In all honesty, for some sessions, it is just hard to find the right words. A while back I got way to busy to blog each session as much as I wanted to and as valuable as every session I do is to me. Some sessions though can’t be posted without words. This would be one of those and hence why it has taken me nearly a year to blog this session.
As many of you may know, this is Emma and Aaron Hansen, daughter of Rick Hansen. In 2015, days before my first little niece was born we found out that Emma and Aaron had lost their first son, Reid. Although I did not know Emma well, I did know her. She had attended my sister-in-law’s baby shower and they were quite good friends. When we heard the news, I felt my connection to her grew deeper. Not deeper because I knew her better but deeper because I too was a mother, and every thought of her loss touched my heart deeply.
As the year went on, I followed Emma and Aaron in their journey through struggling to get pregnant with their second child and in all of it still grieving the loss of their first son. Finally, in early 2016, we heard the news that Emma and Aaron were pregnant again. As exciting as it was, I could feel all the feelings of having to go through this whole experience again. And yet all l I could do was pray and think of them often.
I had always wanted to do something special for them. As a photographer I felt deeply in my heart I would have done anything to have been there in the arrival of their first son, to capture that special and only time they had together here on earthside. With a big nudge from my sister-in-law I reached out to Emma to ask her if she would be interested in capturing her time pregnant and she agreed. It was really just a gift for them, so to be able to share the images was exciting as well. Not only was it super special for me to shoot that session but it was such a great time to get to know this incredibly brave and strong couple. There love is something else.
Nearing the end of the year Emma and I had connected again and this time she asked if I would be willing to shoot her birth. Having someone who was not quite a super close friend but also not a stranger was comforting to her and my heart pretty much exploded with not only excitement but so much honour.
On Dec 16th, 2016 I got a text from Emma. She was planned to be induced on Monday but that text said something a bit different: “I have been having contractions, and we are heading to the hospital to just get checked. I will let you know how things go” something along those lines. Sean was home and my bags were packed but I still was not confident I would be racing to the hospital just hours later. Within a few hours though, I received another text: “this is taking a bit of time, maybe just head out here my contractions have got a lot stronger and more consistent.” It was game time. I raced out to Woman’s Hospital at 4:30pm in the middle of rush hour, parked my car and raced up to the maternity ward to ask the nurse at reception where I could find their room. His response: “umm well she is having the baby right now.” I couldn’t believe it, I was going to miss the birth. Thankfully, not quite.
But that baby came within a half hour of me being there.
At around 6:30 pm (I can literally remember the clock), little Everett was born. At that moment I had to hold back a lot of tears. The sight of seeing the little boy here and yet there oldest not was hard for me and I am certain everyone else in the room. But honestly, there was so much joy. I had never seen so many proud parents, aunts, uncles, sisters, and a husband in one room. It was truly incredible.
It has taken me a year to write this, mostly because it was hard to find the words. But today I speak from my heart. I was incredibly honoured to capture these moments and to meet as I have said before, probably some of the bravest and strongest people I will ever meet here on earth.
Thank you Hansen Family.
Emma has picked which images she was comfortable with me to sharing, I hope you enjoy!
And here you can find Emma and Aaron’s Maternity Session
