Those who know me, know that I don’t just take pictures.  I like to get to know my clients and have developed MANY longtime friendships along the way.  Sometimes it starts as a wedding couple, then a baby is born and so on.  There is nothing better than being there with my camera during these life changing events.

I recently had the chance to capture the moment a past bride (Elissa) told her husband (Dan) that she is pregnant.  She wanted me to somehow capture his reaction without him knowing what was about to happen.  This is where the fun began.  We started discussing several ways we could do this.  I eventually proposed the idea that she “won” a fake free portrait session.  I created a flyer and sent her an email congratulating her.  I made it very generic that she could forward the exciting news to her hubby.  First part of the plan complete.

Next, we scheduled the portrait session for a Sunday morning.  The plan was to take a few traditional portraits of the two of them first.  Then I told them I wanted to try something different.  A new technique I wanted to test to get reaction shots.  I would have each of them write something they admired about the other, then on count of three show it to each other.  It might make them laugh or invoke some other reaction.  On the third attempt is when Elissa was simply going to write…I am pregnant!  At that moment Dan’s life will change forever.  He will find out he is going to be a dad.  No longer just a husband, but part of a family.

Enjoy the photos and video below.  It was an honor for me to take part in this surprise and I look forward to documenting ALL of this families memorable occasions for years to come.

Congrats Dan, Elissa.…and baby!