Motherhood begins the moment you find out you’re carrying a child. Your life changes. From what you put into your body to the risks you’re willing to take, everything you do is now influenced by that tiny being growing inside you. You’re committed. You’re a mother before you ever lay eyes on your child. Your heart is filled with hope and wonder… and fear. Every day that you’re pregnant, you hope and pray that your child is doing well inside you. You would give anything, ANYTHING, to make sure that your baby is healthy and strong. Nine months. “Come on, baby… nine months. Stay strong, baby. Keep kicking. Come on little heart, keep beating.” The doctors poke and prod and test… they want to make sure everything is doing well and after each test, your chest is tight. You’re hoping everything is as it should be. “Please let all the test results come back normal. Father in heaven, touch this baby.” I have four children. Each one of those pregnancies was a blessing, each birth a miracle. I had four full term babies, all strong and healthy. I rejoiced at each birth, and at the joy of being able to take my baby home the next day. I’ve never lost a baby. I’ve never had a baby in the NICU. I’ve never had to experience that kind of pain. But my heart… Oh, my heart hurts for the mothers who have! It is something I cannot begin to fathom… "My miracle baby, Ximena, is a rainbow baby born after a stillbirth I had last year at 35 weeks. Ximena was born at 27 weeks, 1 day, due to low amniotic fluid and preeclampsia. She weighed 1lb, 6oz." My own mother knows the pain. I grew up knowing that a mother never recovers from that loss. My mother had five miscarriages before I was born. I was her rainbow baby. Her miracle. The thing that doctors told her that her body would not do... And I grew up knowing how incredibly blessed she felt when she had me. But that never erased the loss she experienced. Gratitude. That’s what I feel, more than anything, when I see these babies in the NICU. These tiny little babies, who have to fight so hard for their own survival. These parents who are there every day, all day, talking to their tiny little miracles, encouraging them, touching and holding them whenever possible, praying over them… and hoping. When I found out about The Tiny Footprints Project, the photographer in me recognized an opportunity to give back to the community. The Tiny Footprints Project is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. They match affiliated photographers with families of infants living in the NICU to provide one complimentary lifestyle portrait session and one complimentary downloadable gallery with the digital images from the session. As a newborn photographer, contributing in this way was a no-brainer. It was my heart’s way of paying it forward. What it’s like in the NICU. Walking through the NICU, you are confronted by a feeling of protectiveness. Everything inside you wants to just pull all of those babies close to you and hold them tight until they are big, strong, healthy babies. But you can’t even touch them. They’re so tiny and fighting for life. So you pray for them and their families and you head to the baby you are there to see. You look at the parents. They’re smiling. The nurses are smiling. It’s quiet and calm. The place is filled with hope. Filled with a spirit of strength. "My son was born 23 weeks. At 32 weeks he is doing amazing for only having had a 10% chance of living. He truly is my miracle baby." You watch as mom takes her tiny baby from the plastic incubator. She’s smiling as she nestles the baby against her chest. This tiny baby that’s barely bigger than her hands… SMILES BACK! Yes, that is the most miraculous thing of all… these tiniest of babies smile when they hear, smell, and feel their moms. Babies that leave their mothers’ bodies months before they were supposed to… KNOW their moms. They respond. And the babies thrive the most when they get the most skin to skin contact with mom. How incredible is that??? I wish there was a way for me to accurately convey what it is like to witness all of this. It is emotional. It is heartbreaking and heartwarming, all in the same breath. And it makes me want to go home and squeeze my babies to me. That moment. That moment when you meet your clients and you suddenly feel like a fashion photographer! When Crystal called to set up a portrait session for herself and her two daughters, I could completely relate. As a mother of four, I understand how important it is to get in the picture with your children. There wasn’t some big event coming up, no major reason she needed the pictures, no major milestones… it had just been a while and she wanted pictures of the three of them together. To me, that is the PERFECT reason to schedule a session! Normally, I meet with my clients before the session to discuss what we’re doing, make everyone feel comfortable and excited, and get to know each other before the work begins. This wasn’t possible on this occasion, so my first time meeting Crystal and her girls was at the actual portrait session.
