Ben + Jess : Shane is ONE!

This kid! His Mama reminded me that he started his life with a roughly 2-week NICU stay just about a year ago. He’s now wrapping up his first year of life with a 5-month-long (so far) quarantine. Shane kept me on my toes and I let Jess take the lead in how she beautifully coxed him to be interested in his smash cake. That is one thing I have noticed while photographing my dear clients in a pandemic: I can’t help them the way I normally would. I wanted to hold Ellie’s hand as we crossed the parking lot, help Jess carry all the props she brought to make this shoot happen, help smooth fly-aways etc….It has put a bit more on my clients and for that, I feel awful when I come home. BUT. . . we can still make magic happen:

And, we have found work-arounds. I have done a ton more communication-verbal, texting, emailing to assure, organize logistics and in how I talk or demonstrate clients through posing. Shane led the charge on this shoot, just as the main protagonist in the book we featured this morning “Where the Wild Things Are”. We were patient, Jess gave snuggles and gradually coaxed a bite of yummy vegan-cake-y goodness into his mouth. It was GAME-ON!

Jess, Ben, Ellie & Shane: You guys were amazing. Thank you so much for your patience as we worked through challenges, props, outfit changes and oh, yeah, that pandemic thing. I SO wish I could hug you as a thank you, but for now, a written one will have to suffice.

All the best,

Carrie

PS You can view more of our time together & all of Shane’s caked silly faces HERE.