It was such a huge honor to photograph baby Jude. I got the call from his mom and while we were discussing details about a newborn session, she mentioned he had had heart surgery and had been in the NICU since birth. He had been on a feeding tube because he wasn't strong enough to be able to eat on his own yet. I was so grateful that this family was entrusting me with him and I knew things were going to be a little different then a normal newborn session. 

Both his mom and dad came into the my Sandy Utah studio just outside of Salt Lake City and it was so fun sitting down with them and chatting about being new parents and all the surprises that come with it. Jude's dad was great and explained to me how to handle his feeding tube and I could tell it was love at first sight with him and his brand new son. We got family pictures done first thing and I was a little speechless at the bond this family had already created in such a short time. Baby Jude smiled at his mom and dad over and over and over again! I like to do family pictures first so that if dad needs to head off to work he can. This dad made sure to take the extra time to come over and say goodbye to his son and his baby gave him the biggest grin. It was such a special moment to witness!

After we started on the baby only portion. I had to be exceptionally gentle with Jude to make sure I didn't pull out his feeding tube, and that meant lots of wrapping! We got some beautiful ones of him completely awake and others when he had just fallen asleep. The rich blues and greens used for the session complimented him so perfectly! 

After the newborn session we sat down to go over all of the portraits and pick the best ones! Jude's mom ended up choosing a large print of the family picture to go up on the wall, a 9 image collage frame for the nursery, and a beautiful heirloom album with his name engraved on the front. I love so much thinking that they will be able to enjoy these pictures everyday up in their home!