Senior Special

Mr. and Mrs. MD

I am so excited to share this engagement session!  Maddy and I have been friends since our freshman year at Montana State University.  It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago, but it was 2003 so yeah....that's a long time ago.  I have such a soft spot for that dorm, because not only did I meet some of my best friends there, I also met my hubby.  We all had so many great times together, and who would have thought that all those drunken nights could have developed into such lasting and cherished relationships. 

During our four years of college together (well four years for me, Maddy was only getting started), a few of those spent living together,  I remember thinking that Maddy didn't have a "type."  Her college boyfriends were all so completely different, and it always seemed so odd to me that she never went for the same kind of guy.  I always wondered about the guy she would end up with, and after meeting Calvin, I realized, Maddy did have a type.  She just hadn't met her type until she met Calvin.  

Both Calvin and Maddy will be graduating from Medical School in a few weeks, and although they have that, along with many other things in common, they are also very opposite in some ways.  Maddy is a planner, she likes to be in control, and she hates being unprepared.  Calvin is much more laid back. I actually caught Maddy the other day claim that "we are pretty laid back."  She was talking about the engagement photos, and where we should go, and what she should wear.  I think my face instantly looked confused, I then told her that that was not how I would describe her, and Calvin agreed.  However, after spending a few hours with just the two of them, Maddy did seem much more laid back than I remembered.  She completely went with the flow, and although I know she trusts me, I also know that Calvin is the reason that Maddy has learned to give up control once in awhile.  She once told me that during times when she was having a school/studying induced freakout, Calvin was always able to bring her out of it.  As a witness to these mini freak outs on more than one occasion, I must say well done Calvin.  Just kidding Maddy :)  But in all seriousness they really do complement each other in the ways that they are different, and the things that they have in common seem more special because they both share them in such a passionate way.  They both really care about helping others, and they even traveled to Africa last year to put their medical skills to use.  Since the day I met Maddy she has been passionate about helping people in need, that's what becoming a Doctor has always meant to her, and now she has Calvin who really is just her "type."  I can't believe I have to wait over a year to see you walk down the aisle Maddy, but I am so happy that you will be marrying your best friend and other half on that day.  You deserve the best, and I honestly believe you have found him.  Congrats friends!

The only time Calvin complained during this shoot is when Maddy didn't finish her wine and dumped it out....I had to agree with him on that one

You two are so cute, and I have no idea why you worried about what to wear Maddy-you are definitely stylish and you look gorgeous in everything.

Is it weird that I want this photo below hanging in my house?  Ok...maybe I'll just put it in my office.

My First Mother's Day

So yesterday I celebrated my first mother's day!  I am not sure if you technically get to celebrate mother's day if you are pregnant, but why not?  My sister was in town, and she and her fiance got me flowers, and a maple bar which I was craving.  It was so thoughtful of them!  My hubby got me a gift certificate to go get a massage which was such a nice surprise and so sweet of him.  He knows I love massages, but I rarely get them because I hate spending money on them.  He really does spoil me, and I feel so lucky to have him.  

It seems as though the decision for us to have a baby was easy.  Kevin has never been one to plan according to when we should do something.  He told me very early in our marriage that we would start a family when it "felt" right.  I like to plan everything so the whole wait until it feels right thing was tricky for me.  I knew I wanted to be married for a couple years before we had a baby, and he agreed.  We have been talking about having children since before we were married.  We have always seemed to be on the same page, and when we decided to start trying it was because it was something we both wanted.  It did happen to fall in line with my plan, but that was pretty much coincidence.  Now that this baby is on the way, it is beginning to hit us that yes we are going to have a baby, but that also means we are going to be parents.  I am sure this thought had crossed my mind before I got pregnant, but why is it now so terrifying?  

I don't like to say that pregnancy has made me emotional, because that could mean a number of things.  In truth, pregnancy has made me even more weepy than normal.  I have always been one to get teary during sad movies, or books or even during t.v. shows.  I can't hardly see another person I love cry, without too crying.  Pregnancy however has made me ten times worse.   I began watching Marley, and me one night, and had to change it after the first 5 minutes.  Honestly, what was I thinking?  Grown men can't even handle that movie.   I can't even talk about bullying without having a mini breakdown let alone watch a dateline special on it.  I guess now that I know I am going to be a mother, and I have to start figuring out how exactly to do that without permanently damaging my kids, I get more weepy hearing about parenting issues.  How do I teach my kids to be kind even if its not the popular thing to do?  How do I teach them to stand up for themselves, and not let another person determine their self worth?  How do I let them make their own choices even when I know that choice is going to hurt them?  How am I supposed to be a good role model, when there are still things I haven't figured out about being the best person I can be?  How can I teach them not to end an sentence with a preposition when I do it all the time?  