Imagine my delight when these three beauties walked up! Perfectly coordinated and excited to create some beautiful images, these ladies were a photographer’s dream! We laughed and played and created those looks that portrayed them exactly as they felt – happy, loved, and carefree. The light, the weather, the sky… everything worked together so perfectly. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” ~ Lao Tzu I first spoke with Theresa when she called to book a beach portrait session for her family. She wasn’t local, but her family was coming to the beach for a well-earned break. As we spoke, it was clear that this session meant a lot to her and she was excited to get professional images that reflected her family as they are today. As I got to know her through phone calls and emails, I became more and more intrigued. She had a story to tell. And she wanted images that would tell her story. A story of life changes. A story of overcoming. A story of joy. And most importantly, a story of a family working together to become better, stronger, happier, and healthier. Here is her journey. “In 2008 an illness set in, 6 months postpartum. By the time I reached the fourth neurologist, in 2010, I finally received a diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy and fibromyalgia. Along with all the medical issues, came $5,000 a year in prescriptions and medical bills. If I left home, the uncontrollable spasms and 24/7 vertigo caused me to have to walk with a cane. I had to use a mobility scooter in order to go shopping, get around our neighborhood, or on vacations and day trips. During these years both Bobby and I increased in weight upwards of three hundred pounds. At our maximum weight, he was 315 and I was 298. We were hit with the realization that we were not starting Sharayah, our beautiful daughter, off in life with healthy habits, either. It was the fall of 2013 when we decided to start making changes. Over a matter of a few months we began to eat healthier, cut sodas down to once a week, increase water intake, introduce doTerra's therapeutic grade essential oils/supplements, and added a metabolic booster called ACE. We begin to eat more salads and whole foods, and began cooking more at home, rather than eating out. We also reduced carbs. Mind you, we didn't completely get rid of these. We still had the occasional splurge of Ramen, spaghetti, or grilled cheese sandwiches. But over half of our meals turned to whole foods, vegetables, and fruits. We both lost roughly 20 pounds between August and December of 2013. The New Year brought new challenges. Our bodies were beginning to level out and become used to the new lifestyle and new supplements. It was time to make another change. By spring of 2014, the doTerra supplements had done their job very well! I was no longer walking with a cane, but walking with much more confidence, and was off all meds (so many meds! - narcotics, sleep aides, psych, pain, blood pressure and nerve). The fog was lifting and I was once again becoming comfortable in my own body. My newfound mobility made me ready to try to work out. I eased into it, but was able to complete bouts of exercise regularly. I was moved to tears regularly at the miracle of being able to move again! We plateaued in our weight loss, and decided it was time for more change. This time we decided it was time to go as organic and clean with all foods as possible. Switching over to cage-free eggs, grass-fed cow comma non GMO Foods. Switching from rice to quinoa, whole grain foods (instead of white foods) and exploring more about coconut oil, coconut flour, and almond flour. By the fall of 2014, we had lost a total of 50 pounds each! We were thrilled with the results, but knew that there was more in store for us. By the end of 2014, we were ready for more! We added more working out at home, Bobby joined a 24-hour gym, and by March 2015 we started walking as a family. Our goal was to get to a playground that was 2 miles away from our home. For a person who had been unable to walk well for nearly six years, this seemed like a lofty goal. And it was! I had to be wise. You've heard people say one day at a time... Well, this was one driveway at a time. Meaning every day I walked whether it was consecutive days, or not, I only added one driveway per walk. By mid-summer we could reach the playground! Sharayah and I were now walking 4 miles a day. As a family, we walked a couple times a week when Bobby was off. We started reading about the ways our bodies worked and decided to switch around some of our supplements. From proper workouts to intermittent fasting, we continued to make changes. In the early fall 2015, we reached our goal of 100 