As their newborn photographer, I had the honor of capturing the beauty of this family and their new addition, Carter. The moment I met her, I knew I was in for a treat. Her smile was infectious and her little hands and feet were just too precious for words. As I snapped away, I couldn’t help but notice the way her parents looked at her with such adoration and wonder. As we continued with the session, I couldn’t help but ask about the significance of Carter’s name. To my surprise, there was no specific meaning behind it. Her parents simply fell in love with the name while the mother was pregnant and knew right away that their little girl would be named Carter.

During the shoot, I also had the opportunity to see Carter’s sweet personality shine through. She loved to smile, take naps with her parents, and “talk” all day long. Her favorite toys were rattle/crinkle toys, and she was quite fond of tummy time and looking at herself in the mirror. One of my favorite moments was capturing the bond between Carter and her parents. It was evident that they were completely enamored with her, and the way her face lit up whenever she saw them was truly heartwarming. Even newborns have that ability to recognize their parents’ voices, and it’s always amazing.

As we wrapped up the session, we chatted about some of the family’s favorite activities. They love to take naps together and enjoy getting out to the park to soak up some sunshine and fresh air. And when I asked about the most rewarding aspect of being parents, they both agreed that watching their daughter grow and develop her own unique personality has been an incredible journey. However, it hasn’t been without its challenges. Carter was diagnosed with a cleft lip during the anatomy scan, which caused a great deal of worry and anxiety for her parents. They worried about how it would affect breastfeeding and how many surgeries she would need. But their fears were assuaged as they held their little girl in their arms for the first time and realized that her cleft had become one of their favorite little details about her! They’re navigating an unexpected situation with such grace and courage.

Capturing this family and their new addition was truly a joy. Seeing the love and affection they had for each other was heartwarming and reminded me of the beauty of family and the bonds we create with those we love.

Paula Goforth is a newborn photographer serving the Fort Worth/Dallas area with stylized and lifestyle newborn, family, and children’s portraits.