Luckily for Kevin and I our parents are wonderful role models.  There is not a doubt in my mind that Kevin will be a wonderful father.  He has a big heart, and is very patient.  He is hard working, and he does not sweat the small stuff which is something that is sometimes so hard for me.  He seems to have a better grasp on what will make me feel better than I do sometimes when I am having a pregnancy melt down.  When I am being unreasonable, he is understanding, and when I am being really unreasonable, he can calmly explain to me why.  We complement each other in a lot of ways, and I am hoping that works out for us in terms of parenting as well.  I am sure we will stumble along the way, and I know there will be ups and downs, but we have each other and a wonderful support system in our family.   There is so little in this life we can control, but at least I get to choose what type of mother I want to be.  I can't control every situation, but I can control my reaction to it.  I can choose love, acceptance and understanding, and hopefully the rest I will learn as I go.  

Below are some photos of some of the beautiful mothers I had the honor of capturing over the past year.  I am lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful role models in my personal life, and professional life.  

And a photo of myself, my mother, and my sister.  There isn't a thing she wouldn't do for us, and her friendship has been one of the greatest gifts she could have ever given to me.  She has taught me that there is more to parenting than just being a parent, and my relationship with her is something I value more now that I too am becoming a mother.  

A post about Baby Bird.

Although we made it facebook official a few weeks ago, we have not made it Whitney Lin Photography blog official-We are expecting a little one at the end of October!

I like sharing my personal life on my blog.  I want clients to get to know me before they book me, and I love when clients keep up with my work and life after their weddings and sessions.  It is part of why a keep a blog.  However, I have kept pretty quiet about this pregnancy in social media, mainly out of respect for our new little family, and although I hate admitting it, a tad out of worry.  I have loved sharing this with Kevin, and before it was shared with anyone it was just him, myself,  and a positive pregnancy test.  It was tears of joy, (my tears) and hugs and kisses.  It was Valentine's day, and it was by far the best Valentine's day I have ever had.  I was even a little shocked.  Yes, this pregnancy was very planned.  I did my research, I bought an iphone app, I checked and re-checked dates, and possible due dates before we even started trying.  I was trying to plan around wedding season, and although I heard numerous times from different people (my mother) that these things can't be planned, I was actually right on this one.  I assumed it would take a little more time, Kevin did not.  He told me from the beginning that he thought it would happen right away, and his confidence freaked me out a little, but as it turned out he was right.  I can not express how blessed, and actually lucky I feel that we pulled this off.  I know it can be incredibly hard to get pregnant, and my prayers go out to couples that do have difficulty.  It actually makes me feel a little bad to talk about getting pregnant fast, which is why I haven't, but I am so so grateful, and I want to share our story and my crazy pregnancy ramblings.  SO I am going to.

 I had purposely stopped scheduling weddings after September 8th, just in case, and it was a good thing I did.  Yes, I might have been able to do one more, but it just isn't worth the risk.  I did some research on shooting weddings pregnant.  Yes, that info. is out there.  Mainly, I read other people's personal experience and decided what I thought was best for us.  Don't take on anymore weddings than I already had booked, and don't do any past September 8th.  That would give me a month and half before my due date to catch up on editing.  I will probably shoot seniors, and families after that time, but my availability will be limited.  I also have help lined up for my later weddings so that my clients do not feel nervous about my pregnancy.  I have wonderful clients, and they have all been so wonderfully understanding.  I would never shoot a wedding I didn't think I could handle, and they seem to understand that.  

So...since this post is supposed to be more about my pregnancy ramblings...here goes.  I get asked a lot of the same questions .  They are the polite type of questions, most of them anyway, and since they come up a lot-I will answer them here too.

My due date is October 27th.  I would love a 10-11-12 baby, but I am guessing baby bird will arrive in early November.  

Yes, we will find out what we are having.  I am 16 weeks tomorrow so we will find out in about a month.  I can not wait.  Do I have a feeling about what we are having?-yes, but out of fear of being wrong, I am staying quiet on that.  

I am feeling really good.  I had morning sickness during my first trimester, and was sick a lot.  Kevin was forbidden to cook anything.  He tried three times, and all three times I was puking.  The smell was just too much.  We ate out a lot.  I haven't been sleeping very good, but at least the nausea is gone.  I do have some aches and pains, but that is just normal stretching.

