A NICU miracle baby | Indianapolis newborn photographer

Brock and Miriam are a sweet couple that I’ve been privileged to know from the very beginning of their family. Their oldest daughter Anneliese was one of the first newborn babies I ever captured. Anneliese was followed by two little brothers, Charlie and Jacob, and finally with a little sister, Lilly.

It’s amazing how much growth I have seen since 2010 in crafting my art! I am so excited that as I grow and improve my skills, I can better serve you with the most amazing heirlooms of this precious, fleeting newborn stage!

With Lilly’s arrival, Brock and Miriam were sure their family was complete.

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Little did they know the adventure still ahead of them! When Lilly was five years old, they were surprised to discover another little Barlow would be joining the family!

We did a special maternity session as we were sure this child would make the family complete.

Little Miss Nora arrived and the whole family was in love with this precious new little family member.

So the Barlow family was complete.

At least, so they thought . . .

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God had one more surprise for them, and this time, their little one would take them on a very unexpected and difficult journey that would stretch and challenge them beyond anything they thought possible.

Miriam discovered she was expecting again, and among other complications, was diagnosed with placenta accreta. This condition is incredibly dangerous and life-threatening for the mother.

Baby Theo arrived on October 7, 2021 weighing only 5 lbs., 3 oz.

Immediately after his emergency cesarean section delivery, Miriam immediately underwent a complete hysterectomy.

Many long and difficult days were spent in the hospital as Miriam recovered. She was not able to be with her little baby boy in those first hours and days like she was with her other babies.

Eventually, Miriam was released to go home, but little Theo was still fighting and had a long road ahead of him. Brock and Miriam experienced trauma in many forms during those long, difficult days that Theo spent in the NICU.

But finally, after 64 days, Theo was strong and healthy enough to go home.

Brock and Miriam were able to surprise all of the big brothers and sisters as they brought him home for the very first time.

Shortly after his arrival home from the NICU, I had the wonderful privilege of capturing newborn photos of this precious little life in my studio on the east side of Indianapolis.

This sweet family that was now, without a doubt, COMPLETE.

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One year later, Theo came back to my Indianapolis studio for a first birthday cake smash session to celebrate his first year of life!

He is now a healthy, thriving little boy with so much potential!

Wanna know what the theme was for his cake smash? Check out the previous blog post here to find out and learn the story behind the choice of the theme!

Capturing your family's story | Indianapolis newborn photographer

Brandon and Kaylee had a strong desire to become parents, but struggled to see this dream become a reality. They waited three long years to finally meet their first little one. Read their story in Kaylee’s own words below:

announcement photos used with permission

““We can’t keep our secret any longer!

This is our story.

It’s been 3 years filled with tears, hope, discouragement, faith, questions, trust and phrases like “will we ever be blessed with a child?” We’ve been asked numerous times “when are you guys going to have a baby?” or “why don’t you have kids yet?”

Looking back on these 3 years we can see how God has worked everything out in His perfect timing. We’ve had these years to encourage, love, and grow in Christ together. We wouldn’t trade this trial for the world because it’s a lesson of patience and trust we’ve needed in our lives. We hope our story can be an encouragement to someone who is still waiting on their precious little one. God truly blesses in His timing!

We are SO thrilled for baby Unruh to join our family in April!”

— Kaylee Unruh

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What a delight it was to capture some beautiful maternity heirlooms for them as Kaylee carried their little one and they anticipated the day they would meet him! We enjoyed a sunrise maternity session at the canal along

the White River in downtown Indianapolis.

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And then, before they knew it, he was here.

Their hearts could hardly contain the joy this little one brought and the depth of love they felt for him.

Every time Brandon and Kaylee look at their newborn photos, they are looking upon heirlooms that take their hearts right back to all of those emotions of joy and love.

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Fast forward a couple of years…

and Brandon and Kaylee were gifted with another precious miracle! Grayson was now a big brother and Brandon and Kaylee now had a sweet little boy AND a girl!

Little Miss Harper was the sweetest addition to the family and it was an honor for me to capture her in the newborn stage while she was new to the world!

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Time passed, and Brandon and Kaylee discovered another little blessing was on the way, but unfortunately, they had to say goodbye to their sweet angel baby before their child ever came earthside. Going through this kind of loss leaves you with such a heartache that is impossible to put into words. It’s a difficult storm to navigate.

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In God’s perfect timing, He chose to give them a precious little rainbow

after the storm.

Little Miss Remington arrived . . .

. . . and the Unruh family had now grown to a family of five!

She was the perfect little bright spot that was so needed after such a difficult loss.