pounds lost before our Disney vacation. We were walking 4 miles or more a day, capable of doing a small workout after that and eating the healthiest we ever had - in our entire lives! Bobby had added whey protein peanut butter milkshakes to his morning regimen. Twice a week, Sharayah and I were having whole fruits, yogurt, and almond milk smoothies for breakfast. Our overall eating became so healthy and energizing! Winter of 2016 brought a 20 pound weight gain for us both. I can walk in the rain. I can even walk in the cold; however, walking in frigid rain is not my cup of tea. We have an elliptical, a row machine, balance balls, punching bag equipment, free weights and steps at the house. With all of this equipment at our disposal, I personally found none of them to be quite as rewarding as going for a walk, having a goal, and achieving it. Bobby found additional modes of working out, to include Xbox One's serious physical fitness programs. In the spring of 2016, we found ourselves walking again, losing weight, targeting small goals, meeting them, and settling back into healthier meal choices. We've chosen to go to a different playground this year, also two miles away from our house. We are presently one mile into our goal of a 4-mile walk and anticipate meeting it by the first day of summer. I’ve learned to embrace small changes. Trying to change too much at one time can become overwhelming. We have enough to worry about with dishes, laundry, homework, after school activities, just trying to squeeze in some quality family time, friends, date nights... not to mention the distraction of TV, computers, smartphones, etc. When you look at your future, know that's exactly what it is: your future. It takes time to get there. Set just one small goal at all time. Achieving those goals will become more and more exciting! With each small successfully achieved challenge, you become greater than the person you were before. Blessings.” It all made sense… Theresa’s desire for new portraits. She wanted to showcase their family, their lives, their changes, and their journey. I am so very proud of this family! They did it together as a team. What an incredible journey! I was honored to capture these memories for them. Would you believe I have heard this from at least half the women I’ve photographed? Women seem to have a difficult time believing they are beautiful. Men? Not so much. They are satisfied with almost any image of themselves and are typically involved in a portrait session at the request of a significant other. For a woman to book a session, she either really wants beautiful images of her family surrounding her on her walls or she is having a courageous moment in which she “throws caution to the wind” and hopes for the best. And some women know they are beautiful, but still fear that awful shot of themselves that they will be forced to witness. And moms? They are trying to be realistic, but err on the side of being afraid to hope. They know that they not only have to get the family out the door looking good, but they need to get themselves put together at the same time. It is no easy feat and it is one of the reasons mom should find a photographer who can guarantee that it will be worth it when she sees the images. When a woman calls me for the first time, I spend quite some time assuring her that I can definitely create images she will love. I will make her look her best. I will get the children to cooperate. She will love the outcome. And yes, satisfaction is guaranteed. I charge a session fee and will immediately refund that if my clients are not thrilled with the results. I have never had anyone request that refund. I am often approached with, “If we can just get one good picture of all of us together, I will be so happy.” That’s truly the greatest hope of a mother. Just.One.Good.Picture. And then they see their images and are blown away by how many they are in love with. I’ve had far too many women tell me they can’t believe they look so good. And while I take that as a compliment to my work, it also makes me sad. They truly do not know how beautiful they are. Well, ladies… I see you. I see your beauty. I see how radiant you are when you smile at your husband. I see how you light up when your children laugh. I see the angles of your face and the curves of your body and I will capture those at the perfect moment. Let go of your fears. Capture the moments before they are gone. Let me show you your best YOU! I've never set up a booth at an expo... not once. I'm a photographer, so I'm not selling a particular product during the event, but instead I'm hoping to connect with prospective clients and let them get a feel for what I have to offer.