No, I haven't felt the baby move yet.  Not even flutters.  Hopefully that happens soon!

Yes, we have talked about names.  Nothing definite, and I doubt we name our baby before he/she is born, but if we do, my lips will be sealed on that one.  

I am not sure how Penny will react to the new baby.  I am guessing she will not be too crazy about him/her at first.  But, as she figures out baby isn't going anywhere, I am hoping she will become protective.  Someday, I am hoping they will be best buddies!

I do get asked a lot if I am showing yet, and yes I am.   A lot of people have told me that I'll be all baby, or just have a bump, and I am hear to say that that is not going to be the case.  I can already see changes in other areas, and although it is nice to hear, it actually just makes me feel anxious because I don't think that will be the case, and then the people pleaser in me will feel like I am letting people down.  It is silly I know, but I'm a realist, and although I don't want people telling me that I am going to be huge, I would rather them not expect me to be "all baby."  People have been awful about the size Jessica Simpson got, and although pregnancy is not the time for vanity, seeing the number on the scale steadily increase is a little scary.  I think I would just rather be told, pregnancy suits you.  That seems like a nice way of putting it.  Even if it doesn't, it is a safe thing to say to a pregnant woman.  When discussing my belly, and feeling wider yesterday, my hubby pointed out that "you're going to have to get wider to fit a me-size baby out of there."  My first reaction was horror at the thought of a "me-size" baby, but he is right.  It is just fact, and I love that about him.  I also like that he brings me back down to earth.

Another thing that I am getting used to is people staring directly at my stomach when they see me.  I am sure I do this to, so I get it, but it is still so weird that thats the first place people's eyes go.  Yes, there is a fetus the size of an orange in there.  Yes, it makes my tummy pouch out.  Please examine.  It is just funny, but we humans are a curious bunch.  

 Anyways below is the photo we used for our facebook announcement.  It was taken by my sister on easter and I was around 12 weeks pregnant I think.  Go ahead-check out my belly :)  

Penny was not supposed to be in these photos.  I assumed she would want to run around, but she sat by Kevin's feet and looked right at the camera as though we tried getting her to pose like that.

  Once again Penny just hopped on Kevin's lap and looked at the camera.  We Birds are a photogenic bunch, and you can bet baby will be trained from an early age.

So there you have it...Feel free to skip these pregnancy posts if you just like to check out the photos.  I won't mind.

Three Shoots in One

Cody and Jess's engagement session was actually a newborn session and family session as well.  I am so glad we snuck in a few quick shots of handsome Sidney before we headed outdoors for the rest of the shoot because he is seriously the best baby.  He just stared at the camera the whole time, and he was even smiley!  Plus he is just the cutest little guy.  I can not believe all that hair!  After the baby photos, we headed outdoors for some family shots, before moving onto the actual engagement photos.  

Cody and Jess are getting married in September, and I could not be any more excited for them.  Cody and my husband have been friends since they were little, and I have really enjoyed getting to know Cody over the years, as well as Jess in the more recent couple years.  They are wonderful together, and they have such a beautiful family, and I can not wait to capture their joy on their wedding day in a few short months.     

  

Visiting her Cousins-Miss Capri

I love watching my client's families grow, and I love being able to photograph their kiddos at different stages of their lives.  I love having returning clients more than anything, and it is such a compliment when these clients not only come back themselves for more photos, but when they refer their friends and family to me.  Such was the case with Miss Capri.  I have photographed her cousins multiple times, and when she was in town visiting these cousins, her parents set up a shoot for her.  

Capri is quite the busy two year old, and although she had no desire to sit still and smile for me as most two year olds don't, she had no problem doing some quick posing before finding something more interesting to do.  I love photographing kids at this age, and although it is a challenge to catch them looking at the camera smiling, I love the little moments that I do end up catching that tell the story of who they are at that moment.  Those are usually the images that end up speaking to me more than the posed ones anyways.  Those captured moments are what make me LOVE photography, and keep me excited for each and every shoot.  I can't predict the outcome of a shoot, and a children's shoot is even more unpredictable, but chasing a little one around, and waiting for that real smile, or heart melting look  is sooo worth it! 

Once Jesse came out, Capri would not give her up.  The above and below photos are actually my favorites probably because her favorite doll is in them.   The care she takes in the above photo to sit Jesse next to her is so cute, and that look in the bottom photo is ADORABLE.

Cousin Presley came outside for the end of the shoot.  She can't really go anywhere yet so she had no choice, but to sit still and smile for the camera.