Returning to my studio on the east side of Indianapolis as your family grows allows you to have a beautiful consistency to your heirloom photos. Look at the precious growth that has taken place through the past few years!

It truly is an honor to walk with you as the story of your family unfolds, capturing precious heirlooms for you along the way.

Message me HERE to inquire about booking your maternity and newborn heirloom session!

Baby names from A to Z

After being a newborn photographer for over twelve years, I have been amazed at how much variety there has been in the names of each little one that comes to visit me at my Indianapolis studio! Some of the names were chosen simply because the parents loved the name, and some because of a family or cultural background.

Here is a highlight of babies I have captured from A to Z!

I am only missing two letters of the alphabet - take a look and find out which letters are missing!

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A is for Asher

Asher can be a beautiful name for a boy or a girl!

Here are two little Ashers I’ve had in my studio!

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B is for Beau

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C is for Caiya

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D is for Denton

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E is for Esther

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F is for Fionnlagh

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G is for Georgia

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H is for Haddon

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I is for Irena

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J is for Jude

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K is for Koah

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L is for Laela

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M is for Margot

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N is for Nolan

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O is for Owen

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P is for Piper

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Q is for Quinn

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R is for Rhett

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S is for Sebastian

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T is for Taya

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V is for Violet

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W is for Weyland

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X is for Ximena

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Z is for Zeke

Baby Asher | Newborn pilot theme

It’s pretty common for mommas to reach out to me to book and plan for her newborn session.

But in little Asher’s case, his daddy was the one that reached out to discuss details as we prepared for his newborn session at my studio on the east side of Indianapolis.

Asher’s Daddy is a pilot based out of Indianapolis.

It was so special to honor his parents’ request for him to be photographed with Daddy’s uniform and hat.

Photos like this will always have special meaning because they are a symbol of a unique piece of your lives as a family.

In addition to the newborn photos with daddy’s pilot uniform, Asher’s daddy had a small handful of specific requests, and it was so fun to provide each request!

One of the first things Daddy requested was “froggy pose”

Asher was wide awake when we first got started, but he was content, so we let him wiggle about and wear himself out naturally so that he would be very sleepy in his own way to accomplish this pose.

Patience is the name of the game for much of a newborn session.

Once Asher was ready, we took advantage of him being comfortable in this pose and got a shot with a little hat and one without so that mommy and daddy had some variation for their photos.

The next request was a photo of Asher with his big brother and sister.

The kiddos did an amazing job and were so cooperative. We were able to get some beautiful heirloom photos that captured the sweet bond that is already there between these three.

newborn photographer

Asher had a special outfit customized with his name

This request was from momma! She wanted a photo of Asher in his special custom outfit.

Daddy saw a photo I had done with this set up and asked if I could do it with Asher.

So we pulled out the campfire s’mores tin and posed him in this adorable set up!

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Here are just a few other highlights from this special newborn session!

FAQ | The five most frequently asked questions when preparing for a newborn session | Indianapolis Newborn Photographer

When inquiring about a newborn session, there are questions that tend to be asked often. Here are the answers to the five most frequently asked questions about your Indianapolis newborn session!

1. When is the best time to book?

The simple answer? Don’t wait!

Honestly, as soon as you discover you are expecting and have a general due date established, it is not too soon to reach out to book your newborn session.

It is best to have your session booked before your third trimester, if possible. There is always room allowed on the calendar in case the need arises to reschedule because of an early or late delivery, or an unexpected longer stay at the hospital.

Birth can be very unpredictable, and that is taken into consideration when booking your newborn session. Having that date on the calendar before baby arrives allows your session to be secured. We can adjust the date of the session based on the actual day of delivery.

2. Do I need to bring outfits and items for the set up?

No! The studio is full of beautiful items and everything is provided for your beautiful heirloom newborn photos!

Lots of communication takes place before the session, and you have the privilege of sharing any preferences you may have of colors and themes.

Sometimes mommas will screen shot a photo from the Memory Lane Photography Instagram page or a photo from the Google listing and request a similar shot with her baby.

If you have a special blanket or significant item, be sure to communicate this and I will plan a way to incorporate it into one of your set ups.

Everything needed for all of these requests is provided in the studio. When you arrive for your newborn session, all of the set ups will be ready for your little one!

Check out the Memory Lane Photography Instagram page here for ideas for your upcoming newborn session!

