Going to New Orleans was a big deal for me for two reasons.

First, it has been a dream of mine to be able to travel with my work.  Like the very cherry-atop-the-icing sort of dream.  So to say that I was giddy about being booked half way across the country, to a place I’ve never been, to photograph two families in surroundings I had never shot before… I was pretty much over the moon.

Second, the reason this whole trip was possible was because just shy of 5 years ago, I found out I was pregnant with my first baby.  Not knowing anything about mothering and pregnancy, I googled, “What to expect” and it brought me to whattoexpect.com and immediately a box popped up asking me if I wanted to calculate my due date, and yes I did.  I entered in a few foggy dates and landed on December 2008.  Next, it asked me if I would like to meet other moms due in December of 2008 and to click here, and yes I did.  I could have never possibly imagined that all of my greatest friends in the world would be waiting for me on this random site on the internet. (okay, not exactly random.. but you get what I’m sayin’)

We chatted for months on the site about pregnancy woes and who was having a girl/boy and all that good stuff, but pretty soon bonds were made and we all started talking on facebook, emails, texting, etc.  One group of girls, in particular, happened one day while we were trying to chat on whattoexpect.com and the site crashed, so we moved our conversation of busy crawlers and sleepless nights to a facebook message, where we’ve been talking everyday since.  As luck would have it, most of us ended up pregnant with #2 at the same time again.. give or take a few weeks.  We had dreams of meet-ups and mugging on each others’ babies whom we’d heard so much about.  We all are from different states spread out among the US (and beyond).  When I started my photography career, these ladies were my biggest cheerleaders.  They were my first “fans” on facebook and the biggest support group I’ve ever had, and that support was limitless.

Fast forward to just a few months ago when Jess was looking for a photographer and a light came on to have me come out to New Orleans for a session. We checked on flights and things looked possible.. pretty soon Megan and her family were on board.. and also Courtney decided to come along.

This whole trip was just such a dream come true.  I am so happy with where my life is right now and I just feel so blessed.

More of these ladies gorgeous families to come!

xo, C