It’s not very often I get contacted by people from out of state, so when Katherine’s inquiry came through, you can imagine my surprise. As I read through her message, the story began to unfold: she and Patrick were getting ready to move to Cedar Rapids for work, and they wanted to schedule a newborn session for when they arrived.

What I didn’t know yet was just how extraordinary their timing would be.

If you’ve ever adopted a child or know someone who has, you understand that the wait for “the call” can take months or even years. It’s a journey filled with hope, patience, and an incredible amount of faith. Katherine and Patrick had been on this journey, preparing their hearts for whenever their baby would arrive.

And then, in the midst of packing boxes, coordinating a cross-state move, and preparing for new jobs in a new city, they got the call.

Their son was here. Baby Kellen was waiting for them.

A Blessing in Beautiful Timing

I have to admit, I was in awe of how Katherine and Patrick handled this incredible blessing. Here they were, in the middle of one of life’s most stressful events – moving to a completely new state – and suddenly they were becoming parents. Not in nine months. Not next year. Now.

Most people would feel overwhelmed. But when I met Katherine and Patrick, all I could see was pure excitement and joy radiating from both of them. Yes, their lives had just been turned beautifully upside down, but they were exactly where they wanted to be – together, with their son, starting their new life as a family.

There’s something incredibly special about adoption that I think gets lost sometimes in all the logistics and legal processes. These parents didn’t just hope for a baby – they actively chose this child. They prepared for him, waited for him, and when he arrived, they rearranged their entire world to welcome him home.

That kind of intentional love? It shows in every photograph.

Meeting the New Family

When Katherine, Patrick, and Kellen arrived at my studio, I could immediately feel the warmth between them. New parents often come in a bit nervous, wondering if they’re doing everything “right,” concerned about whether their baby will cooperate for photos.

But with Katherine and Patrick, there was this beautiful calm. They looked at Kellen with such wonder and tenderness, like they still couldn’t quite believe he was really theirs. Every time Patrick held him, you could see this gentle protectiveness. Every time Katherine cradled him close, there was this peaceful contentment on her face.

Kellen, for his part, was an absolute dream. He had that perfect newborn serenity, content to be held, posed, and passed between his adoring parents. It’s like he already knew he was exactly where he belonged.

Capturing More Than Just Photos

As I photographed them together, I found myself thinking about what these images really represent. Yes, they’re beautiful portraits of a newborn baby. Yes, they capture this fleeting moment in Kellen’s early days.

But they’re also documentation of a love story that spans time and distance. They show a family that was meant to be, even when the timing seemed impossible. They preserve the beginning of something that started with hope and patience and resulted in this beautiful, perfect little boy.

Katherine and Patrick may not have carried Kellen for nine months, but they carried the dream of him in their hearts for much longer. And now, in a new city, starting a new chapter, they have everything they hoped for.

A Review That Made My Heart Full

After their session, Katherine sent me a review that I keep coming back to:

“Thank you for these photos, Heather. We don’t consider ourselves the most photogenic duo (Kellan excluded of course), but you managed to capture some beautiful moments. We are so grateful and will cherish these always. It was a pleasure to meet you, and we will definitely reach out for future photography needs!”

Here’s what I want Katherine and Patrick to know: you ARE photogenic. Not because of perfect poses or flawless angles, but because the love you have for Kellen shines through in every single image. That kind of joy, that kind of tenderness – it’s the most beautiful thing any photographer could hope to capture.

The “beautiful moments” I captured? Those were already there. I just had the privilege of preserving them for you.

Why This Session Matters

I share this story not just because it’s sweet (though it absolutely is), but because I think it’s a reminder of something important: families come together in all different ways, and every single one of those ways is beautiful.

Katherine and Patrick’s journey to parenthood looked different than some others. Their path involved patience, paperwork, and perfect timing that brought them across state lines to welcome their son. But the love? The connection? The pure joy of holding their baby for the first time?

That’s universal. That’s what every parent feels, regardless of how their child arrived.

And that’s what I try to capture in every single newborn session – the overwhelming love, the gentle tenderness, the sense of wonder at this tiny person who has completely transformed your world.

Welcome Home, Kellen

To Katherine and Patrick: thank you for trusting me to document these precious first moments with Kellen. Thank you for sharing your story with me. And thank you for reminding me why I love this work so much.

Your son is blessed to have parents who chose him, fought for him, and rearranged their entire world to welcome him home. These photos are just the beginning of the beautiful story you’re writing together as a family.

Welcome to Cedar Rapids. Welcome to parenthood. And welcome home, sweet Kellen – you were worth every moment of the wait.

Katherine, Patrick, and baby Kellen’s newborn session took place in my Cedar Rapids studio. If you’re expecting (or recently welcomed your little one through adoption or birth), I’d love to help you preserve these precious early moments. Reach out to chat about creating beautiful memories for your growing family.