This past year about half a dozen sessions were ones that were gifted. Some were a parent gifting it to their son or daughter who had a baby, some were gifted by a good friend, and one was a group of coworkers that went in together to give the gift of a newborn session. •• I honestly can’t think of a better gift idea, because unlike most other gifts that fade and wear out over time, this gift GROWS in value the more time passes. •• And hey, there is nothing wrong with putting an MLP gift certificate on your Christmas wish list and asking for this for Christmas! •• Invest in a gift that will last and grow more and more precious as time passes. •• Message me for details on how to get your gift certificate!

Client love 💕 •• It’s an honor to provide heirlooms for you of this precious, fleeting stage of life 🥰

PLEASE TAKE TIME TO READ AND PRAY … Asking for prayers for sweet big brother Grayson. 💚 I’ve had the privilege of knowing his mommy and daddy since before he was born and prayed and rejoiced with them when they discovered they were expecting after a difficult time of infertility. I’ve had the privilege of capturing him as a newborn as well as his sister Harper, and just recently he became a big brother again, and little Miss Remi graced my studio. •• Grayson has a rare condition called CDKL5. He is bound to a wheelchair. He is non verbal (although his eyes and smile light up every room and communicate so much 🥰) Once his parents are able to help figure out one difficult issue, another one arises. and it is weighing heavily on his mommy and daddy. His current issue is not keeping anything down and on top of constant seizures he is vomiting regularly. Daddy has to sleep next to him at night to care for him and they can’t go anywhere as a family right now because of this challenge. It’s discouraging and not healthy for their marriage. •• Would you please pray for Brandon and Kaylee? That God would grant them grace to deal with things moment by moment and that God would protect their marriage and provide relief with this current challenge?

Well, hello, December.🎄❄️ ❤️ •• Today marks a shift from all things fall to all things Christmas and winter-y. I struggle with seasonal depression so I’m always a bit hesitant to enter into this season. But for today, after having the most beautiful fall season we’ve had in a long time here in Indy, I’m excited to see what this season brings us. I’m hoping for lots more snow this year than the typical brown, dreary Indiana winters. Shooting sessions in the snow makes for some gorgeous captures of maternity, families and kiddos! •• If you struggle with seasonal depression, does a fresh snowfall help you like it helps me? •• 📸:: @erinkayphotography

I always feel like November 30 is the final day of fall. The last little hint of it is completely over for me when I wake up the next day and the calendar says December 1. •• So thankful for the precious lives I’ve had the privilege of capturing during this amazing fall season! •• What is your favorite memory from this fall season?

Plan for parent shots. JUST DO IT. You want to remember the emotions you felt when you held your baby close. You want your child to see how in love you were with her. Do it for you, but do it for HER. 💕 You won’t regret it.

I’m be got plenty to be thankful for 🥰 Thankful today for …. ✨Joe ✨All four of my amazing kids ✨My pups ✨coffee ✨the privilege of serving as your photographer and providing you with valuable heirlooms •• What’s one thing you’re thankful for today?

VARIETY- you can be sure you will get variety at your newborn session! ✨Variety of colors and textures ✨Variety of poses ✨Variety of angles These highlights from little Miss Arla’s session are a good example of how much variety you can have! •• Whether you prefer one or two colors as a theme or would like lots of different colors, your session will have a lot of variety to provide you with a beautiful set of heirlooms to always treasure this precious, fleeting stage! •• Which of these photos of Arla is your favorite?

In over 12 years of being a newborn photographer, I’ve captured little ones with names starting with every single letter of the e alphabet EXCEPT TWO. 😏 •• Head over to the latest blog post to find out which two letters I am missing! Link to the blog in bio! •• Comment if you see your baby here!

Every single newborn session is unique and curated specifically to momma and daddy’s preferences and requests. There is a lot of communication that goes on before the day of your session and a lot of work behind the scenes to make your baby’s newborn session as magical as possible. After all, they are only this little for such a short time - it’s critical to me to make sure your photos are everything you want them to be. 💕

3. What is the investment?

There are three newborn packages available.

Each of the three newborn packages includes high resolution digital photos as well as an art work gift certificate. This certificate is applied toward beautiful artwork such as high quality prints, canvasses, or albums to display your photos. You want to enjoy them much more than just pulling them up on your phone. Check out the details here!

Newborn Packages

4. Where are you located?

My studio is on the east side of Indianapolis in New Palestine.

If you are familiar with the Indianapolis area, you would know that the center of Indianapolis is inside the I-465 loop. If you go to the 3 o’clock spot on the I-465 loop, my studio is about a 10 minute drive almost straight east from there.

 

5. Are there any other perks when scheduling a newborn session?

Yes! When you book a newborn session, you will receive a $100 credit toward Baby’s Grow With Me Collection.

