Kade Birth -- Seattle Birth Photographer

She birthed her prince right there in her own living room - in the home they will share together. Her grandmother, her sister, her doula, a photographer and three midwives in attendance. She swayed on the waves of labor, breathed her way through. And when it came time to surrender to the utter intensity of it all she did so with the support of the many women around her. She worked and she pushed and when he arrived, she held the greatest miracle in her arms. She is his whole world. She brought him here. And with the same fortitude and courage she called upon in birth, she will guide him through this life. Together for always - mother and son.

Looking Back -- Seattle Family Photographer

Being nominated as one of Seattle's Favorite Family Photographers has got me reflecting back on the almost 4 years I've spent in Seattle and what a pleasure it has been to meet each one of these families. I am so grateful that people invite me into some of their most joyful and vulnerable times in life.  It's my absolute pleasure to make art that means something to people. Thank you thank you! For hiring me, for nominating me, and for being an integral part of my business.

To vote for Hardie Photography as Seattle's Best Family Photographer visit the Parent Map Golden Teddy Awards and find my business under the shopping + services category. It's easy, spam free, and you can be entered to win a number of prizes. But most of all, you'd be doing a huge solid to this small business owner. Thanks everyone!

Evangeline Newborn - Seattle Newborn Photographer

Sweet Evangeline was born so fast I didn't get many images on the night of her birth - but we more than made up for it with her newborn session. I LOVE this gorgeous family - their graciousness and their honest connection with each other. This shoot sums up my approach to photographing newborns. The images are relaxed and REAL and they include all the sweet details of diaper changes and breastfeeding and family snuggles. I feel so honored when families invite me into their postpartum bubble to capture these memories. I'm excited to watch this family grow together for many years to come.

I love to photograph mamas and their babies from behind. That's how I always remember my babies. Staring down at them from that perspective for so many hours - you wonder if you can hold every detail of their faces forever in your mind. A photo like this feel like a memory.

Look how much she changed in just a few days! Great Grandma came to town and I just had to grab a photo of these two holding hands.

Wren's Birth Story | Seattle Birth Photographer

A birth story - annotated.

When I walk in and a second time mama looks like this - I know things are going to happen FAST. I steady my breathing, steady my camera and start to shoot.

Shannon continues to work through intense contractions and I wonder aloud, "Where's Hal?" A  nurse informs me that he's in the waiting room with their 2 year old son. Everything is happening so fast that the grandparents have yet to arrive. They're on toddler duty and it's not clear they'll get here in time.

The midwife lets Shannon know that her baby will be born with the next couple of pushes. Does she want someone to go get Hal? No one is here to watch Bowie yet. It wasn't in the plans to have him in the delivery room. What will we do? "I'll watch him!" I call out at the last minute. Not really sure where that came from or what I was planning to do, but I just couldn't stand the thought of Dad missing the birth of his son.

Suddenly he's there and all is right. Grandparents arrived just as a nurse was coming to get him. We're having a baby - RIGHT NOW!

The midwife passes her baby between her legs and lays him gently on the bed. He's finally here. The one they've been dreaming of. The next few images show what's known as "the birth pause." I had never seen it before as many providers place the child directly on mom's chest. But when undisturbed, many women take a moment, take some breaths and look over their baby before bringing him in close.

Tears and hugs all around. There's a new soul in the world.

The placenta really doesn't get enough credit. Sure, the baby is the real star. But stop to consider for a moment - in addition to growing an entire being, a birthing woman also grew an extra organ. It kind of blows my mind.

I always love to capture the first time a new baby locks eyes with with camera. Welcome to the world, Little One.

I will always remember this moment. We were making small talk and oohing over the baby as I photographed little details and they all got acquainted. Shannon and Hal knew that it was my daughter's birthday this morning - I had just left a pancake breakfast to meet them at the hospital. "What's her name?" Hal asked. "Wren," I said, smiling.

Suddenly he burst into tears. "That's HIS name!" This perfect tiny boy, shares a name and a birthday with my own daughter. The world is at times a very small and wondrously connected place.

Finally it was time to meet big brother. Those first reactions to a new baby are so priceless!

The wrinkly fingers and dried blood behind the ear. Shoulder fuzz and perfect neck creases. Fresh new babies are magic.

It was a truly beautiful day. Shannon shared the most beautiful thoughts about her birth experience and her experience having a photographer present. Head to her blog to hear the story from her perspective.

Evangeline's Birth Story | Seattle Birth Photographer

Evangeline's mama knew she could do it. She knew that the women who came before her had done it and she knew the same power they exercised lived within her. LeAnna knew how to listen to her body, and to let it guide her through the contractions. Russell also knew she could do it and continued cooking Christmas dinner while she labored in their apartment. Upon arrival to the hospital LeAnna heard that she was completely effaced but not yet dilated. Still, she knew. She knew her baby was coming. It was less than two hours later that I got the call to come to the hospital. I could hear all the hustle and bustle in the background as Russell told me they were checked into their room and I just KNEW delivery was imminent. I was going to miss it.

No one could have guessed that a first time mama would dilate so quickly. That her baby would be born 35 minutes after my phone rang, 10 minutes before I arrived in the delivery room. But LeAnna knew she could do it and Evangeline knew exactly when and how she wanted to be born. This little Christmas miracle - this speeding bullet of a baby. She was welcomed by her parents, a breathless doula and smiling midwife. The strength of her mama (and the mothers before) brought her earthside. We all knew she could do it. And she did.

The first post is the hardest...

A new website, a new blog - two months into a new year. It's a lot of change. I've been away from any real blogging for a few years now. It started to feel like too much work to live my life AND present it in some beautifully packaged form. I edited my words and my photos mercilessly until they just wouldn't come anymore.

It was also a huge burden to keep my business blogging so divorced from my personal thoughts and the events of my own life. As though these things could ever be neatly separated. Being a birth photographer, a woman, a mother, a creative - it's all intimately connected.

So now I return to blogging with a promise to myself: That it doesn't have to be perfect. That it doesn't have to match some ridiculous notion of what "professional" looks or sounds like. I'm declaring this space to be about connection over perfection.

I give myself permission to show up imperfectly.

I give myself permission to play.

I give myself permission to explore creativity for the pure joy of it.

I give myself permission to make mistakes.

I give myself permission to claim this small corner of the internet as my very own. A place to connect with my people - to talk to my people.

Are you my people? If so - Welcome! I'll be showing up here the best that I know how and I invite you to do the same if you'd like. So tell me, friend, what are you giving yourself permission to do in 2018?

*Photo by Courtney Holmes Photography