**Trigger warning; babies born sleeping post.
This year I have been blessed by becoming a Mamma (Grandma) to my beautiful Grandson Hudson. We have been truly blessed with him being born on a day of lockdown, in perfect health. It has been the most amazing two weeks!
For those who know me, know I have experienced a not so perfect health birth experience, but never the experience of a pregnancy loss or the experience of a baby born sleeping. For those who also know me, know I am a voluntary queen with little ability to say no.
From the moment I started photography and specifically photographing newborns, I knew I’d like to give the gift of photographing for families who needed precious memories to last them an eternity. For families whose one and only memory maybe one or two images of their child or newborn.
photo by KTJ Photography of baby Hudson’s toes - not from a Heartfelt session.
Just before COVID hit, I felt my skill level was high enough and my emotional part of me was in a good place I signed up with Heartfelt, and organisation that give the gift of photographic memories to families who have experienced stillbirth or have children with serious or life threatening illnesses. The journey usually starts with the photographer going along with an experienced volunteer, so that 1) you learn from that person in both photography skills and personal skills with the parents and staff and 2) you have support for a situation that is an emotional one. Unfortunately for me, sessions were cancelled for quite a few months while we all found our ground with COVID and the hospitals assessed who could be on their grounds in a safe environment.
So my first experience was actually a joyous one, photographing Christmas photos for ‘regulars’ at Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) on a lovely weekend where some of these parents had not had an opportunity to have any professional photographs taken of their children.
So far I have photographed only a handful of sessions, but on this Mother’s Day, my thoughts go out to them, and all the families (not just the Mothers), who should be celebrating this day with those babes with them. I am sure today is a hard day for them, and I reflect and give them a few moments of my thoughts. I hope the precious photos Heartfelt volunteers take, give them some sort of peace and a tangible memory of their precious baby or child.
If you are one of these parents, I wish you warm thoughts on this day.
For more information or donations to Heartfelt go to www.heartfelt.org.au/
