Red Thread Session: A homecoming

Several weeks ago, I had the honor of photographing a family as they brought their newest son home from China.  They had previously adopted from China and had taken that son along on their trip, but upon their arrival they were able to introduce him to their three daughters.  He was so excited to meet his other new siblings and begin this new chapter of life in their family.

I loved the grin that crossed his face as they paused to see the group of family and friends who gathered to welcome them to St. Louis.

 This was my favorite moment as he smiled and reached out to meet his sisters.

I am so thankful to be a volunteer with Red Thread Sessions.  As with many parts of being a photographer, It is such an honor to be a part of these special moments as families grow and change- through marriage, birth, and adoptions.

Red Thread Session

I am a volunteer photographer for Red Thread Sessions, and I have really been enjoying sessions of new families who have joined together through adoption. This family is really special to me because we have ventured together on this journey and brought our sons home a week apart. We shared in the trials of adopting from a virtually closed nation but never giving up because our sons are fully worth every bit and more. 

Though I briefly met this brave, sharp young man just hours before he flew to the US from his birth country, I had the privilege of sharing part of the morning with him recently.  Welcome to St. Louis, E! We are very glad to have you. 

Red Thread Session with a BAM!

It's been quiet here for a while, as I have been on maternity leave.  We adopted our youngest son and brought him home from Ghana after quite a lengthy battle to bring our family under one roof.  It was fitting for me to ease my way back in to a short fall season with a Red Thread Session.  I volunteer with Red Thread Sessions to provide photography for families who have recently adopted, and it's such a an honor to introduce a new family through photographs.

Not only did we photograph these two lovely ladies in a way you might expect from a PLP family session, but we also did something special.  Part of their personal adoption story included a special connection to DC comic book characters.  A few years ago now, a friend donated a very large poster collection to Brian and I to aid in our fundraising efforts- a large portion of which was DC comic book characters.  We got bogged down in paperwork and never sold them.  As soon as I read their story, I knew that the person who donated the posters would be honored by them being used as a background for their portraits- a story-telling element and something really unique.  This person has a huge heart for adoption and is an adult-adoptee.  They gave the OK for us to use them in this way and I set to trying to find a way to create something.

My favorite part of the session was when this lovely young lady asked me, "Can I hold my mom's hand and look at her? She just makes me so happy!"

This photograph also really touched me.  You can see this new mother's heart through her facial expressions of tenderness, protection, and satisfaction.  This daughter is so dear to her. Likewise, her daughter's face is so joyful.  She simply could not stop smiling when she was close to her mother. It was so beautiful.

Red Thread Sessions

I know it has been quiet around here for a while, as we've been winding down for my maternity leave with our son Silas.

A few months ago, I learned about the organization called Red Thread Sessions.  It is an organization that brings together adoptive families with volunteer photographers.  Photographers donate their time and imagery to adoptive families at their birth, homecoming, or in a portrait session soon after the family has come together.

As a photographer myself, I was really interested in the organization, and have recently been accepted as a photographer on their list.  I hope that some day I am asked by a family to photograph for them.

We're in the midst of acquiring our own photographer for Silas' homecoming, and look forward to having photos from that special first meeting with Elisha, Levi, and our parents.