and that they'd let me know when I should come.
I arrived to find the midwife, Jay-Cee's sister, and Ricardo surrounding her, and Jay-Cee herself laughing between the pain. Despite being hours into her labouring, Jay-Cee looked as gorgeous as ever. (To help you understand the beauty of Jay-Cee and Ricardo, in between contractions, they asked about Jonathan, about our adoption process, about our business.)
And then it was time for her to push.
I cried when baby M was born, so beautiful and squishy and perfect.
I've been at a few births, but the miracle of a new life entering the world doesn't grow old.
I'll always remember the day sweet M was born - the sky was the deepest blue, the fields a golden yellow. It was sunny, warm, full of hope. She is so loved and so welcomed into this place.
Thanks, Jay-Cee and Ricardo for the honour of documenting this moment in your family and for allowing me to share it with the world.
xo.