It's funny, the first time doing anything... the unknown can be quite nerve racking! I'm nervous and I'm not even sure what there is to be nervous about. I mean, what's the worst that happens? Then I think about the last few families that I've photographed, as well as some of my current clients who have sessions coming soon... I'm who they chose to capture images of their family for the first time. They've built these families and they adore them, but they haven't before booked a portrait session with a photographer. Why? The question always baffled me... until now. Now I know why. They all say the same things, "I don't really know what I'm doing." "I don't know what to ask because I've never done this before." "I just want a great image of my family." "What do I need to do?" And that first conversation really puts them at ease. I let them talk and I listen. Then I explain what I do and what they should expect. And I make sure that, before the conversation ends, they aren't nervous and they're super excited - because it's fun! It really is! In fact, I encourage families to go do something together afterwards. They all look amazing and they're already out of the house together. As a mother of four, I know that the challenge has already been met once everyone is out the door and loaded into a vehicle! So as the Women's Expo draws near, I find myself getting excited. Because it's going to be fun! And I'm going to meet people and hang out with my friend and booth partner, Angela, of Sunkissed by Elle. If you're local to the Coastal Bend, come on out and say hello! There will be prizes, giveaways, live music, free makeovers, demonstrations, and food! I was at my neighbor’s house the other day and I had to laugh about a framed print she had displayed of her child – her daughter was making a face that said, “I’m clearly not happy about this camera in my face!” But that image has become a family favorite. That image evokes memories and makes the whole family laugh. Portraits bring us back in time to those moments you don’t want to forget. From the twinkle of mischief in your son’s eyes, to the doe-eyed expression your daughter used to make, those moments are easily forgotten, though we tell ourselves we’ll never forget. But collecting and savoring our memories is only one of many reasons you need family portraits. And you don’t just need them – you need them displayed! Large… and on your wall. When your children see their pictures they stare. We display what we love, and when we display images of our people, it says, “You are loved, you are valued, you are treasured.” And research has shown that it actually helps build our children’s self-esteem! How is THAT for value?!? But self-esteem isn’t just for children. Your husband loves seeing the two of you, looking at each other with love. Your wife loves to see your face smiling back at her, even when you’re not in the room. Those images fill us with positive emotions. My toddler has taken to pointing at the picture hanging in our dining room and naming everyone in the image. This often happens over dinner, since her seat faces that particular wall. The image is of her and her siblings, all in a row, playing and smiling. The other day, my oldest daughter, a tween, was in a bit of a mood. She was sulking around the house and stopped at a collage of 5x7s of our family. She stood there for at least 15 minutes, studying the images. Would you believe she walked away smiling?!? Our family pictures have that much impact. It’s time to book a session for your own family portraits. You’re worth it. Your family is worth it. Call today! There is a lot to photography, other than just taking pictures. Yes, I have an amazing camera and it does exactly what I tell it to do. Yes, I have a lot of experience photographing people and that really helps during a session. But behind the scenes, there is a whole other thing taking place: post processing. This refers to the way a photographer processes the image after it has been captured in camera.
I LOVE editing – I really do! I know a lot of photographers who outsource that part of the process and I totally understand. It is time consuming and another skilled professional will do it for you for just under ten dollars an image, freeing you up to get to the business of the capture. But me? I enjoy creating the entire image, from start to finish. I’ve heard so much negative publicity for Photoshop on social media and I’ll admit, photoshopping can get carried away. But it also allows the possibility of creating images that don’t have distractions… Those blemishes that showed up the day before your photoshoot? Gone! That bruise your toddler got tripping over her own feet? Gone. The crust around your baby’s eyes? Gone! Those things aren’t representative of you or yours… they are simply distractions. But I’m by no means a purist. If someone wants to look slimmer, I can do that without having any battles of conscience. Forgot to touch up those roots? Yeah, I can take care of that if you like. Stretch marks? So what if they’re permanent? If you want them out of your picture, I’m happy to oblige. All my clients have to do is be honest with me about what they want to see. I LOVE newborn sessions! LOVE them!!! That new baby smell… I get to cuddle someone’s tiny little bundle of heaven for a few hours while I capture memories that will last a lifetime. But those sweet babies come with blotches, crusty eyes, flaky skin, jaundice, baby pimples… And those are distractions. And I love doing newborn shoots in-home. I set up my portable studio while Mom and Dad relax, then I take care of the baby for a few hours. Everyone is comfortable and relaxed and this makes for a relaxed baby. But if your walls have a red cast, then the images have a cast. If you have yellow walls, your images will be very yellow. But do I stress about that? No. Because I know how to process my images to make them look exactly the way they should. Now, tell me what you want to see. Because, yes, I can do that for you! I met the Wheelers at their home for a portrait design consultation and was delighted at the joy I found in their family. Parents to three young children, the Wheelers were smiling, down to earth, and clearly treasuring every moment. These… these are my people.
