life with a newborn :: annie grace

Last time I came out to this home where this sweetest of families resides, their third born was a fresh squish of a baby. And now there's a fourth baby, an unexpected by delightful exclamation mark at the end of their Growing A Family story. :) Annie Grace, you are treasure, and your coming has been an agent of such grace for your family. The world will be better with you in it. 

Brooke Collier is a Grand Rapids, MI based family and newborn photographer. Birth photography and birth attendant services also available at www.sisterbirth.com.

life with a newborn :: felicity london

First of all, how awesome is the name Felicity London?! Come on! It's just as awesome as her big sister's name, Cordelia Love. 

It's been so lovely to be the photographer for this family as a few major life events now, and this was no exception. Their beautiful homes, hospitable hearts, and sweet daughters are a joy. 

Here's sweet baby Felicity -- and her people -- at just a little over a week old...

These in-home documentary family photo sessions and life with a newborn sessions are my jam. Reach out to schedule one for your crew!

fresh48 :: violet

As is so often the case with second babies, Violet's birth was much quicker than her parents could have even anticipated. Their midwife made it to their home with very little time to spare. And so when I came to them the very next day to make these photographs, they were still a bit wide-eyed and stunned from the joyful surprise of it all. They'd just had a baby(!!), and were trying to integrate that new reality into their minds and hearts. That kind of raw, fresh energy is exactly what I love about Fresh48 sessions. A day or two later, let alone a few weeks later, we would have had a very different energy, you know?! But today. Today they are shellshocked and tender, open and a tiny bit messy. And that's really, really good stuff. Not to mention Violet herself, who will look so different just days from now, as newborns so quickly shift in appearance. I hope they'll treasure these images for a long time. 

life with a newborn :: birch

A first baby, a son. Nothing upends life -- in the best possible ways -- quite the way a firstborn does! How I loved being able to pop in and make some photographs of Birch and his parents just a few days after his birth. They're cocooned up, adjusting to the new reality and expanded love that's just overtaken them. All my best wishes to you three... 

life with a newborn :: cora faith

Sweet little Cora Faith is the third daughter in this close-knit family. Their home is so cozy, their laughter so quick-coming, and their faith expressed with such a whole heart. Cora has fallen right into the nest so naturally. She's so loved, and it's so lovely to see that. 

For this Life With A Newborn Session, this family had their family devotions, made birthday treats (for Cora's big sister who is turning 3), then building and playing in a couch/cushion/pillow/stuffed animal fort. :) Through all this activity, Cora was the most peaceful, alert little baby, even at the young age of 1.5 weeks!

life with a newborn :: ethan frost

I have a theory that third babies are magical. It seems like they are almost always easy-going and good sleepers. This is not based in scientific research, just casual observation. But dear little Ethan Frost is confirming my theory, that's for sure. 

It's been such joy to photograph this family across the years, since their eldest was just a baby! After this session, Jason and Andrea were reflecting on what it's been like to have the same photographer document them at several different key points in their life as a family. It was really rewarding to hear them talk about how special it is to look back at their collection of little books (cos all my sessions come with a little photo book!), seeing the similarity in style that comes from having the same photographer over and over again, but being able to see all the subtle changes in their children across the years. Family heirlooms, for sure! 

This time, in addition to a new baby, this family also has a new home and their eldest just started her first year of school. Through it all, their gentle affection and intentionality with one another shines through. Years of small faithfulnesses yield a rich life and healthy, vibrant kiddos.