This collection is a total of 3 separate sessions spanning across your baby’s first year of life.

It allows you to have heirlooms that beautifully document the rapid growth of your child throughout the first year. It is an investment that will only grow in value over time as your baby changes. The memory of the details of the various stages of growth become blurred, and this investment allows you to go back to remember those details vividly.

Do you have more questions about booking a newborn session? Just send me a message! I’d love to chat more with you!

Destination newborn session | traveling to Texas | Indianapolis newborn photographer

When I first started specializing in newborn photography, I traveled to homes around Indianapolis and brought all of my things with me - the props, the wraps, the backdrops, etc. Because I utilize natural light, I would find the biggest, best window and move furniture around and create makeshift set ups to accomplish the task at hand.

Because of the nature of posed newborn photography, that became increasingly challenging,

and before long, my husband helped me transform our sunroom into my studio.

Having my own studio right in my home in Indianapolis has been a huge blessing because when parents arrive with their new baby, I have everything set up and ready to go. Mommies and Daddies can relax and allow me to capture heirloom photos of this precious stage without worrying about cleaning their home for my arrival.

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On a rare and special occasion, I will still travel to a client’s home.

My sweet friend, Sara, lives in Texas, which is a bit too far from Indianapolis to come for a newborn session at my studio. So, instead, for her last three babies, she flew me out to Texas for each of their newborn sessions.

Flying Southwest airlines was the way to go because you can check bags for free. And in order to provide Sara with the same kind of photos I provide for all of my other clients, I needed to pack a large suitcase full of props, fluff, wraps, and sweet little accessories.

Unfortunately, I was not yet established in specializing in newborn photography when her first baby was born

but I was still able to get some sweet photos of Jason as a new big brother.

Ashlyn was the first of Sara’s babies I had the privilege to photograph as a newborn. We used a basket at her Grammy’s house for photos with her special blanket that her great grampa crocheted for her. We stretched blankets and backdrops across a small couch and utilized other furniture to create some special set ups to make her session special.

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Fast forward just a couple of years and baby number three arrived. So I was off to Texas again for another fun newborn session.

This time Ashlyn was the big sister

and now Jason was the proud brother of two little sisters.

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Fast forward another three years and now Brinley gets to be the big sister, and Jason has a little brother!

What a joy it was to welcome baby Shane into the world

and catch up with big brother Jason and big sisters Ashlyn and Brinley!

Highlights from Shane’s session . . .

And of course, it is always a joy to catch up with my sweet friend, Sara.

If you are not in Indianapolis, and have an interest in having me travel to you for your newborn session, send me a message and we can chat details! I’m always open for a new adventure!

Celebrating your rainbow baby | Indianapolis maternity and newborn photographer

What is a rainbow baby?

A rainbow baby is a child born after a loss of a previous child.

It does not negate the ravages of any storm.

When a rainbow appears, it does not mean that the storm never happened or that we are not still dealing with its aftermath.

It means that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and the clouds. Storm clouds may still hover, but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy, and hope.

Loss of a child takes on many forms. Miscarriage, infant loss, stillbirth, or neonatal death all take on a horrifying nature of their own that leaves much pain and devastation - particularly to a momma’s heart.

When a momma is able to experience her rainbow in the midst and after a storm, there is something extra sweet about the light and beauty of this child that brings comfort and joy. Carrying this child is an extra special celebration of the blessing of this rainbow.

After all that you have been through, momma, investing in a special maternity session to beautifully document the time you carried this special child is a treasure you will take with you the rest of your life. You want a vivid memory of how you felt.

How beautiful you were.

The new light that was shining from within and radiating from you.

You want to look back and remember when you started feeling hope again.

As he grows, you want to have something tangible to show this child.

You want him to khow how he made you feel and how special he was to you from the very start before you ever met him.

One special story of a sweet rainbow baby who was recently in my studio is Luciano’s story . . .

His momma shared, “We had a miscarriage and then a ruptured ectopic pregnancy that almost ended my life! They took my right Fallopian tube and I had a blood transfusion it was unreal. I thought we’d never be able to have kids. But then he happened and he is literally the strongest guy! We are over the moon how healthy he is right now.”

I personally have been through the pain of miscarriage, and my son Luke is my rainbow baby.

I know the pain. I know the devastation. But I also know the joy and comfort that comes in the gift of a rainbow baby.

It is an extra special honor to me to beautifully document YOUR rainbow baby and provide heirloom photos for you to treasure for always!

Check out the newborn packages available to you at my Indianapolis studio here!