When I arrived, Abby was sitting at the table doing art activities with her five year old son. Her almost-two-year-old son was running around touching everything in sight, occasionally stopping to do a little art of his own. Their youngest, a daughter, only a few months old, was all calm smiles. I like meeting with families before photographing them. It gives me a chance to get to know the children, take in their personalities, and let them get comfortable with me. When I see them again for the portrait session, they are excited to see me and they know what we are there to do. It just makes the session go so much more smoothly. The meeting also affords me the opportunity to chat with the parents and find out what they are wanting from the images, gives me a feel for their style, and gives us a chance to discuss where they want images to be displayed throughout their home. When we met for the portrait session, the oldest was happy to see me! He was excited to have his picture taken and was eager to get in front of the camera. The youngest son was just happy to be outside and was taking in all the surroundings. That little guy was a riot! He reminded me so much of my own son – very similar personalities. His eyes twinkled when he smiled and made you wonder what he was planning. And just like she was at home, the baby was all calm smiles, sandwiched between sessions of dozing off on her mother. Dad played with his sons, took turns holding his daughter, and kept everyone going the same direction. It was so much fun interacting with them and capturing images that really spoke to each of their personalities. This family was so much fun to work with! I can’t wait to see their images installed in their home. If you’re ready to work together to create beautiful, heirloom images for your walls, contact Wet Silver now to book your session! Very excited to work with the owner of Hybrid Records, Carlos Cooper, and have my photographic art on display in his store! Go check it out at 4233 S. Alameda. And while you're at it, shop for some vinyl! For those of you who grew up with records, enjoy the nostalgic experience. For those of you who are new to vinyl, but want to embrace the sounds as they were meant to be heard, Hybrid Records has a variety of music for all tastes. The following are the images that are on display and available for purchase: She said yes… I met Krista after she called to book a portrait session. Part of my process is meeting with my clients before the actual portrait session. I love finding out more about them – who they are, what they are like together, and where they are at in their lives. Krista and Ricardo had been together for years and were planning to marry a few days before the session… and Ricardo’s daughter would be visiting during the session – Krista wanted to make sure to get images of all of them together. When we got together for the portrait session, the weather was beautiful and everyone was excited and ready to go! It was awesome! Ricardo’s daughter, Mia, absolutely glowed – she was so beautiful and easy to photograph! And Krista and Ricardo, despite being together for years, were clearly basking in the warmth of their new commitment to each other… wedded bliss. It was an honor to be a part of this special time in their lives, to capture those moments of togetherness, and to bear witness to that special love that says, “We are family.” |
"Lori is an exceptional photographer, and was my first choice for capturing images of my son for his senior pictures!! She made him feel at ease immediately, traveled to the locations he was interested in, and captured who he is perfectly!" ~ Tonia R.
AuthorLori Stead is a fine art portrait photographer in Corpus Christi, TX. She enjoys creating maternity, newborn, seniors, couples, family, children, and boudoir portraits. She is also a wife, mother of four, and adventurer. Archives
February 2024
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